Volcano in Pompeii name. The death of Pompeii. Who is hiding the true date of the disaster and why? The creepy photos are not corpses, but just plaster casts

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 majestic example of an ancient Roman city and its everyday culture - an inexhaustible source for research by archaeologists and historians ancient world and classical philologists. In 1997, Pompeii was included in the World Heritage List cultural heritage UNESCO, however, this does not protect the city from new 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 in late XIX V. - 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 by a 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; most famous example- 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 of ancient Pompeii - Decumanus Maior, you can go to the Stabian Baths, the largest and best-preserved Roman baths. First, the visitor enters the palaestra surrounded by columns - the 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 bathhouses were heated by a special pipe system (hypocaust), located under the floor, hot air from the stove flowed through these pipes - the system can be studied quite well. the 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 National Museum 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 porticos 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 tomb structures.

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

Luxuriously furnished House 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 (from 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 Boscoreale, you should visit Villa Regina, a small but well-preserved country house. 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 the A 3 highway, exit towards Pompei-Scavi.

Inquiries

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

Pompeii (Latin Pompeji, Italian Pompei, Neap. Pompei; Greek Πομπηία) is an ancient Roman city near Naples, in the Campania region, buried under a layer of volcanic ash as a result of the eruption of Vesuvius on August 24, 79.

Now it is an open-air museum. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Story

Recent excavations have shown that in the 1st millennium BC. e. There was a settlement near the modern city of Nola in the 7th century BC. e. approached the mouth. A new settlement - Pompeii - was founded by the Osci in the 6th century BC. e. Their name most likely goes back to the Oscan pumpe - five, and is known from the very foundation of the city, indicating the formation of Pompeii as a result of the merger of five settlements. The division into 5 electoral districts remained in Roman time. According to another version, the name comes from the Greek pompe (triumphal procession): according to the legend about the founding of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum by the hero Hercules, he, having defeated the giant Geryon, solemnly marched through the city.

The early history of the city is little known. Surviving sources speak of clashes between the Greeks and Etruscans. For some time, Pompeii belonged to Cumae, from the end of the 6th century BC. e. were under the influence of the Etruscans and were part of a union of cities led by Capua. Moreover, in 525 BC. e. A Doric temple was built in honor of the Greek gods. After the defeat of the Etruscans in Kita, Syracuse in 474 BC. e. The Greeks regained dominance in the region. In the 20s of the 5th century BC. e. together with other cities of Campania, they were conquered by the Samnites. During the Second Samnite War, the Samnites were defeated by the Roman Republic, and Pompeii around 310 BC. e. became allies.

Death of the city

The harbinger of the eruption was a strong earthquake that occurred on February 5, 62 AD. e. and described, in particular, in the Annals of Tacitus. The disaster caused great damage to the city; almost all buildings were damaged to one degree or another. Most of the buildings were repaired, but some remained damaged until the destruction of the city in 79.

The eruption of Vesuvius began on the afternoon of August 24, 79 and lasted about a day, as evidenced by some surviving manuscripts of Pliny the Younger's Letters. It led to the destruction of three cities - Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae and several small villages and villas. During the excavations, it became clear that everything in the cities was preserved as it was before the eruption. Streets, fully furnished houses, and the remains of people and animals that did not have time to escape were found under a multi-meter layer of ash. The force of the eruption was such that the ash from it even reached and.

Of the 20,000 inhabitants of Pompeii about 2000 Human. Most of the residents left the city before the disaster, but the remains of the victims are also found outside the city. Therefore, the exact number of deaths is impossible to estimate.

Among those killed by the eruption was Pliny the Elder, from scientific interest and out of a desire to help people suffering from the eruption, he tried to approach Vesuvius on a ship and found himself in one of the centers of the disaster - at Stabia.

Excavations

The architect Domenico Fontana, laying a canal from the Sarno River in 1592, discovered part of the city wall. In 1689, during the construction of a well, ruins were found ancient building, containing an inscription with the word "Pompeii". Then, however, it was believed that this was the villa of Pompey the Great.

Excavations began only in 1748 under the leadership of R. J. Alcubierre, who was sure that the city he had found was Stabiae. The main work at that time was carried out in Herculaneum; only three unconnected sites were excavated in Pompeii. Alcubierre was only interested in finds of artistic value, which he sent to the royal museum in Portici. Other finds were destroyed. This practice was stopped after protest from a number of scientists.

Under the manager F. le Vega in 1760-1804, the excavations acquired a different character. The buildings under study were no longer filled with excavated soil; it began to be transported outside the city. Opened monuments were restored, and finds that were not sent to the museum were left in place for public viewing. A plan of excursion routes was developed. In 1763, with the discovery of an inscription on the pedestal of the statue, it became clear that the city buried under the ashes was not Stabiae, but Pompeii. Excavations were especially active in 1808-1814 under Murat. Important role Caroline Bonaparte played them.

Since 1863, excavations have been led by Giuseppe Fiorelli. In 1870, he discovered that voids had formed in place of the bodies of people and animals buried under a layer of volcanic ash. By filling these voids with plaster, it was possible to reconstruct the dying poses of the victims of the eruption. Under him, excavations became systematic for the first time.

Since 1961, and especially after the 1980 earthquake, the city has been carrying out almost nothing but restoration work. Currently about 20-25% The territory of Pompeii has not been excavated.

The city of Pompeii is a wonderful example of ancient Roman architecture, covered in legends. Rising from the ashes, it has become a popular Italian open-air museum, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Still not fully explored, the city-museum is located in Campania (near Naples) in the shadow of Vesuvius - the infamous volcano, the eruption of which brought death to Pompeii, but not oblivion...

The Beginning of Pompeii

It is believed that Pompeii was founded in the 6th century BC. ancient people - the Osci, who lived in southern Italy. In Oscan, "pumpe" translates to "five", which may symbolize the merger of five small settlements that have existed in the area since time immemorial. According to another version, the name of the city comes from the ancient Greek “pompe”, which means “triumphal procession”. One of the legends tells about the founding of the city by Hercules, who solemnly marched through the streets of Pompeii after defeating the three-body monster Geryon (tenth labor).

All that is known about the early history of Pompeii is that it was owned in turn by the Greeks, Etruscans, Cums, and Samnites. Pompeii became part of the Roman Republic only in 310 BC, while maintaining its own autonomy. It remained self-governing until 89 BC, when the consul Sula gave it the status of another colony of Rome (payback for the anti-Roman uprising).

It should be noted that Pompeii connected Southern Italy and Rome, being one of the important points of the Via Appia trade route.

Here at an accelerated pace:

• built markets and other commercial premises;
• they built bridges, an amphitheater, baths, and multi-story buildings;

• water pipes were installed and streets were paved with stones.

At the same time, most of the city was given over to the luxurious villas of noble Romans.

Beginning of the End

The fatal earthquake that awakened Vesuvius from sleep occurred in 62. As a result of the strong earthquakes on February 5, not a single building remained standing in the city. And although most of the city buildings were repaired, some of them remained dilapidated until the “doomsday” day...

Death of Pompeii

The inhabitants of Pompeii could not even imagine that nature was preparing a truly cruel blow for them. They continued to carry out restoration work, even began the construction of the Central Baths, without taking seriously the new shocks (the seventies). After all, in those days seismic activity in Campania was considered the norm.

However, retribution for the carelessness was not long in coming...

In August 79, Vesuvius awakened, showering innocent citizens with flakes of ash and stones falling straight from the sky. Only a day later the eruption ended, bringing death not only to Pompeii, but also to two major cities– Stabiae and Herculaneum, not to mention small villages and villas. It's no joke, the ashes of Vesuvius reached the borders of Syria and Egypt!

There is a version according to which the eruption lasted not one, but two whole days. The first of them was marked by a rapid release of toxic smoke, inhaling which people immediately burned their lungs and died. Those who managed to escape returned the next day when the smoke had already cleared.

As soon as the smoke cleared, lines of surviving residents pulled towards the city, which became their fatal mistake.

On that terrible day, the peaceful city turned into an earthly “branch of hell.” Death seemed to be in the air, catching the townspeople in churches, houses, and markets. She also pursued beyond the city limits, taking, according to various sources, from two to thirty thousand human lives.

It should be noted that most of the inhabitants (at that time the population of Pompeii was 20 thousand people) still managed to avoid death. But they had nowhere to return to. A multi-meter ball of lapilli and ash is all that remains of a thriving house.

An investigative commission sent to Vesuvius came to the conclusion that there was no point in restoring the lost cities. Still a long time through the ruins dead city people wandered around, trying to find lost property. But they also left, realizing the futility of such searches.

The city that rose from the ashes

Consigned to oblivion for centuries, the city of Pompeii was accidentally discovered in the middle of the 16th century. Italian architect Domenico Fontana.

Who knows if the ancient walls would ever have been discovered if Count Tuttavilla had not wanted to build an underground tunnel from his villa to the Sarno River? But, apparently, Pompeii was destined to be “reborn”...

Between 1592 and 1600, Fontana was lucky enough to discover several fragments of wall paintings and ancient inscriptions, one of which spoke of “decurio pompeis”. However, an incorrect interpretation of the phrase (a reference to a city office in Pompeii was mistakenly taken for the name of the owner of the villa, Pompey the Great) did not allow us to connect the find with the “lost” Roman site.

A discovery directly pointing to the location ancient Pompeii, was found only at the end of the 17th century. So the inscription, in which the name of the city once again appeared, put an end to the discussion that lasted for scientific world since 1637.

However, the excavations turned out to be a very difficult task - a hard and thick layer of volcanic material reliably protected the secret entrusted to him. The boundary post, which clearly indicates the ownership of the ruins, was only excavated in August 1763.

"Modern" Pompeii

Incredibly, the sudden and rapid death “saved” Pompeii from slow destruction - there is no other ancient city that was so well preserved.

How to get to Pompeii

You can get to the famous archaeological complex inexpensively (for 2-4 euros) by the following types of transport:

• train to “Pompeii-Scavi-Villa dei Misteri” from Naples or Sorrento - the journey will take just over half an hour;
• bus – connections to Pompeii are organized by CSTP (in Salerno), SITF (in Naples) and Marozzi (in Rome).

Walking in your own car will be much more expensive - you will have to pay about 5 euros for parking just for one hour. Despite the fact that the entrance ticket for adults is 12 euros.

The city of Pompeii - climate and travel features

When planning a trip, you should understand that in the hot summer the temperature in the south of Italy often rises to +35 °C. To prevent a walk around the complex from turning into a tedious task, it is recommended to take more with you drinking water and a tube of sunscreen.

By the way, in addition to classic walking tours, rented bicycles are allowed on the territory of Pompeii. True, the comfort of movement using the latter method is somewhat questionable, since there are a lot of cobblestones on the territory, and the roads are dotted with wide furrows left on the stonework by the iron wheels of carts.

The appearance of stone blocks is easily explained by the specific structure of the ancient trading city, conventionally divided into upper and lower parts. They were the last to run along the pavements wastewater, mixed with garbage, making it impossible to cross to the other side of the street. To solve the problem, high stones were installed - an ancient prototype of a modern pedestrian crossing (“zebra crossing”).

What are the ancient walls “silent” about?

A traveler who sets foot on the legendary lands for the first time discovers superbly executed statues, mosaics, and frescoes, which testifies to the high level of skill of their performers.

The next thing that catches your eye is the difference in architectural styles - the chaotic development of old quarters built during the Oscan times is replaced by new “slender” rectangular quarters with straight streets, temples, markets and amphitheaters.

Other advantages of Roman urban planning include the presence of:

• paved streets, the care of which fell on the shoulders of the townspeople who repaired and cleaned the area adjacent to his house;
• the sloping profile of sidewalks and roads that direct wastewater to the so-called urban sewer.

At the same time, shopping streets were framed by the facades of buildings, the lower floors of which were given over to shops, and the upper floors to private quarters (housing).

The residential areas did not look nearly as presentable. Thanks to the warm climate, private houses here were built mostly without windows, which made it possible to significantly save on expensive glass. Only occasionally did narrow cracks appear in the blind ends facing the street.

Through the efforts of outstanding archaeologists (Alcubierre, F. le Vega, Caroline Bonaparte, Giuseppe Fiorelli) the following were discovered:

• necropolises and forums;
• theaters and temples;
• gates, amphitheater and defensive walls;
• “remains” of animals and people - scientists discovered numerous voids in the thickness of the lava. Filled with plaster, they helped to recreate the poses and even facial expressions of the dead;

• entire residential areas filled with perfectly preserved household utensils, frescoes, mosaics, and sculptures.

A layer of solidified lava protected the interior of the houses from the merciless influence of time, which did not affect significant cultural values ​​- an important source telling about the urban way of life, life, and art of the Romans who lived here in the 1st century. And although more than half has already been cleared (about 3/5 of the ancient territory), the city of Pompeii continues to carefully guard its secrets, the solution of which falls on the shoulders of future generations.

The city of Pompeii and its attractions

Having allocated a whole day for an excursion, the tourist allows himself to calmly stroll through the streets in search of the next “tidbit”.

But what should people with limited time do?

There are a number of attractions that are recommended for mandatory visits during a tour of the city of Pompeii:

• Temple of Apollo - considered the oldest temple erected in honor of the Greek god in the 18th century BC. Of its majestic colonnade, consisting of 28 slender columns, only two have survived. It is believed that the main building, which lies in ruins today, rests on an ancient altar. The only thing that managed to survive were the frescoes decorating the internal niches of the temple (dedicated to the Trojan War);

A visit to which will help you immerse yourself in history. Pompeii is one of the most significant places in Italy, a preserved ancient city that leaves an unforgettable impression. You can get to the ancient city of Pompeii by going to the south of the country. Near Naples is the beautifully preserved ancient city of Pompeii. Every day thousands of tourists from all over the world visit the dead city. The preserved ancient city will allow you to see and immerse yourself in the tragic history of antiquity.

Why you need to plunge into the world of antiquity in Pompeii and how they can surprise you can be read in this article.

There are several legends that tell the story of the ancient city of Pompeii. One of them says that the ancient city of Pompeii appeared in the Apennines thanks to very fertile lands; the proximity of the volcano did not bother the first settlers. The Auzones were the first to settle in Pompeii and began to cultivate the generous lands; later, in the 6th century BC, the Oscan tribe also settled here. The ancient city connected five settlements on its territory. Artistic creations in the form of wall paintings, mosaics, sculptures - all this was displayed on houses, public buildings,.

There is a more romantic story that says that Hercules defeated Geryon and founded Pompeii in honor of his triumphant battle.

The ancient city of Pompeii during its heyday

In the 6th century BC. The city lived through its best years; the main attractions date back to this time, which can still be seen today. The ancient city of Pompeii was surrounded by a fortress wall, and an ancient sanctuary was erected in it. The ancient city was ruled by the Samnites (the peoples of Italy during antiquity), later Pompeii became a colony and lost its status as a free city. Families of patricians moved to Pompeii and built beautiful villas here; they were very attracted by the land, generous with sun and warmth, as well as a very comfortable climate. These bottoms in Pompeii were erected:

1. Villa of Mysteries. This building is interesting because of the design of the walls, on which Dionysian rituals were painted; such graphic designs were previously used in the design of tapestries.
2. Appian Way. Between Rome and the south of Italy, during the heyday of the ancient city of Pompeii, a road appeared connecting the center and south of the country.
3. Forum. An incredibly powerful building measuring 157x38 m, which during the time of Pompeii could accommodate up to 20 thousand spectators.
4. An amphitheater for various shows, competitions and baiting of wild animals. There were two of them in Pompeii. One accommodated 5, the second - 1.5 thousand.

This period of Pompeii's existence is marked special attention to the external design of the city, a huge number of statues, frescoes, mosaics. The decorations of Pompeii have an aesthetic component; craft trends developed in the ancient city.

For a long time, a century and a half after people settled in this fertile land, the volcano showed no signs of life. Small eruptions did not cause any trouble to Pompeii. And in 62 AD. In early February, a volcanic eruption brought the first serious destruction to the city. The city has not yet had time to recover, as in 79 BC. Once again the life of Pompeii depended on the eruption of Vesuvius. The lava burned the entire area of ​​Pompeii and destroyed the city.

The ancient city of Pompeii is reborn from the ashes after a thousand years. The volcano subsided and the inhabitants again began to populate the fertile lands; the new settlers did not know about the tragedy that occurred many centuries ago. What attracted new residents to these lands? Bright sun, fertile land and wonderful climate. During excavation work, people began to find the remains of fortress walls, structures, fragments of frescoes and inscriptions. Already in 1748, excavations began. Initially, archaeologists assumed that the burned city was Stabiae. When the border pillar was found in 1763, it became clear to everyone that the structures of ancient Pompeii had been found.

When visiting Pompeii today you can see almost the entire ancient city. A quarter of Pompeii is currently closed to visitors; excavations are still underway.

During a tour of the ancient city of Pompeii, you will be taken to the arena, you will see a private gymnastics school - palaestra, theaters, baths (baths of the ancient city), partially preserved ancient houses.

Tourists in Pompeii are taken to a rustic lupanarium (brothel) famous for its famous frescoes depicting themes of frivolity.

Near the ruins of the Herculanean Gate you will see the Villa of the Mysteries with amazing frescoes preserved.

Also worth visiting is the Villa Diomedes. During excavations at Pompeii, 20 people who died during the volcanic eruption were discovered in this place.

The artistic design of buildings in Pompeii surprises with its attention to different aspects of life and the level of implementation. Pictures depicting birds and animals, fish, placed in the premises of the city once replaced wallpaper and tapestries for residents. Now the originals are in a museum in Naples, and in Pompeii the life of the ancient city has been recreated by the hands of museum workers.

Worth watching carefully, for example, “The Pompeii Cat”, “Plato’s Academy”, “Alexandra’s Mosaic”, “The Comedians”.

Touch the beauty and be surprised by the desire of the ancients to surround themselves with art in Pompeii.

Book your tickets to visit the ancient city of Pompeii in advance using this link.

How to get to the ancient city of Pompeii

It all depends on your desire; you can go to Pompeii spontaneously while in Italy, or you can think through the details of the trip before you find yourself in the country.

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The ancient city of Pompeii is easily accessible from Naples or Rome. If the main means of transportation is the train, then the entire route from Rome will take you 1-2 hours. Travel time depends on your planned departure time. Once you arrive in Naples, you need to follow the following plan.

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 position: 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.

WITH drinking water there was trouble 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 the shawarma at the Kievsky 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 at most two in area. square meters. 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. Pompeii had a couple of fairly large squares. 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.