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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, 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 2007 vacation.
Built gradually from 400BCE
until after the time of the life of Jesus, the thriving trade
and cultural city of Pompeii quickly 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 and 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 of archeological
scholarship, as only a portion of the city has even been unearthed
from the multiple meters of ash compacted over 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 their former glory some 2,000 years ago. Pompeii 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 Armenia and from Egypt to
Carthage, it had begun the assaults on Britain, and had already
capitulated to the Germans east of the Rhein. 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, enveloping 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 asphyxiate 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 compounded
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. Whereas the Acropolis and most of the great
gems of Athens can be seen in less than a day, Pompeii can
require weeks of thorough traversing. 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. Though nearly every single building
-- and there are hundreds upon every turn of the head -- is
partially collapsed (typically with no roof), it is possible
to enter most 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 more 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 Empire's 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, and in superb condition. Concerts of modern musicians
are held here on occasion. The walk to this corner of the
city that required some three 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 a historian
and the Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I have
a Cum Laude BA in History with a Minor in Germanic Studies
(language and history), am presently working for my Masters
in History, and plan to immediately progress to my PhD Doctorate.
I have a special academic interest in Europe's diverse ethnic
identities, languages, and cultures, and the political struggles
of native European and immigrant minority identities. See
my staff entry for more information.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES
USED:
No additional citations or
sources necessary.
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