This is the first view of the town that we had before going on a tour. Some of the city walls are covered in ancient graffiti. My favorite: (House of Caecilius Iucundus): Whoever loves, let him flourish.  Let him perish who knows not love.  Let him perish twice over whoever forbids love.

There are ruts in the streets from where the many carts traveling through the city streets. There are also stone blocks in the street for pedestrians to step onto to cross the street. The sidewalks are higher than the modern sidewalk because the streets had water and waste flowing through them. The stone blocks in the street were also as high as the sidewalk, so people did not walk in the waste and water. The stone blocks were also used for what we now call speed bumps. When the carriages were going through the city, they were going fast. To avoid people from getting splashed by the water and waste they had stone blocks in the street. This would make the driver slow down when they were speeding, so they could get through the blocks.

Apollo statue with Mount Vesuvius behind.

Many of the relics (including bodies) have been moved to a museum in Naples. The few that are left in Pompeii are chilling.

This is a view of a window from inside the bath house, this is where many of the bodies were found. Apparently the citizens of the city thought that they might be protected by the bath house, they were wrong. Although, the bath house did serve as an excellent way to preserve their remains.

The Forum, where many of the official buildings of the city would have been here.

The house of the tragic poet (Casa del Poetica Tragico) named for its mosaics. This is one of the more well known mosaics 'Cave Canem' (Beware of the Dog) it is at the entrance of the house.

A mosaic from the House of the Vettii, one of the best maintained houses in Pompeii.



This is an image of the Arcaded Court which was the barracks for the Gladiators. We were told that women were not aloud in this area, however there was the body of a woman found on the steps leading to the barracks and the body of a gladiator chained in the barracks. Perhaps she was trying to save him...

The vineyard watch dog.