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Gallery of Pompeii,
Roman treasure to the world
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)
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this Article • About
the Author • Bibliography/Sources
The ancient city of Pompeii
some 30 miles outside the cities of Sorrento and Naples, Italy,
is one of the most famous and unique historical and archaeological
sites in the world. Reached by train or vehicle, entering
the stone and brick city of Pompeii is akin to stepping back
nearly 2,000 years in a single day. Below are some observations
and my own photos from my recent vacation to Sorrento.
Built gradually from 400BCE
until after the time of the life of Jesus, the thriving trade
and cultural city of Pompeii soon became among the Romans'
brightest jewels. It offered not only the joys of entertainment
and cultural theatre, but acted as a major center of pre-Christian
religious worship as well as a crucial seafaring commercial
hot spot. It quickly grew to become one of the largest cities
in the world outside of the Roman capital. The sheer size
and importance of Pompeii is difficult to depict at this time,
as only a portion of the city has even been unearthed from
the multiple meters of ash compacted for more than 1,500 years.
A rich horde of treasures ranging from Roman baths, mosaics,
homes, temples, amphitheatres, arches, and fora (forums) can
be explored throughout the city today in only a fraction of
its former glory some 2,000 years ago. It enjoyed trade with
other local cities like the equally-famous Herculaneum.
By 79CE, the Roman Empire
still remained a pre-Christian military world empire that
stretched from Iberia (Spain) to Dacia (Romania), from Egypt
to Carthage, it had begun the assaults on Britain, and had
already capitulated against the Germans to the north. The
last days of Pompeii were thriving and bright; none of the
inhabitants had any idea that at the height of the Roman dominion
their entire families would be extinguished in under a day
for all time -- along with their city. Eruptions and earthquakes
were common, but no eruption of the proportions of that of
79CE could be imagined. In that year, the large mountain and
stratovolcano (the most powerful form of volcano) of Vesuvius
erupted violently launching millions of tonnes of ash, gas,
and lava miles into the air, covering the city of Pompeii
and its neighbors in a black cloud darker than night. A constant
gas buildup, the presence of increasing heat, and a total
absence of oxygen caused the city's thousands of inhabitants
to suffocate and die before being solidified in entirety by
the compaction of several meters of hot ash; in less than
2 days, everyone in the city was dead and the entire capital
was so intensely covered that no one was even aware of its
presence until it was discovered suddenly in the 1750s --
some 1,700 years later. The actual preserved bodies of many
inhabitants encased in ash can be seen by the visitors; they
were not instantly solidified by the ash cloud, but rather
died due to suffocation and gas poisoning before being covered
in the settling soot.
Pompeii makes the Acropolis,
the Parthenon, and the treasures of Athens looks virtually
insignificant. It can arguably only be rivaled by the historic
sites of Olympia in western Greece, the wonders of Egypt,
and Greek Ephesus in Turkey in its archaeological richness.
Pompeii is so massive that walking through its endless mazes
can take an entire day, and returning back to the entrance
to leave can take several hours alone. The city is one of
the world's most common tourist sites, and local businessmen
and restaurants keenly exploit this opportunity. Guided and
independent tours can be seen given at all hours of the day.
The city (which has no inhabitants now except archaeologists
and employees) is an endless myriad of stone, brick, and in
some cases marble. The endless "paved" roads are
quite primitive in that they today appear as a collection
of uneven rocks sunk into the ground, many of different and
slippery textures that cause visitors to have cramps with
near certainty by the end of the day. Some stones on the walkway
are several feet higher than the floor base, but this is for
the purpose of allowing homeowners to step over the muddy
waters brought by rain in the gutters. Actual erosion of the
rock floors due to chariot racing of the wealthy elite can
be seen in some parts, but it does not account for the Romans'
primitive use of uneven paving and walkways in this wealthy
city. Though nearly every single building -- and there are
thousands and thousands on every turn of the head -- is partially
collapsed (typically with no roof), it is possible to enter
each and feel how it was like at the time of the period in
that home of the city. Many random dilapidated homes still
have toilets (in this case holes in the floor with a large
basin below), latrines, and stone cabinets for storage. Roman
baths, storage buildings, military barracks, and temples can
be entered all throughout the city.
Very few of the buildings
offer major visuals or artistic treasures like mosaics or
paintings other than major temples or homes of the wealthy.
This may or may not be due to erosion, but the Romans tended
to use stone etchings that last nearly forever instead of
the later Byzantine hand-painted designs or mosaics on their
ancient walls and murals. Massive courtyards can be seen with
huge pillars of former felled pre-Christian temples. Horseracing
tracks (hippodromes), and even sacrificial altars to the gods
can be traversed and touched as well. For the catastrophe
the city has faced, it is in fantastic condition and interestingly
offers some of the former Roman Empires' most well-preserved
structures. Massive stone pillars and archways can be seen
all over the city even next to a restroom and restaurant,
a fascinating reminder of the leap back into history the entrants
are experiencing. An endless walk through the housing districts
offer a number of huge half-collapsed Roman (pre-Christian
religion) temples with domed peaks, a large recreational park
with original stone benches and livestock storage, etc. Also
to be seen is one of the world's largest amphitheatres outside
of Ephesus in great condition. Concerts of modern musicians
are held here on occasion. The walk to this corner of the
city that required some 3 hours or more may be met with the
reality that there is another corner of the city another several
hours away with equal worth in treasure. The historical and
archaeological gem that is Pompeii is rightfully one of the
most famous and important sites in the world.
Below are some of my photos
from my vacation.
My photo of the bay of Vesuvius with Sorrento and the Amalfi
coast in the background. (click to enlarge)
My photo of a broken home in the very first glance of Vesuvius.
Another fantastic broken home's ruins. (click to enlarge)
Impressive archways and pillars leading towards another section
of the city. (click to enlarge)
A series of pillars in the main central courtyard. These types
are everywhere in the city. (click to enlarge)
A view of the main courtyard. A temple once stood here, the
main of the city. (click to enlarge)
Yet another group of pillars hoisting a former temple. (click
to enlarge)
A Roman altar next to the courtyard. (click to enlarge)
A great temple and an arch next to pillars near the courtyard.
(click to enlarge)
My photo of an encased body covered in ash. (click
to enlarge)
This body was resting in the fetal position upon the time
of his/her death.
A pregnant woman encased in ash along with her unborn infant.
(click to enlarge)
Inside a glorious yet small temple, this body is housed. The
folds of his pants can even be seen! (click to enlarge)
 
A broken floor mural of Alexander the Great and Iranian Shah
Darriyyush (Darrius). Other than the famous bust, this is
our image of Alexander. The angle is poor due to the fact
that trespassing atop the mosaics is forbidden.
One of the few outwardly artistic parts of the city: a strange
gate-like recess in the wall with fantastic art. (click
to enlarge)
A magnificent temple of the city that is half-collapsed. (click
to enlarge)
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ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
James Mayfield is the owner
and Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I am working
for a doctorate in history, with a specific emphasis on Islamic
and European histories. I am well versed in all world cultures,
ethnicities, religions, languages, politics, and historical
evolution in relation to and against each other.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES
USED:
Personal observations, photographs.
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