Pompeii 2013

Pompeii from church tower in town of Pompei eruption started on 24 August AD 79 amphitheater nw corner of town FYI eruption recorded by Pliny the Younger, nephew of Gaius Plinius Secundus palestra near amphitheater roughly four fifths of town uncovered seating area partially excavated FYI the town was built on an ancient lava flow overlooking the bay theater from tower FYI the eruption filled up the bay and Pompeii is now about two kilometers inland the town had a circuit wall of three kilometers with eight gates grande palestra FYI the oldest building in Pompeii is sixth century BC amphitheater grande palestra FYI the Roman general Sulla captured Pompeii in the fourth century BC and turned into a Roman colony FYI most of the remains post date Roman occupation FYI by the first century BC the bay became a popular resort for wealthy Romans amphitheater FYI the Roman senator Cicero had a villa near Pompeii interior FYI the streets are narrow between 2.4 and 4.5 meters wide while one is over 7 meters FYI street paved with large polygonal blocks of basalt FYI raised sidewalks are bordered with blocks of basalt as curbstones Via del Abbodanza the road was raised in the center so water would run along the edge thought this section is not fully restored orto botonico della flora vesuviana antica villa di Giulia Felice thermopolium near vicolo dell antiteatro FYI area and block numbers the stepping stones allowed cart wheels to pass between in some photos of the street note the cart wheel tracks eroded into the basalt impluvium small shrine in wall FYI at intersections large stepping stones were placed to avoid getting dirty FYI sidewalk along nonexcavated area the carts were drawn by two animals that had to pass between the stepping stones as well casa della venere in conchiglia originally water came from the river Sarno or cisterns under the impluvia to catch rainwater from the roof almost no windows on exteriors of buildings due to high crime rates casa di octavius quartio any windows are small, high and barred all houses had wooden exterior and interior doors in some photos the door hinge plate is visible thermopolium for serving dried foods and Romans liked hot wine Pompeii had a population of about ten thousand of which perhaps forty percent were slaves all cooking and housework was done by slaves and domestic slave came mostly from the east side street on a block or insulae where the buildings shared walls like an interlocking puzzle public fountain and next to it is often a square tower that contained a lead tank the same hiight of the reservoir for gravity feed lararium family shrine to ancestors FYI bedrooms seldom had windows and were small public graffiti FYI almost all houses had gardens one vineyard inside the town walls had over 2000 vines storage jar perhaps for urine FYI small shops and taverns lined the streets often set on each side of the house and rented out or run by household slaves windows high small and barred seldom open to street due to crime levels in some photos there is a well cap next to the impluvium the traditional atrium or entry area had bedrooms on either side and a tablinum or reception room just beyond drains from upper floors after the earthquake of 5 February AD 62 many buildings were changed in size and use thickness of plaster on the walls often re-plastered over and over remnants of early pre-Roman Samnite style decoration possible kitchen which were often adjacent to the house pit latrine houses in the mornings were places of business with the male acting as a CEO afternoon was the time to attend the public baths scratched graffiti of a ship on plaster Samnite style decoration high window amphora central portico snake symbol of bounty lararium wall painting pottery jar drains street near casa del Vetutius Placidus thermopolium plaster molding near roof line stepping stone and street sidewalks thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus impluvium and cistern well cover lararium of thermopolium dry goods jars grain, olives, fruit entry to rear area political graffiti thermopolium entrance from street political graffiti roof tiles restoration project impluvium to collect rainwater painted counter political grafitti mosaic floor with watchdog fullonica di Stephanus red porphory decoration remnant of a door casa di Casca Longus corner of via Stabiana and Abbondanza theater quadraportico dei teatri theater theatro grande casa del Menandro lararium ceiling example lararium with wax heads of ancestors small room with impluvium workers political graffiti via di Nocera Nocera gate necropoli Tomb of Eumachia Tomb of Eumachia Tomb of Eumachia graffiti on tombs Nucera gate from tombs Vesuvius in background Nucera gate from tombs Vesuvius in background Forum entrancein SE porta marina gate basilica edifici amministrazione pubblica foro templio di Giove edificio di Eumachia granai del foro used to display items wagon terme del foro forum baths grain mills ovens near porta ercolono hic habitat felicitatus tombs outside herculano gate public fountain wall tower on via del Mercurio casa di Meleagro casa di fauno Alexander the Great mosaic Alexander the Great mosaic dancing faun statue entry to house of the faun doorway upper area welcome mat public fountain wagon ruts public fountain entrance to stabian baths public fountain lupanare paintings of sexual positions another fountain stabian baths male cold room subfloor heating system scratched grafitti swimming pool annex swimming pool in palestra of stabian baths working fountain wasp getting a drink Goode and Carole photos follow under the amphitheater area didattica Ara Massima vitacoltura antica unexcavted are at end of via del abbondanza stray dogs around ruins

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