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POMPEII
Pompeii
archaeological ruins are famous worldwide for being a unique
example of a two thousand years old city frozen in times and
the first ever documented natural catastrophe in history.
This city was covered by the ashes of a sudden eruption on
the 24th August 79 a.D. and it remained untouched
up to the XVIII century when little by little it was brought
to light.
The city was probably founded by Oscans in
VII cent. b.C. and for its strategic position it soon became
reason of fightings between old inhabitants of the region:
it was conquered first by Etruscans and later
by Greek city of Cuma
(525-474 b.C.). After the Samnite Wars it passed under Rome.
During the Punic Wars remained faithful to Rome gaining importance
and keeping its independence. On the contrary during the civil
wars tried to resist to Rome,
but Silla defeated it (89 b.C.).
The past history ended August 24th 79 a.D. while modern history
started with first excavations operated by Borbons in 1748.
After the unification of Italy (1860) the works were entrusted
to Giuseppe Fiorelli who also got the idea
of the castings filling with plaster the
empty spaces once occupied by the bodies inside the solidifyed
ashes.
Pompeii today welcome more than 2.5 millions visitors a year.
Monuments as the Forum, the Basilica,
the Amphitheatre, the private villas
and houses and all the other findings
show us not only the physical places where the life took place,
but allow also interdisciplinary investigations which satisfy
any curiosity about the habits of what was an incredibly modern
society, ‘till showing us private people’s stories.
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Archaeological Site
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RUINS, HOUSE |
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RUINS |
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