Caroline_1

Wow, what a day.

We drove from Naples to Pompeii, and went on a guided tour around the ancient, and sacred, site of Pompeii.

We were staying in Naples, so decided to visit the ancient city of Pompeii, which also enabled us to see the famous Mount Vesuvius. It certainly brought back all the memories from when I studied it at school. It brought the theory to reality, as we saw the bodies of those who perished when the scaldering molten rock plummeted down from Mount Vesuvius.

Walking through the houses at the ancient site, it was almost like you could hear the screams of those who were trying to run from the lava, trying to save themselves, yet helpless as they could not out-run their instant death by burning.

I started to think about what it would have been like back then. Running from a thick red burning wave of molten rock, not knowing or understanding what was happening and not knowing it was going to be your final hour.

As I glanced into the distance I could see the mountain which caused this devastation and this prominent mark in history. Chills ran up my spine as I wondered when the active volcano, Mount Vesuvius would erupt again. It seemed strange to me that although people knew it could blow again, they stayed because of the fertile, rich soil which provided good crops. They were prepared to risk their lives for good soil, knowing that if it blew, they would not have an adequate warning to save themselves.

As we walked around the site, into houses (House of Julia Felix, Villa of Mysteries, House of the Vettii, House of the Faun and House of Menander), shops (such as brothels, groceries and trades) and the forum (with the gladiators’ barracks, Temple of Apollo, amphitheatre and gymnasiums), an image of life, as it was back then, started to be created within our minds. It was a strange feeling to walk around this almost “dead” city where adults and children used to live, work and play. It was so surreal and sinister.

We continued to walk around, taking in the historical and cultural aspect. There were plaster casts within many of the sections of the site, including near the forum, inside the baths, and at the Villa of the Mysteries. Seeing the actual plaster casts of the bodies burnt by the fast-flowing lava was a reality check for me. When I was at school, we only read about them, and how Fiorelli discovered the technique of plaster casts to preserve the imprints of those who perished.

As I was standing there in disbelief, all the ethical issues we had discussed in class came to me with an overpowering blow. What if this was me on display? How would my family feel if generations down the track saw me like this and I was not put to rest with a proper burial? Why should they be on display for us tourists to see when they were people living what they thought to be normal lives, now preserved and displayed?

There seems to be no right, or wrong, answer to these questions. Yet in my mind I know the arguments for both sides. Families want their dead to be buried and put to peace, yet this experience has really impacted me in regards to life and death.

This was one of the easiest places for us to communicate with people. The tour guides and souvenir shop assistants were all able to speak English, so this made our day and trip easier. Because of the diverse nature of the tourists who visit Pompeii, the tours were separated into language speaking groups to enable an ease of understanding for everyone, especially when it came to the ethical issues of not taking photos, leaving rubbish or graffiti. When we needed directions or instructions it was easily understood as we all spoke English, and purchasing goods and services was the same.

To view pictures of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius visit these websites: http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_vesuvius.html http://www2.brevard.edu/reynoljh/italy/corpsecasts.htm