POMPEII - PART 2

THE BODY CASTS

The body casts were first made by late 19th century archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli. When Vesuvius rained pumice and ash on the town, bodies were trapped. Over time the bodies decomposed, but the cavities that had hardened around them remained intact. Fiorelli poured liquid plaster into the cavities, then when the plaster dried, he broke the pumice stone that surrounded it, leaving the world with over a thousand whole-body death masks of Pompeiian men, women, children and animals.

Body Cast - Man

Young Boy Covering His Face

Woman with child covering her face against the ash.

ARTIFACTS

Some surviving artifacts of every day life.

Trencher, table

EVERYDAY LIFE

The landscape holds many ruins that give a peak into everyday life in Pompeii.

Pompeiian Take Out. Vessels were filled with food offering for people to purchase or eat on the premises.

Storage vessels held and dispensed wine.

Bakery - Ovens

Bread Ovens

Water Spigot and Public Water Well

Women's Bath House

Women's Bath House

Phallic symbol indicating location of a Brothel. A welcome sight I'm sure for sailors in  this seafaring town.

Next - Beautiful Florence



POMPEII

THE RUINS OF POMPEII

The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD buried the town of Pompeii in ash and captured a moment in time. Under the ash everything remained as it was at the time of the eruption. Artwork was preserved, buildings remained, artifacts protected. Here are a few glimpses at the place that once was home to 20,000 Pompeian residents.

The Streets of Pompeii

Entry Arch to Forum

Houses and shops

Stepping stone in street to aid crossing when streets flooded from rains or high tides.

A bend in the road.

Vesuvius looming

Frescoes, Mosaics, Sculpture

Apollo - Temple of Vaspian

Fauna - Entry Atrium

Ceilling - Women's Bath House

Wall fresco - Private Villa

Erotica - Walls of Brothel

Beware of Dog - Entry Foyer Floor

3D Mosaic Floor tiles

Courtyard Floor

Next - Pompeii Part 2

ROME--PART 2

THE COLOSSEUM--OPENING DAY AD 80!

No visit to Rome would be complete without spending time at the Colosseum. This was one of those places that sent shivers up my spine when I realized that I was actually standing in the place where chariot races were held and gladiators fought to the death, all watched by Julius Cesaer et al.  WoW.

Yes, you've seen this image a million times, but it was just not possible not to take this picture.

The underground ruins

What the arena would have looked like in the time of Julius Cesaer. All of those alcoves contained hundreds of statues for decoration.

THE FORUM

Located between the Capitoline and Palatine hills, the Forum was the civic core of Republican Rome. It was the political, commercial and religious center of Roman life. What you see  here today are the ruins of not one period, but of amlost 900 years, from circa 500 BC to AD 400.

Like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum was a place of pure magic. George and I walked along the same streets, trod on the same stones as Cesear and company. So much history was made within the confine of these ruins, it boggles the mind that so much is still here to bring that history to life. We spent a better part of an entire day here. I don't think we wanted to leave.

Excavation continues

Tempo di Vespasiano and the Arco Di S.Severo



 Detail: Arco Di S. Severo. The detais that remain are amazing.

Tempo di Vesta

It was a dark and stormy [day]...Really!

Overview