Around 2,000 years ago, when Mount Vesuvius erupted, two people in the ancient city of Pompeii held onto each other in what would be their last moments. For years, these two were known as “The Two Maidens,” believed to be young women.
However, recent DNA tests by scientists at the Max Planck Institute reveal a surprising discovery: at least one of the individuals was male. This new research hints that the pair may not have been sisters or a mother and daughter as once thought.
David Reich, one of the scientists, explained that these findings challenge old beliefs about the identities and relationship of the two people. While we may never fully know the connection between them, some experts suggest they could have been gay lovers.
Massimo Osanna, the superintendent of Pompeii’s archaeological site, once suggested that it’s possible these two people were lovers. Although this idea remains uncertain, it cannot be ruled out.
Pompeii’s lost lives preserved in ashes
When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the entire town of Pompeii was buried under layers of ash, killing everyone in its path.
The site was lost to history until it was rediscovered in the 1700s. At that time, researchers uncovered many preserved bodies, kept almost intact by the thick layers of ash and soot that covered the streets, buildings, and people.
Over the centuries, the soft tissues of these victims had decayed, but their shapes remained imprinted in the hardened ash. Archaeologists filled these cavities with plaster, creating detailed casts that preserved their DNA and gave a glimpse into the lives of ancient Pompeiians.
In early studies, researchers analyzed the positioning of the bodies and the surroundings where they were found. This led to various theories about the relationships between these individuals, based on how close they were to each other when they died.
Pompeii’s “Two Maidens” might be gay lovers
In the 1914 excavations at Pompeii, archaeologists uncovered the remains of nine people in a garden. Among them, two were found holding each other closely. At the time, experts proposed three possible connections between them: they might have been mother and daughter, sisters, or romantic partners.
Now, a recent study published in Current Biology has cast doubt on those earlier ideas. Using CT scans and DNA analysis, researchers were able to estimate ages and confirm genders.
They found that one individual, estimated to be between 14 and 19 years old, was paired with a young adult male. The genetic analysis confirmed that individual 22 was male, ruling out the possibility of a mother-daughter or sister relationship.
Although their exact relationship remains unknown, some researchers believe they may have shared a deep bond, possibly even as romantic partners.
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