Roman-Era Erotic Mosaic Returned to Pompeii After WWII Theft

A Roman-era mosaic panel depicting an erotic scene has been returned to the Pompeii Archaeological Park after being stolen during World War II by a Wehrmacht captain. The mosaic, dating from the mid- to late-first century B.C. to the first century A.D., was gifted to a German civilian by the Nazi officer and remained in Germany until the owner's heirs arranged its repatriation through diplomatic efforts involving the Italian Consulate in Stuttgart. The Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Command verified the mosaic's authenticity and provenance before facilitating its return. Pompeii Archaeological Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel emphasized the cultural significance of the work, noting it represents a shift toward depicting domestic love in Roman art, contrasting with earlier mythological themes. The mosaic likely originated from a private villa near Mount Vesuvius and will be preserved for research and educational purposes. Officials described the return as healing a cultural wound caused by illicit antiquities trafficking.