Amoxicillin eliminated the agents that blackened and crumbled the paintings
The frescoes in the Villa of the Mysteries treated with antibiotics
Gli affreschi della Villa dei Misteri a Pompei
E. Bramati
09/06/2014
Naples - After one year of renovation works at the Villa of the Mysteries, one of the most famous of Pompeii, interesting details emerge on the techniques that were chosen.
The frescoes, which according to scholars represent a rite of initiation into the mysteries of Dionysus, were literally treated with antibiotics.
The amoxicillin, a molecule frequently used even in human medicine, removed the manganese dioxide, which infiltrated from soil and blackened the brilliant colors of the walls.
Moreover, the same bacteria also eradicated the streptococci, which managed to proliferate even in the absence of air and had affected the decorations, feeding on their natural colors.
Fortunately, thanks to a protective layer of wax and gasoline applied at the beginning of the 20th century, with the resources available at that time, the quality of the frescoes was maintained in good condition, allowing this new minimal intervention to restore the original splendor of the site.
Although three treatment cycles were planned to ensure a long-lasting quality, the first "medications" have already yielded satisfactory results after one week.
The frescoes, which according to scholars represent a rite of initiation into the mysteries of Dionysus, were literally treated with antibiotics.
The amoxicillin, a molecule frequently used even in human medicine, removed the manganese dioxide, which infiltrated from soil and blackened the brilliant colors of the walls.
Moreover, the same bacteria also eradicated the streptococci, which managed to proliferate even in the absence of air and had affected the decorations, feeding on their natural colors.
Fortunately, thanks to a protective layer of wax and gasoline applied at the beginning of the 20th century, with the resources available at that time, the quality of the frescoes was maintained in good condition, allowing this new minimal intervention to restore the original splendor of the site.
Although three treatment cycles were planned to ensure a long-lasting quality, the first "medications" have already yielded satisfactory results after one week.
