Remainders of Pompeii — Open Corners

Another day trip from Rome leads us to Pompeii. The name "Pompeii" comes from the Oscan word for the number 5, after the 5 Oscan families that originally settled there. Written descriptions described Pompeii as a coastal city overlooking the bay. When Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the amount of ash and volcanic debris changed the landscape by pushing back the sea and extending the coast by kilometers, making Pompeii inland and thus, unable to be found for centuries. Although not the only city to be consumed by Vesuvius' volcanic wrath (several settlements and a city called Herculaneum also suffered the same fate), Pompeii is the one that lingers longest in our memories.

Tourists mill about the temple of Zeus while Mt. Vesuvius looms in the background.

The stadium has fantastic acoustics, even without a roof, and concerts are still being held here today.

Looking down one of the main streets which is a good example of a Roman road.  Long and straight. — Looking down one of the main streets which is a good example of a Roman road. Long and straight.

We got to explore one of the houses called Casa del Menandro.  Definitely one of the more affluent families lived here. — We got to explore one of the houses called Casa del Menandro. Definitely one of the more affluent families lived here.

Entire walls were covered in paintings about life, art, and legends.

Close up of a griffin.  This is roughly the actual size. — Close up of a griffin. This is roughly the actual size.

A pedestrian crosswalk in Pompeii.  It's raised so that people can avoid stepping on "stuff" in the streets (they didn't have sewers in the city yet). — A pedestrian crosswalk in Pompeii. It's raised so that people can avoid stepping on "stuff" in the streets (they didn't have sewers in the city yet).

Fountains in Pompeii can still being used, with a few modern additions.

The roof of the bath house (one of the few roofs to survive in Pompeii) open to everyone from peasant to king.

One of the bathing rooms.  People went from a hot pool to cool pool to cold pool. — One of the bathing rooms. People went from a hot pool to cool pool to cold pool.

While excavating Pompeii, air pockets with piles of bones were found as they dug through the layers.  When these pockets were filled with plaster, they discovered that these air pockets were the remainders of animals and people. — While excavating Pompeii, air pockets with piles of bones were found as they dug through the layers. When these pockets were filled with plaster, they discovered that these air pockets were the remainders of animals and people.