FromtheremarkablepenofPeterConnollycomesacomprehensivelookattheancientcityofPompeii.Hebeginswiththescientificfacts:HowwasPompeiidestroyed?HowdidMountVesuviusbecomeanactivevolcano?Whathappenedduringtheeruption?HowlongdidPompeiilayburiedandhowwasitfinallyrediscovered?WhatwasPompeii’shistorybeforethedisaster?Then,PeterConnollydoeswhathedoesbetterthananyone--herebuildsthepastinwordsandpictures,allowingustoimaginewhatitwasliketoliveinoldPompeii.Likeanarchaeologicaldetective,hesiftsthroughtheruinsandartifactstoreconstructoneareaofthetowninminutedetail.Withmapsandcross-sections,photographs,drawings,andengrossing,fact-filledtext,Connollytakesusintotheveryhomesofitscitizens--intothekitchens,atriums,bedroomsandoutintothegardens.Welearnwhatthefurniturelookedlike,howthehomeswerelightedandheated,whatkindofjewelrywaspopular,andwhatthegladiatorswore.Weviewthevariedstylesofarchitectureanddecoration,attendagranddinnerparty,visitlocalshops,gotothetheater,toapublicbath,andtothegladiators’arena.Wegainanunderstandingofthisancientcivilization,andbegintoseehowmuchwaslostwhenthecityfellpreytothetonsoflavaandashesthatfellonitduringthedevastatingdisaster.
ARENA DRAWINGS POMPEII drawings
