The morning view across Naples Bay to Mount Vesuvius.
Today, we explore the volcano and surrounding artifact city of Pompeii. Frozen in time by the eruption of August 24, 79 AD.
https://youtu.be/mgxD4JgdMYY
(fast forward to the end of this video for Vesuvius tour)
A slumbering verdant giant, picturesque, across the bay from Napoli.
The volcano last erupted in 1944
Even with its calm splendour, those in Napoli know, that with the heavy population across the bay today, an eruption could be catastrophic.
In 79 AD, Pliny the Younger, was one of the only people whose letter actually documents what happened that day as he observed from far across the water at Misenuto.
http://www.volcanolive.com/pliny.html
(The Pliny the Younger Letter)
Vesuvius has since erupted in 1660, 1682, 1694, 1698, 1707, 1737, 1760, 1767, 1779, 1794, 1822, 1834, 1839, 1850, 1855, 1861, 1868, 1872, 1906, 1926, 1929, and 1944.
Given the sudden eruption and the complete burial of the ancient city of Pompeii it was preserved in great detail. In 1660 while rebuilding after a subsequent eruption and earthquakes the lost city was unearthed.
Because of the heavy ash and pyroclast forming casts (shell like coverings turned to stone) from the victims of Pompeii it was easy to inject plaster into these open spaces to obtain eerily realistic forms of the people who died that day. Even the way their bodies were situated in death. Imagine a limestone fossil cast of a sea shell. Or slip casting below
They are now on display throughout the remains of the columns, homes and baths. A sober reminder of the thousands who lost their lives that day. It is difficult to keep in mind that these are only casts of the unfortunate people, as they appear so real.
The BEST video I could find was a re-creation of The Last Day in Pompeii
https://youtu.be/PlZ-SGfp6Os
And is very very good.
Well worth the watch.
And so, we leave the sleeping mountain now...and I am seeing Pizza Margherita in the near future, and maybe some Virgil.
Perhaps tomorrow!
Sunset over Vesuvius.
