A British tourist has been caught carving his daughters’ initials into an Ancient Roman house in Pompeii.
The 37-year-old Englishman, who has not been named, allegedly used a sharp object to make five indentations in the House of the Vestals.
It is described as one of the most sophisticated and impressive houses in Pompeii at the time of Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 AD.
Security staff at the archaeological park noticed him fiddling with a frescoed wall at the house entrance.
After confirming he had made five carvings, they alerted the carabinieri, who apprehended him at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The man had carved “JW LMW MW” into an upper part of the wall and “07/08/24” and “MYLAW” into a lower part.
The letters are believed to be the initials of his two daughters and his own.
He was reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Torre Annunziata, Italy, for damaging artistic heritage.
He reportedly apologized to the authorities and said he had made the carvings to leave a record of his visit.