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Pompeii in pictures
The most famous victim of the eruption of Vesuvius, which occurred in August AD 79, is the city of Pompeii. With Roman daily life perfectly preserved by the ash and pumice of the eruption, it is a fascinating archaeological site.
From across the Bay of Naples, you can see how Vesuvius dominates the surrounding landscape.
If you begin your tour of Pompeii from the main entrance, one of the first major buildings you encounter is Pompeii’s granary, now used to store many of the artefacts found in the excavations of the ruins.
Some of the objects are in such perfect condition that they could have been made today – like this Roman drinking glass.
The interiors of many buildings are equally well preserved, with richly painted walls and mosaic floors still in evidence.
Perhaps Pompeii’s most famous mosaic, found at the entrance to one of the city’s large houses. The Latin inscription reads Cave Canem – Beware of the Dog.
This is the internal courtyard garden of one of the villas. It has been laid out and replanted in what is thought to be an authentic Roman style.
There are several Roman bathhouses at Pompeii. This one has a domed ceiling over one of the pools, still partially intact.
The walls of the bathhouse were decorated with elaborate friezes, the domed ceiling was painted in a dark blue and decorated like a night sky– if you look carefully, the white stars are still visible in the paintwork.
Elsewhere in the bathhouse, you can see the pillars that supported a raised floor, under which the heating system ran.
Temples are also numerous in the city. The people of Pompeii worshipped a variety of Gods, primarily Roman, but this example, which is extremely intact, is dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis. One of the bodies found nearby during the excavations appears to be a priest of the temple who may have been fleeing with a bag of gold from among the temple’s treasures.
The temple had been damaged by an earthquake in AD62. This inscription records how its restoration was financed by Numerius Popidius Ampliatus, a freed slave, in the name of his son Celsinus. Celsinus was only six at the time, but was already a member of the town council, as his father was ineligible because he was not born free.
The city also had several theatres. This is the Odeon, or small theatre. It was used mainly for musical performances and seated around 1,500 people.
Pompeii is perhaps most famous for the plaster casts made of those who died in the eruption. The ash formed a hard case around their bodies, which then decomposed within, leaving a hollow space. Plaster poured into these cavities produced these incredibly detailed casts, with clothing and facial expressions visible. Among the bodies found were a pregnant woman and a little boy found alongside, presumably, his parents and sibling, and even a dog. They are a poignant reminder of the human tragedy underneath this fascinating archaeological site.
Night draws in on Pompeii, with Vesuvius is visible in the distance.
By Lauren Newby
You might also be interested in:
- Excavations on the Cotswold Way
- Rediscovering Shakespeare's Curtain Theatre
- Ravaged, ruined and removed – the lost buildings of the world
