The Lost City of Pompeii: Italy’s Haunted Playground
In the foreboding shadow of Mount Vesuvius lies a city that will forever be stuck in 79 AD. Near the Bay of Naples, Pompeii was once a bustling holiday destination for Italy’s wealthy elite.
Opulent houses and villas were bordered by pretty open-air squares and marketplaces. Artisan stores, stylish cafes and inviting taverns dotted the sandstone-paved streets.
Visitors could be thrilled by gladiator fights in the 20,000-seat amphitheatre or cheer on the sportsmen competing in running, discus or javelin at the sports arena.
By night, the town’s many brothels allured guests to a more sordid type of entertainment, with the promise of decadence and debauchery.
“Mount Vesuvius Looms Overhead”
The threat of Mount Vesuvius did not discourage holidaymakers or residents – its magnificence outweighed the danger. It loomed overhead, watching the town vigilantly, a judicious eye of surveillance as the townspeople lauded in their self-indulgence and grandeur.
Perhaps the volcano decided it had seen enough when it propelled a toxic cloud of scorching ash, pumice and gas into the atmosphere.
The lethal shadow could be seen for hundreds of miles. Eventually it drifted gracefully down to earth – a deadly blanket for the people of Pompeii.
Despite having ample time to escape, two thousand residents refused to leave their beloved home, losing their lives as a result.
The town remained buried for thousands of years, until it was rediscovered by explorers in 1748.
“A Haunted Playground”
Astonishingly, the ash almost perfectly preserved the ancient township. In fact, archaeologists even discovered 2000-year-old bread loaves alongside jars of preserved fruit!
The tragedy has left us with a picture-perfect insight into the ancient civilisation’s way of life – a haunted playground for the millions of people who choose to visit the site each year.
You would think that, after all these centuries, the ‘Lost City’ would be comparable to a bleak apocalyptic wasteland. A barren skeleton crumbling at the edges. But Pompeii surprises you.
Its cobbled streets seem to hum with life. As though the spirits of its inhabitants still linger – invisible carriages rolling by the hordes of tourists, obscuring their perfectly framed snapshots.
“A Peek at Life in Pompeii”
Whether they like it or not, these residents have opened their homes to us.
Extravagant family atriums and columned courtyards are offered up for visitors to explore.
On the walls are scenes from ancient Greek poetry, the vivid brushstrokes somehow still gleaming.
In some dwellings, the personas of the occupants live on through inscriptions on their façades. Like the House of the Lovers on Via dell'Abbondanza, where an engraving translates to:
“‘LOVERS, LIKE BEES, WISH LIFE TO BE AS SWEET AS HONEY’”
Meanwhile, a nearby villa had a less inviting message to spread. Its front step is intricately paved with a mosaic of a snarling hound – a warning that their guard dog will bite!
“The Gladiator’s Amphitheatre”
Pompeii feels electric when you surround yourself with the towering tiered stone seating of its ancient amphitheatre.
It was once a roaring hot pot of blood-thirsty masculinity where gladiators would swing swords and hurl tridents to maim their opponent.
Sand and dust swirling through the arena, the winning gladiator would look to the crowd for their verdict: a disappointing performance would result in slaughter for the loser and the champion would bask in glory.
“Pompeiian Ingenuity On Every Corner”
Pompeiian ingenuity is visible on every corner. The precisely paved roads were often purposely flooded with water to wash away dust and debris, so the kerbs were built higher than usual and connected with large stepping-stones for pedestrians. Carts and chariots were able to navigate the narrow cobbled streets with the help of wheel-guiding ruts carved into the roads.
Customers could enter stores through roller-doors made of stone. A shape carved into the sidewalk would indicate the nature of the business.
Even the brothels advertised in this manner – a phallic symbol leading men to a stone bed. Complete with a stone pillow, the room is appropriately decorated with provocative erotic murals.
“A Tragic Reminder”
To immerse yourself into the life of a Pompeiian living in 79AD is truly special, but the site houses a phenomenal reminder of the town’s tragic downfall.
The decayed bodies of the townspeople left voids in the pumice and ash which were filled in with plaster by the archaeologists. Cowering in fear of their grim fate, the sheer terror is palpable.
Perhaps it should serve as a reminder. Our morbid curiosity should never eclipse our humanity.
As we scramble to catch a glimpse of the lives that it stole, Mount Vesuvius will forever watch on menacingly, warning us that history could repeat itself at any moment.
