Pompeii

Election slogans like this one appeared on the walls of shops, houses and public buildings as a common part of political campaigns for municipal offices in Pompeii.

Rooms off the garden in the back of L. Albucius Celsius’ house still preserve colorful frescoes on the walls and geometric mosaics on the floors. This residence was excavated in 1893 and was named “House of the Silver Wedding” in honor of the Italian royal couple’s 25th anniversary.

The impressive house of L. Albucius Celsus has a large atrium with an impluvium (shallow pool) for collecting rainwater. The bottoms of the columns show the red stucco that originally covered the full columns.

Paved with blocks of basalt, Pompeii’s streets included raised stepping stones for pedestrians to cross the often filthy streets. Notice the deep ruts in the stones where metal cart wheels ground down the basalt.

Built in about 80 BC as a popular meeting place for Pompeii residents of all social classes, the Forum Baths had separate spaces for men and women. The tepidarium featured paintings of gods and mythology on the ceiling and clay figures framing niches on the walls for clothing.

Entering Pompeii with our archeologist guide, one of the first ruins we pass is the Temple of Apollo, a small structure surrounded by a two-story colonnade. The original bronze statue of Apollo is visible on the right.