Brief History of Pompeii
Pompeii, a small Roman town along with Herculaneum and other nearby settlements, was entirely buried by ash, pumice stones, and pyroclastic surges – fast-moving, extremely hot flows of gas, ash, and rock fragments – during the Vesuvian eruption in 79 AD. But it wasn’t until 1748 that Excavations began, aiming to uncover and restore the town’s historical monuments. Today, this archaeological site holds significant value in Roman archaeology for two key reasons:
- Since the decline of the Roman Empire, barbarian invasions gradually led to the destruction of the once-prosperous cities of the ancient world, leaving behind only limited remains of their former grandeur. However, Pompeii stands as a notable exception to this pattern. During the Middle Ages, amidst these invasions, Pompeii was concealed and preserved beneath a thick layer of volcanic ash and pumice stones. For centuries, the precise location of its burial remained unknown. Consequently, the town was spared the widespread destruction that befell much of the ancient world.
- Due to the lack of oxygen under the pyroclastic flow, Pompeii has managed to preserve remarkable glimpses of daily life from the early Imperial Period (1st century A.D.), offering them to the world even two thousand years later. Among the discoveries are houses, spa structures, shops, streets, brothels, and an array of artifacts such as vividly colored frescoes, colonnades, statues, jewelry, surgical tools, cooking utensils like ladles, spoons, and knives, amphorae, and more. Incredibly, 81 loaves of bread were also found in a bakery owned by a man named Modestus..
Although heavy Allied bombing damaged sections of the site in 1943, today your archaeologist will guide you ably through parts of the Pompeii ruins that were either untouched by the destruction or uncovered following the Second World War.
N.B.: Please ensure you bring essential items such as a hat, sunscreen, water, and a light lunch or sandwich. It is also recommended to wear comfortable footwear, as the tour involves extensive walking.
P.S.: Along with the entrance ticket to Pompeii, it is mandatory to present your passport.
