Pompeii: The Lost Ancient Wonder of Roman Civilization
James Ciambor
Infamously known as the City of the dead by many, Pompeii has been well preserved for almost two millennia under the volcanic soil and ash deposited by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the year 79AD. Much of this ancient city still stands as a monument to Roman civilization. This can come as a surprise to the casual tourist, considering that most ancient cities are not so meticulously preserved. Although Pompeii has not been inhabited for almost 2,000 years, it provides a glimpse into the ancient world and many of its architectural marvels. As a tourist exploring the area, you will immerse yourself into what life was like back then. Many often describe the sensation of having stepped into the Bible. One can still contemplate the many elaborate frescoes on the walls of the homes of the upper classes, the beds in the brothels with “suggested sexual positions” still painted onto the walls, and even see where food was cooked and served up in sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Complete with an amphitheater rivaling the coliseum of Rome, and several large open air theaters, one notices right away that the ruins of Pompeii were once the foundations of a remarkable and heavily populated ancient city.
The bustling metropolis was unlucky enough to fall victim to the erupting volcano of Mt. Vesuvius one fateful day in 79 AD. Over 20,000 people met their premature demise unexpectedly and abruptly. This was of course bad news for the Roman citizens caught in the disaster. The only good that would come out of this disaster would come almost 2000 years later in the late 1800s. Thanks to the deep ash covering the area, the city and its ruins can be seen in a high state of preservation today. There are several different tours offered by competing companies. The tours vary from 2.5 hours to 4 hours in length but they all give you a one of a kind experience.
If you are not knowledgeable or well informed about the city of Pompeii then you are in luck as many of the tour guides have archeological experience and will be there every step of the way to guide you and provide information on this once prominent city. Pompeii had many great amenities back in its day; some that we take for granted today such as hotels, bakeries, restaurants, public theaters and the Macellum, which is the ancient version of the supermarket. There is a lot to behold in the ancient city and the destination is so popular that it receives 2.5 million visitors annually.
If you are feeling particularly adventurous you can take the shuttle up to Mt. Vesuvius. However, the shuttle can only go up to a certain point of the mountain. To reach the summit requires that you to walk up the rest of the mountain yourself. The views from the summit are well worth the hike.
One of the major attractions that keep people continually fascinated with Pompeii is the plaster re-creations of citizens at the exact moment of their demise. Giuseppe Fiorelli, an archeologist, was responsible for coming up with this technique shortly after discovery of the ruins in the late 1800s. The process basically consists of filling the gaps left in the ash and lava by the bodies of the deceased with a plaster substance. The plaster filled in the gaps to form an almost perfect likeness of the individual caught in the disaster that became Pompeii. One can still see the facial expressions of the Pompeians in their final moments of fear and agony.
Most people visiting Pompeii, stop by on their way between Naples and the beautiful Almafi Coast. If not coming from Naples, you should make note that Naples is just a short drive away. Naples is a large metropolitan area which is home to many fine restaurants, culinary offerings, and is argued to be the birthplace of Pizza. You can easily take a daytrip to the city after you see Pompeii. Naples is a hub for culture, cuisine, fine-arts, and history stretching as far back as Pompeii itself.
