Recently, I posted a photo on Pompeii in my weekly photo challenge. I decided to share more insight of this ancient roman town. In 79CE, the cosmopolitan city of Pompeii and much of its surrounding area were buried under volcanic ash and pumice following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and approximately 2,000 people were buried during a long catastrophic eruption over 2 days in southern Italy. It was not until the mid-18th century that this city was slowly revealed to the world through archaeological excavations. This was my visit on the exhibition last year. I’m not sure which country hosting this year but I’m sure you will find it interesting too. Here’s a walk-through of the town.
(Left) Resin cast of crouching man. Apparently look like he’s praying to god.(Right) A woman preserved in a cast.
“You could hear the wails of women, the cries of children, the shouts of men,, many raised their arms to god, others… declare that the gods were no longer and that this was the last night on earth.” – Pliny the Younger (c61-112CE), letter to historian Tacitus (56-117CE)
This man appear to holding his hand over his mouth to avoid suffocation
Cast of a shackled man
Cast of a pig
Replica panel of inscriptions. Mark the gathering point of the town militia for the defense of the walls, said to have been written by the original inhabitants of Pompeii.
Dices
Silver money
The existence of water pipes during the roman days. This show their advancement of technology used.
Fresco fragments painted in late third-style painting.
(Left) Marble statue of Venus. Goddess of beauty of sensual love. (Right) Marble funerary Statue
(Middle) Hercules statue
Bronze helmet and shield point to gladiators who fought each other in the city’s amphitheater. FYI, Gladiators were mostly prisoners of war or those condemned to death. Slaves and forced laborers could also become gladiators and literally fight their way towards freedom. Nevertheless, they led hard lives for they could die at any moment during combat and if defeated, were at the mercy of the spectators.
Gladiator Shield
I shall end this post with this quotes: “… they are human begins seen in their agony, This is not art, it is not imitation; these are their bones, the remains of their flesh and their clothes mixed with plaster, It is the sadness of death that characterises body and form. I see their wretchedness. I heard their cries as they call to their mothers. and I see them fall and writhe…” – Luigi Settembrini (1813-76)
Lonely Travelog 
History, is my second favorite subject (next to English) so whenever I read posts like this, I get hooked. Thanks for all those pieces of information about Pompeii in spite of the tragic news regarding that eruption killing thousands of people. Going back to history, that info about the pipe got me as well as the fragments, dices and the like. Didn’t really know the Romans were advanced compared to others back in the days. That’s a real trivia for me. So, thank you!
Did you go to Pompeii? Or was this from a mobile exhibition? I’m planning to go to Pompeii this year.
Sadly no. This is an exhibition. Great! Don’t forgot to share those picture at that ancient town!
I was touched when I firstly saw a woman buried with hands holding her baby. What a tragedy happening to them!
My God! The quote and the photos made me wanna cry… I wanna go to Pompeii to see this place but it’s really pitiful to see those people–who are like us– to suffer such miserable death.. :(
Right Yanna. Glad we’re not in their situation.