Take a Virtual Tour of Two Recently Excavated Homes in Pompeii

Smithsonian Magazine ^ | April 10, 2020 | Nora McGreevy

[SunkenCiv]

In the video, Pompeii Archaeological Park Director Massimo Osanna narrates a tour of two Pompeiian homes that were entombed in ash alongside the rest of the city when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. The director's Italian remarks are translated into English in a statement and can also be read using YouTube's auto-translate feature, according to HeritageDaily.

Osanna takes viewers inside two domus dwellings, or private residences, on either side of Vicolo dei Balconi, or Alley of the Balconies. In the first home, dubbed the House With the Garden, researchers were able to make casts of the roots of plants that grew in the family's garden. The team also found macabre evidence of Mount Vesuvius' toll: the remains of 11 people, mostly women and children, who were likely taking shelter from the fatal blast during their final moments.

Just across the street is the House of Orion, which derives its name from colorful floor mosaics that depict Orion, suspended over a coiled cobra, turning into a constellation. The snake's appearance may reference a Greek myth with ancient Egyptian influences, Osanna speculates during the tour.

"The owner of the house must have been greatly attracted to this myth, considering it features in two different rooms in which two different scenes of the myth are depicted," the director continues. "It is a small house which has proved to be an extraordinary treasure chest of art."

[SunkenCiv]

Wait a sec... are you saying that’s *not* the right pronounciation?!? ;^)

[SunkenCiv]

Or, since the roofs are gone, Detroit about a decade ago. ;^)

[Engedi]

Yes, if you click within the article about the houses it says it was a saying to Please elect someone (had their name).

[Engedi]

In the article if you click on the blue word houses it shows they found a skeleton and he died from the blast and rock crushed his head from the blast. They found lot of coins on him too. Pretty neat.

I wanted to be an Archaeologist but just didn’t happen. I love history and digs and Pompeii. It is on bucket list but doubt will get there. Few months ago on Smithsonian channel they showed a group of people down by the port who were in the boathouses. Think it was 28 people they found who thought they could get a boat but there were none left. Women, children, men all died where they laid.

How neat for you to get to Pompeii.

[JimRed]

I’m not looking at any houses unless they have blue cabinets in the kitchen.

Here's some blue paint, and a brush...

[Irish Eyes]

Thanks, enjoyed the video. Was there many years ago. I am always surprised how bright some of the colors have remained.

[JimRed]

I presume more were destroyed by treasure hunters who didn't care. If there are completely unexcavated sections, a modern dig might discover a lot of them.

There's that fine line between archaeology and grave desecration.

[NormsRevenge]

Pompeii and Herculaneum , both only partially excavated, still hold many pieces of art and tormented souls.

... and then all hell broke loose for a time.

I’d like to make another journey there someday and see what else has been uncovered, just not the same day the everpresent mountain does its thing again.

[SunkenCiv]

• Watch the Destruction of Pompeii by Mount Vesuvius, Re-Created with Computer Animation (79 AD) [2016]
• Today is the anniversary of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and destruction of Pompeii in A.D. 79. [2017]
• Pompeii: Vesuvius eruption may have been later than thought [2018]
• Mount Vesuvius [ erupted and buried Pompeii et al, August 24-25, A.D. 79 ] [2011]

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• Mount Vesuvius eruption melted victim's brain to glass [2020]
• Mount Vesuvius caused victims' heads to explode, blood to boil: study [2018]
• Lethal Thermal Impact at Periphery of Pyroclastic Surges: Evidences at Pompeii [2010]

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• 5 skeletons found at Pompeii [too late to dial IX-I-I] [2018]
• Dramatic volcano death: Huge flying stone crushed man in Pompeii, archaeologists discover [2018]
• Pompeii: New find shows man crushed trying to flee eruption [2018]

[Ouchthatonehurt]

I couldn’t make out the letters on that.
It looked like there were a couple of Greek letters in it - lambda for sure.

[SunkenCiv]

I wholeheartedly agree.

• 'Alley of balconies' uncovered at Pompeii in rare find [2018]
• Walk the Streets of Roman Pompeii On Google Maps/Earth [2010]
• Ancient city of Pompeii added to Google Street View [2009]
• A tour of parts of the ancient Roman City of Herculaneum [2018]
• Herculaneum Panoramas [2013]

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• Pompeii archaeologists uncover 'sorcerer's treasure trove' [2019]
• Stunningly preserved fresco of Narcissus discovered in Pompeii [2019]
• 'Erotic' fresco of Leda and the Swan unearthed at Pompeii [2018]

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• Reading the Writing on Pompeii's Walls [2010]
• Digital images reveal the secrets of Roman painting [2009]

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• New Pompeii excavations a revelation 270 years after discovery of first ruins [2018]
• Archaeologists Virtually Recreate House of Caecilius Iucundus in Pompeii [2017]
• Buried city of Pompeii unveils three new houses [well, not new...] [2014]
• Beyond Pompeii: Places swallowed by Vesuvius [2008]

[SunkenCiv]

Theft from the site has been a problem for a long time, actually from the first discovery -- the "noble" whose serfs discovered Herculeum's theater were send down again and again to plunder all the statuary and such in the nearly intact theater. Atrocious.

• Thieves pry off ancient fresco from Pompeii walls [2014]

[SunkenCiv]

There is no such fine line. Archaeology is not grave desecration.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.

[SunkenCiv]

That's something that would work, if the Italian authorities would take some caution in implementing it. Not every surviving structure has painted walls at this late date, all are spacious, and modern conveniences could be installed European style (bathroom down the hall, staffed kitchen and cafe tables).

[SunkenCiv]

• Pompeii 'fast food' bar unearthed in ancient city after 2,000 years [2019]
• Pompeii snack bar re-opens...nearly 2000 years after it was destroyed by eruption of Mt Vesuvius [2010]
• [from January 3, 2014] Giraffe Was on Menu in Pompeii Restaurants [2015]
• Diets of the middle and lower class in Pompeii revealed [2014]
• Digging deeper: Archaeologists race to show Pompeii daily life [2009]
• A 2,000-year-old ancient Roman laundromat open to public for first time [2016]
• UQ archaeology digs into the life behind Pompeii [latrines] [2009]
• Ancient tannery in Pompeii to undergo restoration this year [2008]

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3835084/posts?page=23#23

[stevem]

I assume that was in Italian. I don't understand it.

My wife and I went to Pompeii for our 30th anniversary...a decade and a half ago.

It is as fascinating a ruin as I have ever visited.

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure.

http://www.google.com/search?q=pompeii+primavera&tbm=isch

http://www.google.com/search?q=pompeii+bacchus&tbm=isch

http://www.google.com/search?q=pompeii+mosaic&tbm=isch

[SunkenCiv]

There are high-quality tourist vids worth throwing on during quarantine:

http://www.google.com/search?q=walking+tour+pompeii+site:youtube.com