\f1 \fs22 Around the third century BC a style of painting with openly nationalistic aims emerged in Rome. Like the
later sculptural reliefs of a historical and narrative character, it took its inspiration from the military exploits and victories of the Romans. As the influence of Rome expanded, artists and craftsmen came to the city from the main centers of Greek art
. As a result the Roman figurative repertory was enriched with new motifs and sources of inspiration.\par
The numerous \b \cf1 \ATXht6 frescoes\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 found in \b \cf4 \ATXht1086 Pompeii\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 , dating from between the second century
BC and 79 AD, have made it possible to classify the principal decorative motifs of Roman wall painting into four periods or styles. \par