Submitted by Konstance Otto on the 2024 Winter program in Italy…
Italy is home to the previously buried city of Pompeii. After being destroyed and lost to time due to a heavy fall of volcanic ash from Mt. Vesuvius, archeologists have been working to uncover the ancient city and learn more about Romans during the 9-8th century BC. The unique circumstances of the city’s demise allow for a very in-depth look into the lives of Roman citizens of all social classes. The construction of the roads shows that Romans valued easy and reliable transportation routes as their layering and materials make them sturdy, and their sloping design accounts for the heavy rainfall of Italy. The roads even feature raised stones to be stepping stones when the streets flooded. Archeologists are still excavating the city to this day, but so far, they have already found three amphitheaters (outdoor venues for watching different events): one for singing, one for plays, and the biggest one for gladiator fights. The evidence shows that Pompeii was a thriving hub in ancient Rome. All the buildings would have been colorful and elegantly constructed, especially those paid for or lived in by wealthy families. We visited the home of one wealthy (single) woman in particular who had grand scenes depicted in each of her rooms. Her spring dining room (wealthy Romans tended to have different dining rooms for the different seasons) showed the tree of knowledge from Eden with a snake (Satan) wrapped around its trunk. Both biblical and mythological imagery permeated the many intricate designs decorating Pompeii. So much was learned from this one city, and there is plenty more to learn, with new sections uncovered every day.