Preserved In Ash: The Ancient City Of Pompeii

in #travel3 years ago

240861928_439623547301507_4405416001626824919_n.jpg
Mount Vesuvius from Napoli

Mount Vesuvius has erupted several times throughout history. The last time being between March 17th-23rd in 1944. However, we know Mount Vesuvius for the time it destroyed four cities, including -of course- Pompeii in the deadliest volcanic event in European history.

240516985_332393495345942_7369050152679907709_n.jpg
View of the volcano from inside Pompeii

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Pompeii. The new city that stands is quite lovely and full of life. What's left of the ancient city however, is very interesting but certainly depressing.

239854318_1497863630613097_1555238861346299652_n.jpg
Inside the theater

240883487_1283660788803205_7954383857718850499_n.jpg
Outside the theater

240705241_434420501285873_2271236563678414862_n.jpg
A courtyard

The horrific event happened in the late summer or autumn (exact date of the event is unknown) in 79 AD. The eruption of the infamous volcano didn't just have an impact on Pompeii, but the cities of Herculaneum (modern day Ercolano), Oplontis and Stabiae as well. Mount Vesuvius let out a fatal cloud of gases and tephra, molten rock, pumice and hot ash at 1.5 million tons per second. These cities we buried in an insane, heavy amount of ash. The people and animals were buried...

My apologies if these are hard to look at.

239144352_456944368675426_7660049250773268021_n.jpg

239368740_989625315193610_4368377340033518067_n.jpg

239441676_587773702224805_1784326890351519713_n.jpg

239799321_1266359940472430_2032175377036348786_n.jpg

240942009_203200331730934_767531639083969104_n.jpg

There was a population of 20,000 people between Pompeii and Herculaneum alone. The remains of over 1500 people have been found at the two sites so far. I can't imagine how many more bodies have yet to be discovered between all four of the sites.

Homes, stores and other buildings.

240877749_2976725512599507_2324120484349139748_n.jpg

240883738_369968644740246_3333266074123501121_n.jpg

240866376_4174149136029081_2996448806095571657_n.jpg

239513866_372718627666575_7014440603451545249_n.jpg

Walking around Pompeii was fascinating, tiring but also saddening. The people and their cities were victims to such a catastrophic force of nature. Weirdly, there was so much there but yet so little left of the city and so much still to be uncovered. Both sides of the main street had nothing but skeletons of what once were homes and markets.

240648255_1506596809707645_8353787388254881886_n.jpg
The Main Street

240499829_531209654604248_5871822701702122154_n.jpg
Off the main street

I loved all the art on the walls.

240205725_320332156513610_14302919734475453_n.jpg

240493221_245063804290974_527910283812225642_n.jpg

240605384_402141891506880_5862786121481882649_n.jpg

240581663_2706983316261042_3590750130498943069_n.jpg

240690273_548285286382332_1789686689253132200_n.jpg

Whenever I visit places such as these, places that are just shells of what they were before, places that are now such important parts of history, my first thought is usually the same every time..."What was it like when this place was in full-bloom?"

If you want to see every last bit of the ruins, you definitely would need to set aside many hours of your day. When you think you are at the end, it just keeps going. Haha. :)

241251457_370452477970754_7768508874697856173_n.jpg

240672178_410605467177097_5855698118205749862_n.jpg

I took so many photos but I couldn't capture everything because my phone ran out of space but I am happy with what I did get and I'm happy to share it with you all.

240919883_183101673921030_6118370593659802190_n.jpg
I had to share this. Yes, that is penis art. Lol.

240607649_176645231143693_5113159682527389146_n.jpg
A room full of ancient pottery.

240746413_543381853603903_2155293907162990133_n.jpg
Other than the head, this statue is decently intact.

All photos are mine. I do have more which I will probably share soon.

I am glad I got to visit Pompeii. It has always been on my list of places to see. I am hoping to see Ercolano next time!

Anyway, thanks for coming by! Don't forget to follow!

Sort:  

Congratulations @stevieleigh! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

You received more than 5000 upvotes.
Your next target is to reach 6000 upvotes.

You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:

Hive Power Up Month - Quick feedback
Feedback from the September 1st Hive Power Up Day