Pompeii

About this book

From the remarkable pen of Peter Connolly comes a comprehensive look at the ancient city of Pompeii. He begins with the scientific facts: How was Pompeii destroyed? How did Mount Vesuvius become an active volcano? What happened during the eruption? How long did Pompeii lay buried and how was it finally rediscovered? What was Pompeiis history before the disaster? Then Peter Connolly does what he does better than anyone--he rebuilds the past in words and pictures allowing us to imagine what it was like to live in old Pompeii. Like an archaeological detective he sifts through the ruins and artifacts to reconstruct one area of the town in minute detail. With maps and cross-sections photographs drawings and engrossing fact-filled text Connolly takes us into the very homes of its citizens--into the kitchens atriums bedrooms and out into the gardens. We learn what the furniture looked like how the homes were lighted and heated what kind of jewelry was popular and what the gladiators wore. We view the varied styles of architecture and decoration attend a grand dinner party visit local shops go to the theater to a public bath and to the gladiators arena. We gain an understanding of this ancient civilization and begin to see how much was lost when the city fell prey to the tons of lava and ashes that fell on it during the devastating disaster.