Pompeii is a city buried alive. The death of Pompeii - is it a punishment or a tragic accident?! The death of Pompeii - why people didn’t leave the city

Pompeii today.

With each subsequent explosion, deadly hot gases, ash and actual rain of rock fragments burst out, followed by pyroclastic flows, more lethal than lava due to their high temperature and speed. When it was all over, Pompeii and its inhabitants were buried under 6 meters of volcanic debris and ash.

A city dweller who died in a dream.

After being buried in petrified ash for over 1,900 years, the victims of Pompeii have been unearthed using modern technology. So scientists were finally able to see a civilization that died almost 2 millennia ago, and was literally “frozen in time.”

The townspeople were burned alive.

Until recently, the main cause of death for the inhabitants of Pompeii was considered to be suffocation caused by deadly volcanic gases and ash. But a recent study by volcanologist Giuseppe Mastrolorenzo and his colleagues found that hundreds of deaths occurred during the fourth pyroclastic explosion, which reached Pompeii first. Scientists determined that there was much less ash in the deadly stream than previously thought - about 3 centimeters. However, the temperature was at least 300 degrees Celsius, so people died instantly.

3/4 of the townspeople froze in the positions they were in at the time of death.

The poses of the people show how they died: some were trapped inside buildings, while others tried to shield family members. When these unfortunate victims were excavated by modern scientists, they used plaster casting technology (in one case, resin casting) to preserve the petrified human figures. The soft tissues of the victims have long since decomposed; inside each such petrified figure there is a skeleton. Therefore, these are not statues or replicas, but real corpses that have been encased in plaster to prevent them from being destroyed.

Of the approximately 2,000 dead bodies found, only 86 of these plaster casts of human figures were made. The conditions for creating such a figure are rare, which explains why they were not made from all the remains found. Excavations are still carried out in Pompeii today. But plaster damages the fragile remains of corpses, so archaeologists are no longer producing new “sculptures with skeletons inside.” Moreover, not only the poses of the victims at the time of death were preserved, but also the expressions on their faces, which show agony.

Frozen in agony.

One of the victims raised her hands above her head in a protective gesture - a desperate, reflexive attempt to stave off her impending doom. The face froze in an endless scream, showing perfectly preserved teeth in the mouth. With outstretched hands, mother and her child face death. One man sits with his face in his hands, as if resigned to what is about to happen. Others try to crawl away in a futile attempt to escape their inevitable fate. A number of fossilized remains were found curled up in the fetal position or hugging their loved ones.

No one knows how he will spend his last minutes, faced with such a terrible prospect. However, in the case of one person, archaeologists had a number of questions. His petrified remains lie on his back, with his legs spread, and the man pressed his hands to his lower abdomen. So while most of the excavated victims clearly display terror and anticipation of their final moments, one victim may have chosen to act very differently.

The Fugitive Garden is where the largest group of victims was found.

Of the approximately 2,000 inhabitants of Pompeii believed to have died in the disaster, archaeologists have recovered only about 1,150 bodies. This means that most of the city's 20,000 population managed to escape when the volcanic activity began. The largest number of victims who died in one place was found in the "Garden of the Fugitives." Thirteen people sought refuge there and died. The remains of nine people were found in the House of Mysteries (it is believed that the roof of the building collapsed and buried these people). Two more victims were found in the thermal baths and in the fish market, and several more were found in the Olitorium (market).

The remains of a pet dog found in the Olitorium market.

The remains of several animals have been found in Pompeii. Since it was a prosperous city, many residents had pets, mostly dogs. Most wealthy residents also owned horses and farm animals. In addition, wild animals roamed the vicinity of the city, which also could not escape and were doomed.

Remains of a pig at the Olitorium market.

In the Olitorium market, the remains of a pig were discovered, as well as a small dog (presumably someone's pet), which was lying on its back, its paws so twisted as if the animal was in terrible pain in its last moments. It is assumed that the owners tied the poor dog in the atrium, and he managed to survive the first phase of the eruption, climbing on the ash and pumice as it covered the house... but the chain did not allow him to go further, and the fourth eruption killed the dog.

Remains of a horse on Pompeii Street.

The owners may have left the dog to guard their valuables, hoping to return when the eruption ended. But by doing this they doomed her to a terrible death. Archaeologists recently discovered several horses in the stables of one of the Pompeii villas. It appears that at least three horses were killed, two of which were harnessed and possibly prepared for hasty evacuation. However, they did not have time to do this.

The bread retained its shape and texture.

Fully preserved ancient bread was discovered under a thick layer of dust and ash. Although there is actually nothing exotic about it, it is worth talking about. It was a perfectly preserved round loaf, divided into eight pieces, and marked with the baker's stamp (bread bakeries in that era usually stamped the bread they made so that you could immediately find out who made any loaf). This bread retained its shape and texture for 2 millennia under a 9-meter layer of ash and earth.

Following this discovery, scientists from the University of Cincinnati conducted a study that shed light on what the inhabitants of ancient Pompeii ate and drank. Researchers analyzed organic remains from kitchens and toilets (yes, that's right, ancient fossilized feces).

Public toilet.

They were able to determine that the Pompeian diet consisted mainly of grains, lentils, olives, eggs, nuts, fish and meat. The diet of higher-ranking citizens also included imported products such as exotic spices, shellfish, sea ​​urchins, flamingos and even giraffes.

Study co-author Stephen Ellis, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, said: "This is believed to be the only giraffe bone ever recovered from an archaeological dig in Roman Italy." Finally, the Pompeians were fond of garum, a fermented fish sauce made from the innards of fish (the salted fish was left to ferment (or rot) for two months in the sun). Some contemporaries compare garum to Thai fish sauce. But in ancient Pompeii it was considered something like ketchup.

The inhabitants of Pompeii had healthy teeth.

A recent scan revealed that the people of Pompeii had surprisingly healthy pearly white teeth. Although in 79 AD. e. there was no proper dental care, the people of Pompeii had much better dental health than the average European. Researchers point out that the teeth of the Pompeians were in many ways even better than those of people today. This is due to the fact that the diet of the locals was healthy, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and low in sugars. In addition, the city's air and drinking water had high levels of fluoride due to its proximity to the volcano.

The “two maidens” actually turned out to be men.

This iconic pair of fossilized remains from Pompeii was previously thought to be two women who embraced in the face of impending death. When archaeologists found them, they called them “Two Maidens.” However, in early 2017, researchers discovered that the hugging individuals were men, and quite possibly lovers.

CT scans and DNA results from bones and teeth confirmed that they were definitely male and not related. One was 18-20 years old, and the other was over 20. One laid his head on the other's chest, as if seeking comfort or refuge. Of course, it can no longer be said that they were gay, but the DNA results and the position in which they were found led scientists to believe that there may have been an emotional connection between them.

Oh, already these desires.

The sexual habits of the inhabitants of Pompeii would make one blush and modern people, because ancient Rome and Pompeii were considered hedonistic cultures without complexes. Pompeii was first discovered in the late 16th century by workers digging a canal to divert the course of the Sarno River. They reported their discovery to the Italian architect Domenico Fontana, who was so amazed by the explicit frescoes and other sexual objects that he ordered everything to be buried again.

Too scandalous scenes.

The items found were considered too scandalous and offensive for the era. As a result, the artifacts remained buried until the 18th century. And even after repeated targeted excavations began, most of the “treasures of Pompeii” were hidden. In 1819 Francis I, future ruler Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, was so shocked by the apparently erotic nature of the objects brought to him from Pompeii that he ordered them to be locked up in secret office. Access to artifacts was limited only to the most mature gentlemen with a lack of excessive morality.

Well, very explicit scenes.

Most of these artifacts were not made available to the public until 2000. The Pompeians decorated furniture, oil lamps, and even musical pendants with phallic symbols. Erotic scenes were depicted in mosaics and frescoes on the walls of houses. Erotica was everywhere. The most famous object is a detailed sculpture of the god Pan committing adultery with a goat. This item belonged to Lucius Pontiff, father-in-law of Julius Caesar.

Brothels are the most popular establishments in Pompeii.

Brothels were also very popular in ancient Pompeii, of which there were 35 in the city at the time of the eruption. Prices for services were written on the walls of the establishment. And what services can be obtained inside were also painted on the walls of the brothels, and in great detail. But contrary to the images on the walls, sex workers appeared to lead grim lives. The rooms had stone beds and no windows, as well as any amenities.

Prison for slaves.

Despite numerous excavations of Pompeii, the dark history of slavery in this place is not fully understood. Scientists learned everything that is known from paintings, frescoes and mosaics found during excavations. However, it is clear that slavery was common in Pompeii. Whether servants, concubines, or sex workers, slaves were ubiquitous in Pompeian society. As in other societies, slaves were property and owners could do with them as they pleased.

Slaves had various duties, one of the most curious of which was the collection and use of urine as a cleaning agent. They soaked their masters' dirty clothes in bathtubs filled with collected urine and water, after which they climbed into the bathtub and trampled the clothes under their feet, much like crushing grapes. And the saddest picture of slavery found during excavations is a slave prison. When Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii, the chained slave was unable to escape. He was found lying face down with shackles still around his ankles.

The unluckiest guy in Pompeii.

One has only to imagine the chaos of falling fire, ash and thick smoke. The earth trembles and cracks underfoot. The buildings around are collapsing. Hot lava rushes towards you like an avalanche, devouring everything in its path. And now it’s worth imagining that you managed to get out of this horror, and there is only one thought in your head: “Yes! I was able to escape." And then suddenly a falling stone blows his head off.

Yes... it was clearly a bad day for the "unluckiest guy in Pompeii". Nobody knows his name. What is known is that his skeletal remains were found under a huge boulder 2000 years after his death. Archaeologists were able to suggest that he fled the city, but was unable to dodge a huge boulder. The poor man's head was never found.

Artifacts of Pompeii.

Pompeii - real ancient city, here many wealthy Romans had country villas. Walking through the streets, you see shops, villas, a theater, a gladiator school, forums and markets. Everything here is real. You can even see “people” in the Rescue Garden: there are 17 plaster casts made in the shape of “air pockets” found during excavations. We see here a woman stretching her arms forward, as if she is trying to push away an inevitable fate, people with their mouths open in a silent scream, trying unsuccessfully to protect their children; there is even a couple of lovers.

It is interesting to get acquainted with the Vetiev house, where two merchant brothers lived. Even the flowers in the garden left clear imprints in the ash, as did droplets of water from the cooling system in the atrium. In some rooms we were able to discover amazing, virtually intact frescoes.

The frescoes are one of the best evidence of the residents' daily activities and holidays. Even in the brothel, there is a mural above each doorway illustrating the activities of the visitors.

To this day, the excavations of Pompeii represent the most magnificent example of an ancient Roman city and its everyday culture - inexhaustible source for research by archaeologists, historians of the ancient world and classical philologists. In 1997, Pompeii was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, but this does not protect the city from further destruction. Decades of neglect of antiquity, vandalism of monuments and an excessive flow of tourists (this is the most visited ancient attraction in Italy, 2 million tourists flock here every year) - all together have led to the fact that the excavations are now in a catastrophic state. Of the sixty-five residential buildings and public buildings still accessible for viewing in 1956, only fifteen can be reached today: the rest are simply dangerous due to possible collapse, they are abandoned and neglected. Therefore, many scientists and representatives of the tourism industry have created a certain cultural institute - “Phoenix Pompeji”, which, through various actions and fundraising, is trying to preserve both cities under Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The modern city of Pompeii is adjacent to the excavation site on the eastern side. The Santuario della Madonna del Rosario, clearly visible from afar thanks to its five-story bell tower, was built at the end of the 19th century. - after the appearance of the Virgin Mary in these places. Especially many pilgrims come on May 8 and the first Sunday in October.

Vesuvius eruption

Description of the horrific events of 79 AD. e. we find in the letters of the Roman writer Pliny the Younger to Tacitus: he observed what was happening from a neighboring town:

“It was already the first hour of the day: the day was gloomy, as if exhausted. The buildings around were shaking, we were in the open, but in the dark, and it was very scary that they would collapse. Then we finally decided to leave the city; We were followed by a shocked crowd that prefers someone else's decision to their own; In horror, she thinks this is a semblance of prudence. A huge number of people crowded us and pushed us forward. Having left the city, we stopped. The carts that we ordered to be sent forward were thrown from side to side on completely level ground, although they were propped up with stones. We saw how the sea is drawn into itself; the earth, shaking, seemed to push him away from itself. The shore was undoubtedly moving forward; many sea animals are stuck on the dry sand. On the other hand, fiery zigzags flashed and ran across the black terrible thundercloud, and it split into long stripes of flame, similar to lightning, but larger. A little later, this cloud began to descend to the ground, covered the sea, encircled Caprei and hid them, and carried Cape Misensky out of sight. Ashes, still rare, began to fall; Looking back, I saw thick darkness approaching us, which, like a stream, spreads after us across the earth. Darkness fell, but not like on a moonless night, but like what happens in a closed room when a fire is being put out. Women's screams, children's squeaks and men's screams were heard... Many raised their hands to the gods, but most claimed that there were no more gods and that the last eternal night had come for the world...”

Story

It is believed that Pompeii was founded in the 7th century. BC. by the ancient Italian people Osci. In the 5th century, the city was conquered by the Etruscans, and at the end of the 5th century. - Samnites, who in the 3rd century. driven out by the Romans. The advantageous location - now, due to sand deposits, the sea has moved 2 km away - and fertile lands at the foot of Vesuvius contributed to the rapid transformation of Pompeii into a thriving trading and port city, where about 20 thousand people lived, half of whom were slaves. The first natural disaster occurred in 62 AD, when Pompeii was first destroyed strong earthquake. The restoration of the city was still in full swing when on August 24, 79 AD. something new happened powerful eruption Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii under a six-meter layer of ash and lava. Approximately 2,000 people died then, but most of the residents managed to escape, taking only the most valuable things. The city was devastated, but even at that time the survivors managed to find many valuable items under the still loose blanket of ash. For almost 1700 years, Pompeii was, as it were, mothballed. Excavations began in the 18th century. - and today are about two-thirds completed. Many buildings lie in ruins, and the most interesting finds are exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. With the start of the “new excavations” in 1911, archaeologists, whenever possible, left the interior decoration of the premises and household items in place. Despite many restrictions, perhaps nowhere else does ancient culture and its housing traditions, represented in rich and not very rich houses, as well as the market square and streets, theaters and temples appear so directly and visibly to visitors. In his Notebook (1787), Goethe wrote about the “mummified city” this way: many terrible events have happened in the world, but very few can bring so much joy to descendants.

Antique city

The center of ancient Pompeii was the Forum, where, as elsewhere in Roman cities, the most important buildings were located, and nearby were inns, taverns and kitchens, baths, latrines, up to thirty lupanaria - brothels, as well as numerous trading shops and craft workshops: bakeries, dyehouses, fulling mills and weaving workshops. The roads are paved with pieces of petrified lava, stone bridges are made for pedestrians to cross to the other side of the street, and deep grooves on the pavement indicate the busy movement of carts and chariots. The intersections were decorated with fountains, and the facades of many houses were decorated with frescoes.

A typical Roman town house had a rectangular plan. The outer walls had almost no windows: the rooms facing the street were most often used as trading shops or workshops. The front door led into a short gallery and immediately into an atrium with a pool for collecting rainwater. Around the atrium there were sleeping and living quarters, and opposite the entrance there was a tablinium - a living room and an office. Inside the house, as a rule, there was a garden framed by a covered colonnade - peristyle. Sometimes there was another garden adjacent to it. In the peristyle there was a triclinium - a dining room, and the kitchen and cellar were located in each house differently. Many dwellings had an upper floor with balconies. Surviving fragments of stucco decorations, intricate wall paintings and mosaic floors speak of the taste and wealth of the former occupants.

Painting in Poimeya

Despite the fact that the heyday of Pompeii lasted only 160 years, it is customary to distinguish four styles in the art of urban wall painting. For the first style, which remained relevant until about 80 BC. characterized by the absence of figures. The walls are decorated with paintings that imitate marble inlay, as, for example, can be seen in the Casa di Sallustio.

The second style (up to about 10 AD) is characterized by images with perspective; the most famous example is the Villa of Mysteries. The third style, which took shape over the next 40 years, is characterized by landscapes and images of mythological subjects - instead of perspective painting, for example in the Casa di Lucretio Fronto. Finally, the times of the city’s decline are characterized by a fourth style: the walls are covered with paintings in the spirit of mannerism, the spatial-perspective image returns; the frescoes are inhabited by mythical creatures and decorated with ornaments - the most beautiful wall paintings can be seen in the Casa di Loreius Tiburtinus.

Excavations in Pompeii

The city, which covers an area of ​​more than 60 hectares and is equal to the territory of one hundred modern football fields, is allowed to be viewed only in some of its areas.

Antiquarium

Outside the city gates on the right is the Antiquarium, where archaeological finds from pre-Samnite to Roman times are kept. Particularly impressive are the plaster casts of people and animals who died during the eruption of Vesuvius. Their bodies were preserved in the voids of the lava layer and were recovered at the end of the 19th century, when the voids were filled with gypsum. Via Marina leads from the Antiquarium to the Forum. Where the street turns into a square, on the right stands the largest building of Pompeii - the basilica of the 2nd century. BC, which served as a stock exchange, court or place for public meetings.

Forum

The elongated Forum was formerly paved with marble slabs and surrounded on three sides by two-story colonnades. Here was the main sanctuary of the city - the temple of Apollo framed by forty-eight Ionic columns; the second temple, dedicated to Jupiter, is on the north side. During the eruption of Vesuvius, it was just being restored. Nearby there was a market pavilion surrounded by trade shops or market stalls, the temple of Emperor Vespasian and the building of the eumachium - presumably the workshops of cloth merchants. On the south side of the Forum, among the three columns was the city council.

Stabian terms

Following Via dell'Abbondanza, the main shopping street ancient Pompeii - Decumanus Maior, you can go to the Stabian Baths, the largest and best-preserved Roman baths. First, the visitor finds himself in a palaestra surrounded by columns - a room where the physical education of young men was carried out. On the left is a swimming pool with a changing room, on the right is a men's bathhouse, which was adjacent to a women's bathhouse; they are separated by heating rooms. The baths were heated by a special pipe system (hypocaust) located under the floor. Hot air from the furnace flowed through these pipes - the system can be studied quite well. The men's bathhouse had a round bath with cold water; adjoining the men's and women's halves was one dressing room with niches where clothes could be folded, and a walk-through, weakly heated room, as well as a steam room. In the alley to the left of the thermal baths there is a lupanarium, the premises of which are painted with frescoes of erotic content.

Triangular Forum

Via dei Teatri ends in the theater quarter, located on the Triangular Forum. Nearby are the ruins of a 6th century Greek temple. BC.; Gladiators lived and trained in the barracks opposite. The Great Theater (Teatro Grande, 200-150 BC) accommodated 5,000 spectators. The Maly Theater, Odeon, located nearby, is better preserved; This is the oldest example of an indoor Roman theater with 1000 seats. Around 75 BC e. Mostly musical performances were given here; in addition, reciters performed. A little to the north on the left there is a small temple of Jupiter Meilichius, behind it - built in 62 AD. Temple of Isis, magical wall paintings from which can be seen in the National Museum of Naples. In 1817, a certain Henri Beyle, the famous French writer known as Stendhal, also immortalized his name on the wall of the temple. Along Via Stabiana you can go to the House of the Cifareda - one of the largest in Pompeii; there was also a cloth workshop, a bakery and a tavern at the house.

New excavations

Ha Via dell "Abbondanza, about 100 m on the right side, the so-called New Excavations (Nuovi Scavi) begin, which means: wall paintings and home decorations are left where they were found; this is how many of the upper floors with balconies and loggias were preserved The many inscriptions found made it possible to compile the so-called “Address Book” with five hundred and fifty names.The quarter, in which mainly merchants settled, dates back to the last period of the existence of Pompeii.

Artistic delights await visitors in front of the Casa di Lucius Ceius Secundus, where the stucco on the façade of the house imitates cut stone masonry; Fullonica Stefani's house was clearly prettier; in the Casa del Criptoportico there is a passage in the underground floor, protected from the weather.

Well preserved and decorated with wall paintings and mosaics, the House of Menander belonged to a wealthy merchant, and the house owes its name to the image of the Greek comedian Menander in a niche of the magnificent peristyle. Further on the left but Via dell "Abbondanza is the house of Termopolio di Asellina, it was a tavern where drinks and food were served. Pots and vessels were inserted into the counter facing the street. The facade with many inscriptions refers to the house of Trebius Valens; standing nearby on the right, the house of Loreus Tiburtina - one of the largest private houses in Pompeii - had a magnificent garden.

Further south and east of Via dell'Abbondanza are the newest excavations; especially interesting are the House of the Gardener, the House of Venus with a magnificent image of Venus, as well as the House of Julia Felis - a city villa, later rebuilt into an apartment building.

Near the house of Lorey Tiburtina is the city sports square, called the Palestra, it is surrounded on three sides by porticoes with columns, and in the center is a swimming pool. Adjacent to the square is an amphitheater for 20 thousand spectators, which began to be built around 80 BC. This is one of the most ancient Roman amphitheatres; unlike later ones, it has no underground structures. Nearby is the city wall with the Porta di Nocera gate, behind which, as in all ancient cities, along the street leading from the city, there were necropolises and tombstones.

In the northern part of the excavations you can see other famous houses, including the Casa del Centenario with many picturesque images of animals and landscapes and the Casa di Lucretius Frontone, where the image of Eros is repeated many times in medallions decorating the walls. In the Casa delle Nozze d "Argento (or house of the Silver Wedding) there is a beautiful atrium and peristyle; in the garden of the house of the Gilded Cupids, marble decoration has been preserved.

House of the Vettii

One of the most famous houses is the House of Vettnev, which dates from the last decades of Pompeii. The owners of the house, decorated with many wall paintings, were brothers - wealthy merchants of Vettii. At the entrance on the right there is a fresco depicting the god of fertility Priapus with a huge phallus; the frescoes in the triclinium - to the right of the peristyle - represent mythological scenes. The courtyard, surrounded by columns, is beautifully planted with statues and pools; The room on the narrow side of the house is decorated with a black frieze with figures of cupids imitating the activities of people. Ancient kitchen utensils have been preserved in the kitchen. The neighboring house of the Labyrinth dates back to Samnite times.

House of the Faun

Opposite, the house of the Faun stretches diagonally, occupying an entire nnsula. The entrance to it is from Via di Nola. Next to the impluvium - the pool in the atrium - is a copy of the statue of a dancing Faun found here (hence the name of the house). In a room with red columns was found the famous mosaic depicting the battle of Alexander the Great - both masterpieces can be seen in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The Baths of the Forum, located a stone's throw away, are slightly smaller and more modest than the Stabius Baths, but in the same way occupy an entire insula.

House of the Tragic Poet

The luxuriously furnished House of the Tragic Poet became famous thanks to the floor mosaic at the entrance: it depicts a dog on a chain and the inscription “Cave Sftu” (Latin - beware of the dog). It borders the Hellenistic era Casa di Pansa (of the Vibii family), later converted into an apartment building. North of the House of the Tragic Poet - Fullonica (fullment shop): next to the left are the house of the Great Fountain and the house of the Small Fountain - both have really beautiful fountains.

House of Sallust

From the House of the Small Fountain you can walk along the Vicolo di Mercurio to the House of Sallust, decorated with beautiful paintings. Many medical instruments were found in the House of the Surgeon in Via Consolare; Apparently, about 2000 years ago a surgeon practiced here.

Street of Tombs and Villa Diomedes

Behind the city wall and the Herculanean gates, the so-called Via dei Sepolcri, bordered by cypress trees, begins. Street of the Tombs. The impressive tombs here, along with those on the Roman Appian Way, are one of the most impressive examples of burials of noble or wealthy citizens along public roads. At the northwest end stands the Villa of Diomedes; in the garden, surrounded by a portico, there is a pavilion with a swimming pool. Eighteen bodies of women and children who died here were found in the basements of the villa. Near the doors walled up today, which formerly led from the garden to the sea, two were found; the supposed owner of the house with a key in his hands, and next to him is a slave holding a wallet with money.

Villa of Mysteries

The most beautiful ancient frescoes have been preserved in all the freshness of their magnificent colors in the Villa of the Mysteries. In the spacious triclinium you can clearly see a cycle of frescoes (17 m long) with figures depicted almost in human height and painted, most likely, between 70 and 50 years. BC e. based on samples from the 3rd century. BC. It is assumed that this cycle represents the initiation of a certain lady into the mysteries of the cult of Dionysius.

Pompeii area

Among the many ancient villas located 4 km from Pompeii in the vicinity of the town of Boscoreale, you should visit Villa Regina - small but well preserved Vacation home. Nearby, on Via Settembrini 15, there is a little-known, but nevertheless very interesting museum of antiquities - Antiquarium di Boscoreale, whose exhibitions tell about the settlement of the Vesuvius region and the life of the inhabitants of Pompeii, as well as the history of excavations.

Viewpoint

Around the city walls of Pompeii there is a long (3.5 km) road, up to 8 m high, from which interesting views open up. Good review gives also the high bell tower (80 m) of the Santuario della Beata Vergine del Rosario temple, which is on the territory modern city Pompeii. You can take a lift to the observation terrace.

Working hours:
May-Oct. 9.00-13.00, 15.30-18.30;
Nov.-Apr. 9.00-13.00

Vesuvius's last eruption

On April 24, 1872, one of several powerful eruptions of the Vesuvius volcano occurred: two villages were buried under fiery lava, and the last major eruption occurred in 1944, and then the lava destroyed the city of San Sebastiano.

Arrival

Best way to get to Pompeii public transport, for example by railway Ferrovia Circumve-suviana Neapel-Sorrent to Villa dei Misteri station. Another option: train Naples-Salerno to Pompei Scavi station. By car, take highway A 3, exit towards Pompei-Scavi.

Inquiries

Via Sacra 1.80045 Pompei;
Tel.: 08 18 50 72 55;
www.pompei.it
www.pompeiisites.org

It should be noted right away that the bodies of deceased citizens in the Roman Empire were not buried, but cremated. For modern historians, this is a big disadvantage, since bones can reveal a lot about a person’s life. What he ate, what he was sick with, what kind of lifestyle he led. Therefore, skeletons, whose age is estimated at two thousand years, are very valuable. Finding them in Italy is difficult. Hence the enormous archaeological significance of Pompeii. In this city, which was buried under a multi-meter layer of volcanic ash, a lot of skeletons have been preserved.

The death of Pompeii dates back to August 24, 79.. In 62 years, it will be possible to celebrate 2000 years since the death of the city. By historical standards, the period is relatively short. By the standards of space - an instant. But if we consider the tragedy from the perspective of the duration of human life, then a huge period of time has passed.

History of Pompeii

Pompeii itself was founded in the 6th century BC. e. The city absorbed 5 small settlements and turned into a single administrative entity. These were the possessions of the Etruscans, those same ancient tribes whose culture served as the basis of Roman culture. At the end of the 5th century, the city was captured by the Samnites, and 100 years later Pompeii threw in its lot with the Roman Republic. Residents of the city enjoyed great rights and were considered not subjects, but allies of Rome.

But such an alliance was a mere formality. The Roman Senate looked at such cities from a consumer perspective. Citizens were recruited to serve in the army, but were not given Roman citizenship. They were also deprived of material issues concerning rights to public lands. All this gave birth to an uprising.

Pompeii city plan

In 89 BC. e. Troops entered Pompeii, and the city was declared a colony of the Roman Republic. The city forever lost even its formal independence. But this had no effect on the residents. For the remaining 90 years they lived freely and securely. The lands were fertile, the sea was nearby, the climate was mild, and noble Romans willingly built villas in these places.

Nearby was the city of Herculaneum. Legionnaires who retired, as well as former slaves who became free citizens, settled there. In the Roman Republic, any slave could buy freedom or receive it as a gift for some merit. These are the people who inhabited the city.

Another neighboring city was called Stabiae. This was the place of the Roman nouveau riche. There were luxurious villas surrounded by greenery. The houses of the poor people were located at a distance. Servants, artisans, and merchants lived in them. They all fed from rich people, providing for their needs.

The death of Pompeii is inextricably linked with these two cities. They were also buried under the volcanic ash of the “awakened” Vesuvius. Most of the residents died. Only those who left their homes at the very beginning of the eruption were saved. They abandoned all their property and left, thereby saving the lives of themselves and their loved ones.

Pompeii street

From the day of its formation, Pompeii was actively built. Construction was especially busy in the last 300 years before the tragedy. A huge amphitheater with 20 thousand seats was erected. Its construction dates back to 80 BC. e. Gladiator fights were held in the arena, which was 135 meters long and 105 meters wide. 100 years earlier, ancient builders built the Bolshoi Theater for 5 thousand spectators. Almost simultaneously with the amphitheater, the Maly Theater was built for 1.5 thousand spectators.

The city had many temples dedicated to various gods. There was a forum in the center. This is a square formed from public buildings. It hosted both political and commercial life. The streets were straight and intersected perpendicularly.

The city's water supply was carried out through an aqueduct. This is a large tray on supports. The builders always made a slight slope, and the water ran along it. Life-giving moisture came into the city from mountain springs. From the aqueduct it flowed into a huge reservoir. It was located above residential buildings and had many pipes that ran from it to the houses of wealthy citizens. That is, there was running water available, but only for wealthy people.

The common people were content with public fountains. Pipes from the tank also approached them. But there was one unpleasant nuance. All pipes were made of lead. This naturally affected people's health and affected life expectancy. If people of those times knew about this, they most likely would have made silver pipes. This would have a very positive impact on your health.

In the courtyard of a luxury villa
The quality brickwork is noteworthy

The city was supplied with bread by bakeries. There was textile production. There was a powerful fortress wall and, of course, thermal baths (baths). They were extremely popular in Ancient Rome. In such places, people not only washed, but also communicated, discussing the latest social and commercial news.

Archaeologists even found a lupanarium. This is what brothels were called in the Roman era. In Pompeii it was a 2-story stone building. There were 5 rooms on each floor. It is assumed that there were still 30 single rooms in the city. They were located above wine shops in different residential areas.

If you count, it turns out that no more than 40 prostitutes served clients. 20 thousand people lived in the city. Half of them are men, plus visitors. For such a mass of people there are only 40 priestesses of love. It can be argued that men at that time were much more chaste than the current inhabitants of the planet. Hence the conclusion: the sexual promiscuity of Roman citizens is only a figment of the imagination of unscrupulous historians.

Volcano Vesuvius

What about Vesuvius? This is an active volcano. It is located 15 km from Naples. Its height is 1280 meters. Over the entire history of its existence, it has had 80 major eruptions. According to geologists, Vesuvius was silent for 15 centuries until the significant date in 79. Only in 63 did he become more active. There was an earthquake that destroyed several buildings in the city. An earthquake and an eruption are the same geological process expressed in different forms. But how could the inhabitants of the Roman Republic know about this?

City of Pompeii and Vesuvius

After the tragedy of 79, the volcano fell silent again for more than 1,500 years. Activated in 1631. Lava poured out of a forested crater. She destroyed a small Italian city Torre del Greco. In this case, 1,500 people died. The volcano was active for 2 weeks.

From that moment on, Vesuvius periodically became active at intervals of 15-30 years. A major eruption began on April 4, 1906. The volcano went berserk until April 28th. At the same time, gas was released and lava flowed. Then a similar scenario, but in a more modest form, was repeated 7 years later. And on March 20, 1944, it happened last eruption. It was comparable in strength to the 1906 eruption.

Thus, it is clear that at first only gases, pumice and hard rocks were released from the volcano. All this was accompanied by strong explosions and tons of hot ash, which covered the ground with a multi-ton mass. Since the 17th century, in addition to gases and ash, lava has flowed from the crater.

In fact, those people who live near Vesuvius are at great risk. But this is a densely populated region of Italy. At any moment it can turn into a place of terrible tragedy. But for now the volcano is “sleeping”, and let’s hope that the next activity will occur only in a thousand years.

Chronology of the death of Pompeii

So, let's go back to '79. A week before August 24, an earthquake struck the city. It was very strong and corresponded to 6 points on the Richter scale. The city, which had barely recovered from the earthquake of 1963, again suffered partial destruction. Half of the inhabitants left it. But the other half remained. People began to clear the rubble and improve the damaged life.

It is possible that looters appeared in the city. They robbed abandoned rich estates. Apparently the administrative authorities were not immediately able to restore order, so the thieves felt quite at ease. The situation was aggravated by the fact that there was no water in the water pipeline. Technical services were unable to immediately determine the cause of the accident. It was necessary to go to the mountains and check the condition of the aqueduct there.

It took a week to do everything about everything. Life gradually returned to normal. The morning of August 24 was no different from the previous days after the earthquake. People walked the streets, markets worked. Mount Vesuvius rose majestically in the distance. She looked quite calm, and the townspeople in no way connected the earthquake with her.

The gradual destruction of Pompeii began around one o'clock in the afternoon. At first there were several strong tremors. Then the sound of an explosion was heard, and a black column of smoke appeared over Vesuvius. Gas began to escape from the crater under enormous pressure. It carried away small hard rocks, volcanic ash and pumice (volcanic porous rock). The huge pillar reached a height of 30 km.

Plaster bodies of dead people

This entire mass covered the sky and began to fall to the ground. When even a small pebble falls from a great height, it can kill a person. Therefore, people left the streets and hid in their houses. At the same time, the volcano either intensified or weakened in its fury.

Those residents who, abandoning everything, left the city at noon, remained alive. But the bulk of the population did not even realize the seriousness of the danger. Many considered the roofs of houses to be the most reliable protection.

Volcanic dust mixed with pumice fell to the ground more and more actively. By 4 o'clock in the afternoon it became dark as night. Some roofs of houses began to collapse under the weight of volcanic eruptions. It was impossible to walk the streets. Residents realized that they were being walled up alive in their houses.

As archaeologists have determined, 54 residents took refuge in the basement of a large wholesale warehouse on the day the death of Pompeii occurred. The vaulted ceiling of the room evenly distributed the load created by volcanic dust. Therefore, the shelter was reliable. But people did not take into account that the air was filled with gases harmful to breathing. The situation was aggravated by a pyroclastic flow (volcanic gases and ash with temperatures up to 700 degrees Celsius).

In the depths of Vesuvius, pressure increased sharply. Hot gases and ash rushed out with triple force. Part of the top of the crater could not stand it and collapsed. As a result, the red-hot mass rushed not upward, but to the side and moved towards the city at a tremendous speed of 500 km/h. At the same time, the temperature of the pyroclastic flow reached 300 degrees Celsius.

Everything that came in the way instantly burned. This is how many people who found themselves on the streets of the city at that time died. Archaeologists have found a stable where more than two dozen horses rotted alive. The poor animals were tied up and couldn't get out in time.

A terrible volcanic event significantly accelerated the death of Pompeii. Those 54 people who took refuge in the basement of the wholesale warehouse were suffocated by the hot air. Death was hastened by dust. It entered the lungs and turned into cement there. Two thousand years later these bodies were found. They lay in calm positions. In contrast, those who died on the streets were roasted alive.

Vesuvius Crater

Excavations of the city began in the 19th century. Cavities found in volcanic dust were filled with gypsum. And the emptiness turned into a crooked human body. There were a great many of them. Almost the entire population died. The figure given is 16 thousand people. But this takes into account two other cities: Herculaneum and Stabia.

Thus, the death of Pompeii became the greatest tragedy that happened at the very beginning of the 1st millennium of the new era. These days once upon a time a beautiful city turned into an open-air museum. 75% of its area has been cleared. The rest is still under ash. Now nothing reminds us of the tragedy. The ruins look quite peaceful. Vesuvius also looks peaceful. Looking at him, you can’t say that the culprit of the terrible nightmare was hiding only for a while. But no one knows when the fateful hour will come.

A city where there are no residents, but there are crowds of tourists, where there is no city government, but there is a big name and a good annual budget. It was once a fairly large and prosperous city of the Roman Empire. Almost 30,000 people lived here (for comparison: this is three times more than the current population of Suzdal!). The city had an important strategic and economic situation: a port city located on the Appian Way, which connected the south of the country with Rome.

Today we will go for a walk through the dead city of Pompeii

Depending on the significance they were wide or narrow. Paved with stone. In some places, strongly protruding cobblestones are visible - a pedestrian crossing for people during the rain, when the streets were flooded (for example, visible in the distance in the photo below). Sometimes you can see horse “parking” spots on the sides.

In Pompeii all houses have their own addresses. On the map of Pompeii that you will be given at the entrance, it will be clear how to get to which house. And there will be modern signs on the streets (as in the photo below).

Many houses are well preserved and you can even go inside and see what it was like. For example, on this street there are a couple of such houses.

On the street below on the left side there is a row of all kinds of shopping shops.

There were once all sorts of ornaments on the walls, which they are now trying to restore.

There was a problem with drinking water in the city. Like many Roman cities, an aqueduct was built here. But water from the aqueduct was supplied only to the houses of the richest citizens. The rest of the people went to fountains and wells with all sorts of containers. Well, in general, they had average dacha conditions there. Here is a street with a well.

But the city already had a developed fast food chain. Here you go: the prototype of McDonald's and others like it. Although the service, to be honest, is more reminiscent of shawarma on Kievsky railway station, which was removed from there a couple of years ago. :) Here, inside these holes there were constantly heated pots with all kinds of food. By the way, this fast food was quite popular, because... many poor houses simply did not have a kitchen.

The inhabitants of Pompeii loved to have fun, so they built two theaters there. One of them is below.

The inhabitants of Pompeii loved sex no less than you and me (yeah, who doesn’t love it! :)). They set up as many as 200 so-called lupanarii (brothels) in the city, which had certain opening hours and a certain range of services. The second floor was reserved for especially wealthy clients with VIP service. This establishment was very popular both then and now. In those days - among clients, in our days - among tourists. Nowadays it is the most visited building in Pompeii. :)

The rooms where clients were served were no more than two square meters in area. What can, with a stretch, be called a bed is a bed of some incredibly small dimensions. No doors, no ventilation. In general, I wouldn’t be attracted to sex there. Honestly. I was drawn to the fresh air there. But in general, men know better, of course. :)

By the way, comrades, if you remember, then, according to legend, Romulus and Remus were suckled by a she-wolf. So, according to one version, it was not a she-wolf at all, but the same “magnifying glass” - a lady of easy virtue, which is translated from Latin as a she-wolf. Didn't the psyche of children who grew up in a brothel suffer if they first joyfully killed their uncle, then Romulus killed Remus, and then his descendants conquered half of Europe?..

Well, okay, sex is an eternal and wonderful topic. Let's return to the city. There was a pretty couple in Pompeii large areas. The largest of them is the Pompeii Forum. There was a market, a court, a municipal building, a voting building, all sorts of temples, shops, etc.

One more square. Vesuvius was already visible from here. But that day, apparently, there was still a strong fog, because the photo of Vesuvius turned out somehow bad: everything was completely foggy...

Next will be what is left of people. Those who are especially impressionable may end up viewing the report at this point. And with people it was like this... Pompeii was not at all flooded with lava, as depicted in Bryullov’s painting: Pompeii was covered with many meters of ash and stones.

In that same BBC film that I mentioned at the beginning, it was shown that the first signs of the end were visible a few days before the very end. The wind brought ashes that fell on the heads of citizens so that it was almost impossible to go outside without covering their heads with something. Many hastily began to leave, but some remained in the city and took refuge in their houses.

Agree that there are places in the world that you want to visit no matter what.. One of these places for me was the ancient city of Pompeii in Italy.

And in today’s article I will tell you a lot of interesting things about the city of Pompeii, about what is invented and exaggerated and about what is shocking in reality, we will walk (video at the end of the article) through the streets, we will discover secrets that you could collect for a long time on the RuNet , and now you can find out from my article. It will be informative and interesting, enjoy reading and viewing.

Pompeii today photo

Pompeii destroyed by volcano

Perhaps this is the most famous tragedy in the world associated with a volcano, so it is no secret that it was Volcano Vesuvius that caused the death of the city of Pompeii. But there are a lot of legends and exaggerations around this story, which we will understand along the way...

Volcanic eruption in Pompeii

In fact, Pompeii is located quite far from the crater, so I understand the residents of the city who found it difficult to believe that the consequences of a natural disaster could take their lives. Moreover, people did not know such a thing as a volcanic eruption and did not understand the danger of such a neighborhood.

What does Pompeii mean?

Pompei is the Italian word for the city, which was founded in the 6th century BC by the Osci (ancient Italian people). The city was formed as a result of the union of five settlements.

Where is Pompeii:

Pompeii location relative to Vesuvius

If you look at the map above, you will see that Vesuvius is located between Pompeii and Napoli (the city of Naples), so the tragedy that claimed the lives of the city of Pompeii in 79 could have done the same to the inhabitants of Naples. And judging by the historical chronicles, not only should it, but it could, since the direction of the wind played a big role in the fact that the eruption took place in Pompeii. Usually the wind blew towards Naples, but on this particular day everything was different.

Pompeii how to get from Naples

The distance between cities is less than 25 km. You can get there in many ways, from taxi or car rental to the cheapest - train. We are familiar with this train firsthand, as we traveled on it from Sorrento to Naples. The route just includes a stop in the city of Pompeii.

Further in the section of attractions of the city of Pompeii, I posted a photo of one of the main streets. These streets are notable for many nuances, from high curbs to strange infantry crossings. As you understand, this cannot be depicted in the photo, so again I invite you to see and hear everything in the video.

Many tourists, arriving in Pompeii, rush to see a small house with the strange name Luponarium. This is a brothel of that time. I don’t even know how to explain such a rush of tourists in this direction... Perhaps this is due to the fact that, according to one version, Pompeii did not die by accident and the volcanic eruption was God’s punishment for the depraved lifestyle of its inhabitants, who indulged too much in love pleasures and lost their true values...After such legends, tourists can’t wait to see what this depravity was about that caused the death of an entire city... As for me, these are just tricks to lure tourists and exaggerated stories, because, you see, at all times and in All cities in the world have such establishments and there are those who regularly visit them, but this does not mean that curses and natural disasters should be sent to them. The only thing I agree with is that many tourists are simply interested in seeing what brothels were like in ancient times. In order not to bore you with expectations, I tell and show the main thing (the rest is on video).

Lupanarium photo

The photo below is an image on the wall of a lupanarium. There are many such images here (above eye level along the entire perimeter of the corridor inside). These are not just lewd pictures - this is a menu. Well, yes, the menu, because if you come to a restaurant, then you have to choose from what they are ready to offer you, so, sorry for the frankness, but here everything is the same: you choose how you want to indulge in love pleasures from the pictures.

The lupanarium building is small. In the middle there is a corridor with a menu, and on the sides there are rooms with stone beds, on which everything happened. In addition to the fact that the beds are made of stone, there is another striking feature - the length of the beds is no more than 170 cm. This is because the height of people at that time rarely exceeded 160 cm. Yes, this is interesting) For me personally, this was the most interesting thing in our visit to the lupanarium, the rest is more interesting to those who have something to compare an institution of this kind with.

Pompeii people in ashes

When you walk around the city, there is no feeling of celebration and fun, because you initially understand that you are walking along streets along which people who suffered death ran in agony. Thanks to the voids that were discovered during the excavations of the city, it was possible to restore the postures in which people died and even the expressions of their faces, disfigured by horror. Behind bars on one of the main squares, finds that give you goosebumps are displayed like museum exhibits. For example, this figure of a boy who curled up in hopelessness and died here. On the right in the photo you see a bowl that is now filled with coins, but I didn’t throw it through the lattice fence, because, to be honest, this idea makes me cringe... I don’t know for what purpose this bowl was installed next to this poor young man, but I don’t like the way tourists adapted it at all. I am for the tradition of throwing coins into fountains, but people, this is not a fountain, this is the face of death and a city in which 2,000 people died... Why are you throwing coins? Do you want to come back here? Or is it alms for a dead child? Sorry for being emotional, but this is blasphemy.... A show that the masses support. I didn’t support him, and you decide for yourself, but just be aware of why you put your hand through the bars and try to get a coin into this bowl...

Pompeii photo from excavations

Archaeologists continue their work tirelessly and another quarter of the way to explore the city has not been completed. Maybe new discoveries will surprise us and open up new facets of city life, we’ll look forward to it.

Pompeii finds

In addition to human figures, there are figures of dead animals, as well as dishes and interior items of that time.

After visiting the city of Pompeii, we went to Villa Mysteri, which recently opened after restoration. It is truly a great pleasure to see one of the richest and most beautiful houses, which has preserved stunning pieces of art and luxurious interiors to this day. I will not describe Villa in the article, but I suggest you finish and watch the video, which will answer questions not covered in the article.

I really enjoyed our visit to the city and I am very grateful to our guide, who wished to remain behind the scenes, but who immersed us in a wonderful world with interesting story, which we also became a part of.

See you on the pages of the AVIAMANIA website and the AVIAMANIA YouTube channel.

Pompeii video