Pompeii's hidden graffiti revealed: Ancient drawings depicting gladiators were made by children as young as five after watching the Roman fighters 2,000 years ago, experts say Drawings of gladiators made by children before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius The charcoal etchings have been buried by volcanic material for 2,000 years By Jonathan Chadwick For Mailonline Published: 10:56, 29 May 2024 | Updated: 11:38, 29 May 2024 e-mail 4 View comments Children as young as five watched bloody gladiator battles in Ancient Rome, newly found graffiti shows. Archeologists have uncovered etchings made in charcoal on the wall of a courtyard at Pompeii, the Italian city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 . The primitive sketches – thought to be around 2,000 years old – depict men with spears and shields fighting wild animals and each other.

Such gory scenes were typical in Pompeii's amphitheatre and often included fights to the death . It's thought that the young witnesses who drew the battles on the walls were left emotionally scarred by what they saw. Graffiti uncovered on the walls of the ancient Italian city were made by children as young as five, archeologists say The figures have arms and legs that stem directly from the head - a style of drawing characteristic of today's children too, according to the experts.

There's also small hands (left)- likely outlines of the children's own hands in charcoal Read More Pompeii's stunning secret is uncovered after 2,000 year.