Pompeii - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1878351591 ISBN 13: 9781878351593

Publisher: Riverside Book Co, 2002

Synopsis

Pompeii is one of the most important archeological sites in the world. Destroyed by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that began on the morning of August 24, 79 A.D., the buried city has preserved for all time a unique record of the life of its inhabitants. Unlike other ancient cities such as Rome that have a continuous history and layer upon layer of subsequent development, Pompeii has revealed itself to its excavators exactly as it was on that fateful day. Scorching clouds of fine ash suffocated every living creature, making it impossible for them to flee. Roofs collapsed and buildings were buried under the weight of the stone fragments hurled by the volcano. The massive destruction deprived the city and its people of a future, but also recorded their mute testimony for later generations. This is the most complete, informative, and beautiful book on Pompeii ever published. Written by scholars who have been active participants in the excavation and study of Pompeii, it offers the latest research yet is addressed to a general audience. More than 500 color photographs convey the incredible richness of the city, the unsurpassed elegance of its interiors, and the great beauty of its art, including sculpture, frescoes, and mosaics. There is fabulous jewelry, including rings, necklaces, and bracelets. Fifteen individual houses receive detailed attention, along with the famous suburban villas, the Villa of the Mysteries and the Villa of Poppea at Oplontis. The urban development of the city, including the construction of its walls and the function of its government buildings, is explained. A separate section describes the major temples and religious practices. The interesting and varied economic activities in Pompeii are explored through descriptions of the meat and fish market, the office of weights and measures, the taverns and cafes, and the workshops that cleaned and processed cloth. Bread is given its due, with the description of a bakery. And there is a rustic villa, the Villa della Pisanella at Boscoreale, with its machinery for producing oil and wine, its apartments for the owners, and dormitory for the slaves. The fascinating social life of Pompeii is seen in descriptions of the gladiator games, athletic competitions, the theaters, and the public baths. There is a section on the famous Lupanare, or brothel, and a concluding chapter on funeral practices and the many tombs that line the streets outside the city walls. This book will appeal to travelers, to students of Rome and the ancient world, to artists, designers, architects, urban planners, historians, and anyone else who might wish to understand and appreciate the beauty and achievements of Pompeii.

About this title

From Booklist

Frozen in time when Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 C.E., Pompeii, gradually rediscovered and slowly excavated, has had an enormous impact on the "collective imagination." Editor and contributor Coarelli, an expert on Roman antiquities at the University of Perugia, and his equally impressive contributors, trace Pompeii's profound influence on literature, history, art, music, and film, and examine the major role it has played in the evolution of archaeology. But these are only two strands in a vividly detailed tapestry that also includes an overview of Pompeii's history, a chronicle of its daily life, and a comprehensive tour of the spectacular city itself, from its awe-inspiring temples to its taverns, gladiator barracks, bakeries, baths, and shops. And then there are the 500 breathtaking, brand-new color photographs of city vistas, architectural marvels, and exquisite sculptures, as well as jewelry, household objects, and close-ups of mosaics, friezes, and frescoes (some sacred, some erotic). Once a vibrant community, now a city of dreams, Pompeii, as this impressive book proves, remains utterly compelling. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Riverside Book Co
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1878351591
• ISBN 13: 9781878351593
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 408
• Editor: Coarelli Filippo