mt. vesuvius sits on the bay of naples, viewed here from the city of naples:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEI5JX0_21aQBCAjuZPe8-Olq-lpuYmKJ79hz7W1s_9UaipjYvuFFRZEMrezSanPWNGm5Kcz5kkb212pvTNiSngjFwgmhuQ8VeF-XEhbVTJjC01uGUMuIfEYlGDpg1wfKxfRce6g/s400/IMG_5225.jpg)
while pompeii represents the internationally recognized buried city, the dug-out ruins at ercolano are more intimate, intact, and explorable!
this image shows the un-earthered city of herculaneum in the foreground, the 55,000-strong modern city of ercolano built on top, and the ominous volcano, mount vesuvius, looming in the distance.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LQuxo5F0a2UWBWyGpQMgLX2SrH7_KWd6jVqQ2mTemFKRlnEUHwcG5dFFPuD1bzudgYJ3RTp7lsqbwzFy3S8vc_CyIVt4zntMPULWvSFePVEXv2w26pSV_fMU_YNlQ_g6YVZubg/s400/IMG_5167.jpg)
since herculaneum has been completely excavated from the thick lava, you walk past impressive views down into the old city as you walk to the main entrance.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qxH2OcSEw-D4q52VqtooEyKyt5jUDpaylAXCYxp_qETpYzLSO6Qcsaoth9ESopLXTyX2vxgZjeeRnT69njYwQI2RzjSVzBOEeL_FYSDOJeO2qBby9WE4Fy_KVLpDfgdzPT8TQQ/s400/IMG_5164.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WOjOzKRjUQpde2evJl5OshpHMH6EvC3Es_Go2Cj0bqptHjvsPEiM2PpbSs-ZNyJs-te2jx9VugrZhCZhSfomvDT2WRFBe5c9_RfOcij5kE9a6qD__hidx20R2oRseig3AYb15g/s400/IMG_5210.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-JNF5KQawwg1hCjoTQjHJnNKj6AtVROglN2WAXIJlD1g9UUoxcERgrTGZSb4YQ7xzo3mf3y8fdG93TINuBo4DUS2XqZCzMFYAThxGJ23XrV4lHzCxbEQbi7T-VcvSg_Ar_LsjQ/s400/IMG_5170.jpg)
here you can see the diagonally placed, earthquake-resisting bricks, and the thin, horizontal roman-style bricks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtttX-vXR2mFWC-F_PKTDJ_V9jFB_lvBv32D7r2XvVxRM2JBMuaTrkWBUsFvEOyAfgv5hTn0K89-rfgYWgQBqqOTYPtFLA2IoS0gUw8C6US_117-h6fGrluTdYOx_qc1sUwgVx7Q/s400/IMG_5169.jpg)
looks like some of these bricks were made with porous lava rock (?)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyxfTssl6y8f1qoKTFeaVSP4o6qR4F0GkRWG84EiZJFZSO5OEV4Z5tdEOnomNVPm1806RN9B2YJQtVK2gsx9CHkzpKn-K3tsD7M9PUYe68umLX-vDa4_aqZbGQnJOqtgX5auFDA/s400/IMG_5183.jpg)
the counters of shops were covered with large marble mosaics.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi2RfHu3-3gfnRZNIxwQeblo0XyU4dnoCXp17-cxlc5LBGvqPR0GAQiN-CAWbN6X0mXxCfzY5r9QY5X3RnON7NNk6uWWjj_SteVuYj-h3y5sxiY3qa0oH_5Mif6Vej9f5GPF0iQ/s400/IMG_5187.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uN7kFM8EEABQC9yySbh5qh8utkA3aD-sCMxOy0VPLxoh4pnkX4qfjb7d8NlsORyM2n1A-68fE-k5HCjs2xxUEWgvkqz0Gr9z9AbETBmK5a4P0kRicC_D4Cdbzj2Em3jSPKa7Ew/s400/IMG_5185.jpg)
actually, nearly every surface; floors, walls, and ceilings were covered in detailed stone mosaics or intricate paintings! it was amazing that so many survived and that i could walk right on top of some!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhRUjpdGVYS9pcslOxOrgri3cq5w1XhyphenhyphenOEpMD5PaztY2WU2UCzmhheh1ddRyHojVC_a2qxhVH3rAJIwIblfnzyJilMS1InK9U2-PR3dFjmYE00ItQyg5XQMI4h5MFMpBdTmfObA/s400/IMG_5212.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpSgUMwOejSKQvEv9qM3kAUCSoH0n_FBhEqG9ei2fng4Jl_MjrrelzVQwOUkozT_v32ph3eXdf7D-qwv5U_x8FX4ko40VdvuYb5RMJnHvEkwQVMFtEj1jv9FXpPAbdNRfzqyN1Q/s400/IMG_5174.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TbO4qiimtd8OiHB-H-qd3d1sO9pvttR-rAwdhjLZpOqIzHmoqIf-6itcH_IGpeh7dhS788zQuWpkEM7VmDiTSwA_8-XDWUe3AzUmC9lQl03Z210-Vc6hNSL39v8GPpPrN-4r9Q/s400/IMG_5196.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTFy27SGLHlVCoS5nOX3ry3ITTofsEL6QW2mLx1IFvGBelKqBcQm87HD2KQkQoop31YolhEr5U69507okjJXv1tHmD85sSIcetvzDiGD55Nr8LiZ3LtZ8IPxx1FVsbV3HjHL_1Q/s400/IMG_5219.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4KCToBOmWTbXxWuVpJYYJRdpf-nLRmv8QgUf43bjH_hyphenhyphennmYk7U81g0iJCNkjJrCwtJFj2_1sppxNzH4OXjoNtcbz_tIw2n4QOzRK8FvrAknhtda8emvavIZrGae-PBuuzcHO8w/s400/IMG_5204.jpg)
this was a fountain and/or pool to put your feet in with a huge window/sky light above it! there must have been a huge statue on top of the column. nice central room for a home!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7XIAkI1U8hu53aEIr_vmNNFWqft9EKPpkjEQ-ugGwD9rlWS59QffFubxN4L9PR7YW_KvlxdvZWaUginhuPPUMRYsb6tKwaCzjGfLYOrfO4ctD98AR9fAEtg80Rl8oVdRU_spQA/s400/IMG_5181.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw80qpCsCtKNVZ3vJUnbLmoaRrYmHgvZAU8hA6KegjhEk6nzl8c7QdJ-dgwrS4sl0o9YQHZXbHtFAsWtg-Z5aSetrvvb6_NFkpW7HzDcERVG4fEKeWXqKo3gBQW5_Ewft5RvWrxQ/s400/IMG_5182.jpg)
the bathrooms were especially elaborate.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzBvc29qkjaQMk-oZuLxwJreRckzd-IRPz1GbEOoXJZtXl-AfzSEse3n_xSNiiFZOf05yeLQlsl6_uuSqcW5u3CtC1JBEqeOH6pd5b6zD82NxjzMDtKop4hE8KWfXICRvhiLC4A/s400/IMG_5206.jpg)
this intricate mosaic represents neptune and venus (aphrodite).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCL9vQlK2ThQzTAtS2pR8lSkMNrl7Y7WIlzqljPqOTQcaEi6E8FX9uxV1xd9Rv3M54z9hqf7Hw4e5DHb2Qyu77Az1sHAX3DRADVJY0PQ55XgKSfCqjtkjMRBvm8GhG3DR1pxsxVg/s400/IMG_5208.jpg)
(see full-size image)
massage table with light pouring in from a hole that was once covered with stained glass.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dxnLOwf7W4JNyno65QyPXAaXXAM8mNVLYC8EjFu7sGTLU4yN-ktMqejWvoBG_YMjqKZnNZgtG9UuOs7fAeBv6-JHmdpeEs1k8UswazDE7ByiXcxxZm069W8IsTV8HDjfcPSYOw/s400/IMG_5189.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h7kamH0_zctyCNN30dlcg3x9ahgfFlA_e9O6ss1MATJG65lMzqxRttPBbMNcDc7nhDfEtS4n_bISP7KzJioEQwdOqrMi8qeeypbXplXKiF98TUDMNwvc_ic9y2OFZqP_cCRelA/s400/IMG_5193.jpg)
columns, columns everywhere!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqt8EbZ3tJ4kYmDvuwar47_AsEUaaJkHbRxk9Smq2lD_-pkOoa32OQqG8EtKxraprtP7qchwisPn8rFWvEb6Bpe8-6EoOXyFMfRDJq2CGduXk8EPWruonUV9SRbX11Ck2kiCNQA/s400/IMG_5217.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKMPBwwBfAMmIExn6LWgSPBj69qxl7hRn9Z3lwghyphenhyphenr8qUeIezfzkhyDKQXmMkseTIThN_hBaM2YbvbPLmmrzgcn-ZTivBwDLHGBTAF25rma14tDHPq_9ciZ4Zn9pDW9YOiXfpiw/s400/IMG_5213.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cvA6Rb4mboET70npp4m45Z1AdWOMujkdCHc2UHzQDYXK_sm2HWHRJ2D53MYvzKssLnmqDZFVwz3CYMadsLSvvb-l1SAbMSdOdhq6u9cjXKhxFxPVvsdjsmRAd3VBU2_3Ms7wPw/s400/IMG_5201.jpg)
amazing to think that these beautiful artifacts were the homes of people over 2000 years ago!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpFjxdYp1idXC1cl9j9zWs6mI1fBOMFiPQWIbQWpNEYzEUlZvM1xNfzrqfgooqK7gJow3Vr1xlEl-P7ZPy2KxGDTiF2k553FvFRSanvSrIJNsqFPZA3ZpEoHyLaOYGyAQygumVg/s400/IMG_5209.jpg)
see the full set of pictures at full size: here... enjoy!
1 comment:
That mosaic actually depicts Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite.
Post a Comment