Pompeii is one of those places on earth that has ghosts. You feel the past lingering on in so many ways. It's more than knowing that Vesuvius erupted in Aug of 79AD. Partially it's knowing that the city was encased in ash and somewhat preserved. Some of the feeling comes from seeing the casts of the people who were frozen in their deaths in ash. I think it's more, though, a sense of space and time that cross in some way to encourage a mystical feeling in the visitor. I would love to return to Pompeii.
The chariot ruts are clearly visable on the streets.
A crumbling relief visible in the baths.
The costly cinnabar pigment in the frescoes is still rich looking at the Villa of the Mysteries.
This poor man was frozen in the ash, then cast. He is now encased in glass in a courtyard along with another figure.
Robyn of Art Propelled has a wonderful post called SCAT CAT and she's gathered a wonderful collection of artistic cats - including a wonderful Mosaic Cat from Pompeii that she put in for me. I didn't see that particular mosaic in Pompeii, but I did see many. Here are a few photos of mosaics, including one with my shadow from Ostia Antiqua - I'm waving at you!
The photo of the eagle, rabbit and tree mosaic is from the Vatican's collection.
From the Vatican's collection.
From Ostia Antiqua
I think this one was from the Vatican's collection too. We walked over these. It felt like we shouldn't walk over them, but they were fulfilling their true use as floor decorations. I admit it - it was thrilling to walk on them.
