Photo Walk in Pompeii (June 11, 2013)

Pompeii is located in southwestern Italy, near the Bay of Naples.

It had been an independent community, and had served as an ally to the Roman Republic.

As Rome frequently did, the ally eventually became a part of the Republic and growing empire.

As a result, the characteristics of the city of Pompeii reveal many of the same characteristics of the Roman cities.

For example, this area would have been the gymnasium for gladiators to exercise.

Doors opened from the gymnasium into the Roman theater behind it, for gladiators or for performers.

Pompeii was covered by ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79.

The city was covered by volcanic ash.  Residents who did not flee were suffocated by poisonous gas.

The ash preserved the city exactly as it had been in the First Century, and was rediscovered in 1748.

Standing at the center of the theater provides almost perfect acoustics.

Today, Pompeii is one of the world's largest archaeological sites in the world.

The two main streets of any Roman town ran North-South and East-West.

Side streets and alleys branch from these main streets.

The streets would have been filled with filth, so raised rocks provided stepping stones across the side streets.

Approximately 80% of Pompeii has been excavated, and archaeologists continue to work on uncovering the secrets of the ancient city.

Grooves have been worn in the road from passing chariots and wagons.

The remains of a baker's shop on the main street

The decorations inside the buildings was also preserved.

Just inside this building were baths.

Intricate carvings decorated the walls.

The floor of this room was raised.  Heated water and steam served to keep the room warm.

This is a plaster cast of a body found during excavation.

The cast of another victim.  When found, care is taken to preserve the remains.

This would have been the equivalent of a fast food restaurant.  The marble counter-tops would have kept the food warm.

Our tour included the Lupanar, a place where men could select slave women for entertainment.  Preserved are pictures  from which men could select their particular entertainment for the evening.  I decided not to include those in the photoblog.

Pompeii did have a system for carrying water through the city.

The entrance and courtyard of a middle class villa.

The Forum was the main square of any Roman town.

Vesuvius is notable today for its double peak, but in AD 79, there was only one peak.  The force of the explosion was so strong it destroyed the central cone.

This side of the Forum was the financial district.  Robertino, our guide, related it to Wall Street.

These columns mark the entrance to the Temple of Apollo.

This area is the location of the Basilica, the seat of government.

The Temple of Jupiter was at one end of the Forum.

The interior of the Temple of Apollo

A bronze statue of Apollo that has survived.

Apollo's sister, Diana, the goddess of the Moon

Steps leading into Apollo's Temple

The interior of the Basilica

Court cases would have been heard inside the Basilica.

When I think about a Basilica, I think about churches like the Duomo in Florence and San Marco Basilica in Venice.

Robertino said that after Constantine converted to Christianity, Basilica came to mean any building using that particular architecture style.

Vesuvius is the most monitored volcano in the world.  If it were to erupt today, over 3 million people would be in danger.  Luckily, modern technology has allowed scientists to develop warning systems.

You can hike to the top of Vesuvius.  There is a funicular to take visitors to the top.  The last eruption occurred in 1944, after the liberation of Italy from the Fascists and Nazis.  American soldiers helped in the clean up.