Madelyn's Gift: Pompeii

[caption id="attachment_1533" align="alignnone" width="645"] Madelyn said anywhere, so I decided to incorporate this adventure idea into my trip to Pompeii![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1504" align="alignnone" width="645"] Walking into the ruins, you are stepping on the original Roman street. To the left, you can see part of the city. It's quite spectacular how intact the ruins really are![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1505" align="alignnone" width="645"] If I remember correctly, this is a courtyard of an ancient temple near the forum. You can see the bases of brick columns arranged in a basilica style, forming an open area with a walkway along the outside of the columns.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1506" align="alignnone" width="645"] This is the facade of the temple, complete with its columns of the Corinthian order. It was great to see Pompeii while taking an art and architecture course - we were able to understand a lot more![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1507" align="alignnone" width="645"] Another temple with its altar for sacrifice. Roman temples followed the Greek style, and were always built higher than their surrounding buildings on a podium.  The interior, called a cella, was rarely visited; it held the cult statue, but only the priest would visit it.  Most of the worship took place around the base of the steps at the altar of sacrifice.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1508" align="alignnone" width="645"] In part of the excavation site are stored pots and other items. There are only a few of the plaster casts of the people of Pompeii. When they went to excavate the site, the volcanic event had occured in such a way as to leave the skeletons inside a hollow where the body had been petrified in the ash. By pouring plaster in the Fiorelli method, they were able to identify the positions of the various people as they perished in the seconds of the disaster.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1509" align="alignnone" width="645"] There are many well-preserved items from the site. Some statues are also in this storehouse.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1510" align="alignnone" width="645"] Usually, I like visiting places when they are quiet and there are fewer tourists around. Here in Pompeii, however, tourists don't feel out of place - this was a commercial town, and it is still so intact that it almost lends realism simply to have a bustling crowd around you.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1511" align="alignnone" width="645"] Some frescoes, ceiling decor, and statues are still visible in the ancient baths.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1514" align="alignnone" width="645"] Ancient Roman street sign - street of the wine or oil merchants, perhaps, as there are two people carrying a large jar between them.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1515" align="alignnone" width="645"] More frescoes, beautifully preserved, in one corner. The red color is called "Pompeyan Red" and is quite common in ancient images because of its rich shade. I believe the color comes from the iron-rich soil in the area. That same pigment also appears in the catacombs of Rome.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1517" align="alignnone" width="645"] Naturally, we had to do our best imitation of a Roman deity. Sarah chose the classic Caesar pose...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1518" align="alignnone" width="645"] I went for the goddess Nike, victory...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1519" align="alignnone" width="645"] and Rocina tapped into her inner Egyptian-esque llama goddess. Sorry, but for some stupid reason I can't get this image to rotate properly, so if it's sideways I apologize.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1520" align="alignnone" width="645"] More statues in their niches.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1521" align="alignnone" width="645"] Not sure, but I think this is the forum. I don't quite remember, all the areas started looking the same after a while.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1523" align="alignnone" width="645"] Ancient Roman mosaic floor! *squee* It's so pretty! This would have been an entrance to the house; you can see the atrium inside.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1524" align="alignnone" width="645"] Ancient Roman street!  That's the spire of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii back in the distance on the right.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1526" align="alignnone" width="645"] Look Mommy, it's an ancient Roman quilt pattern![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1527" align="alignnone" width="645"] Domus Cornelia, with atrium and pool inside.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1528" align="alignnone" width="645"] Small amphitheatre. I wanted to recite Shakespeare but it was occupied.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1529" align="alignnone" width="645"] Other random open green space with columns.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1530" align="alignnone" width="645"] Bigger amphitheatre, also occupied.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1531" align="alignnone" width="645"] Not sure what it is but it looked pretty. I wasn't feeling well, so I kinda just took random pictures after a while.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1532" align="alignnone" width="645"] This is the bell tower of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pompeii, built in the 1800s by Blessed Bartolo Longo. I'd promised myself a visit, since the image of Our Lady of Pompeii (Our Lady of the Rosary) is the patronal image of my home parish. It was so, so beautiful to see the original image. I couldn't take pictures, but do look up the church on Wikipedia or something, because it is amazing. This church felt like home away from home, as no other church I've entered has. The image of Our Lady of Pompeii is so familiar to me, and I love it so much. I'm very, very grateful to have been able to visit the original.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Yes, I stole this from the internet, but it's the best I can do at the moment.[/caption]