Fresco Detail

In this view of a portion of the fresco in the Royal Box please note the vivid colors, the faux engaged pilaster, and on top of it, the faux column/lamp stand with a portion of decorative stucco attached.

The original fresco is visible in the "hole" just to the right of the center—it was applied when the box was initially built.

The major portion of the visible fresco was created, just before Herod entertained Marcus Agrippa, Augustus's right-hand man here in 15 or 14 BC.

Soon after the visit of Agrippa, in 14 BC, the room was destroyed and filled in by workmen in preparation for the construction of Herod's nearby mausoleum.  These workmen left graffiti-like markings on the wall—visible as a circle to the left of the faux-engaged pilaster.