Daily Updates
Week Four: Oct. 17
17 October. Maya reporting: Our first day in Pompeii. Over 30,000 people flock daily to the land of mangey dogs and tourist stands selling t-shirts with pictures of a cartoon Mt. Vesuvius with big goofey eyes spewing the lava words, “I am sorry.” The influx is ironic because that’s 10,000 more people than the population in 73 AD. We began the day with a delicious blend of carbohydrates, since we don’t get those enough, and made our way to the site (which is fortunately only about 2 minutes away from the hotel). Professor Ulrich and Elizabeth went and worked their “official” magic, flashing stamps and signatures to get the group in for free. We first visited the Triangular Forum, a particularly shady and wind swept section of the site. Eventually, when our fingers went numb ( yes, South Italy is suppose to be warm) we walked more towards the center of the site. Professor Ulrich sent us to different parts of the site to find out exactly what was accessible because Pompeii has the annoying habit of opening and closing exhibits throughout the day and throughout the year. In theory guards are circulating, opening new houses at specific times, but as we have all discovered, as is the Italian tradition, sometimes they do not. Pompeii itself is rather amazing. Endless rows of shops, houses, bath complexes and theaters—there is just no way to see it all in one day. Unfortunately most items of value, and consequently interest (i.e. the Alexander Mosaic) were promptly removed and now sit in museums. But, considering the number of tourists that walk through each day, all with the “I want a souvenir” attitude, its probably for the best. Unlike what we had all imagined, or at least what I imagined, there are no plaster casts of bodies—Pompeiian victims—cowering as they were being affixiated by poisonous gases sitting propped up eating dinner or gardening outside. I suppose such additions would turn it into some sort of gruesome Disneyland of the Dead, but I think it would help visitors visualize daily life. Professor Ulrich took us on a tour of houses, many of which were inaccessible to the “average” tourist; we are, after all, respected “College” students (here college means high school). We visited the House of Sallust, the House of the Silver Wedding, and the House of M. Lucretii Frontonis and later in the afternoon were assigned topics for our oral reports (Monday and Tuesday). We were all given the rest of afternoon off so that we could do some independent research for our presentations and maybe, just maybe some ISP research. For dinner a group of us took the train to Sorrento (about 30 mins away) to immerse ourselves in the tourist side of Italian culture—yes, that’s right: menus written in four languages, waiters that speak English, and overpriced hamburgers.
17 October. The day begins on the steps of the Doric Greek Temple in the Triangular Forum
17 October. A paved street in Pompeii
17 October. A Pompeiian bakery with oven
17 October. Quiz question for those of you at home: identify these strange things...Send your answer to the Webmaster
17 October. Investigating a taberna
17 October. A tomb
17 October. The interior of a painted tomb: scene shows a table set with silver utensils
17 October. Wall paintings from the House of M. Lucretii Frontonis
17 October. Wall paintings from the House of M. Lucretii Frontonis
17 October. The Tuscan style atrium from the House of M. Lucretii Frontonis
17 October. Narcissus gazes at himself
17 October. The House of Lucretius Frontone: a detail
17 October. The House of Lucretius Frontone: a happy lion
17 October. The tetrastyle atrium of the House of the Silver Wedding
17 October. Examining a column
17 October. A fountain from the House of the Silver Wedding
17 October. Sitting in the peristyle courtyard discussing oral reports
17 October. The peristyle courtyard
17 October. Flora from our hotel, The Villa of the Mysteries