February 28, 2018 - Pompeii

We spent a day at Pompeii, a Roman resort town of about 20,000 people that was buried in volcanic ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.  It took 200 years to unearth part of the city.  Much of it is still buried.  It is an amazing look into ancient Roman life!






All of the roads in Pompeii look like this.  The Roman chariots would straddle the raised stones in the road, while allowing pedestrians to cross over the mucky streets without getting their sandals dirty.



This was a mill and bakery.  These grain mills were turned by slaves pushing on posts threaded through holes.  Grain was poured in the top and would fall down, to be ground between the stones as they turned.


This mosaic was made of the tiniest pieces of stone, with incredible detail.  Many of the mosaics, frescoes, and statues that were found in the city have been moved to museums.




What's left of Vesuvius still looms in the background.  This is a gladiator fighting field.

Gladiator barracks.





Though most of the city's inhabitants were able to escape, some 2,000 were not. 


Chariot ruts.

There were many small shops with these food counters - Pompeian "fast food."


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