The description of Pompeii as a world heritage site, an ancient Roman city in southern Italy would fall short if its existence near the doorstep of Mount Vesuvius– the infamous volcano is not mentioned.
Reaching Pompeii from Rome
When I started for Pompeii from Rome, on a chilly December morning in 2010, the wanderlust in my soul was excited to explore and witness the volcano.
This was one of the journeys I have done so far, where I went through different realizations while witnessing the scary ruins of the city. It was surprising and frightening. I was apprehensive in the beginning and eventually ended up in despair – accepting that we human beings are indeed vulnerable in front of the forces of nature.
This was one of the journeys I have done so far, where I went through different realizations while witnessing the scary ruins of the city. It was surprising and frightening. #travel Click To Tweet
Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius, a composite volcano, erupted in A.D 79 and decimated almost instantaneously thousands of people in the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It has not erupted since March 1944.
Mount Vesuvius, a composite volcano, erupted in A.D 79 and decimated almost instantaneously thousands of people in the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. #travel Click To Tweet
Whenever I looked towards Mount Vesuvius while walking through the ruins of Pompeii, I realized that nearly 4 million people, now living around the mountain are still at the mercy of this volcano. It may erupt any day, any time. The big giant stands alone and threatens life every moment!
Beneath the tranquil mountain top, there is a heaving sea of molten fire, which could engulf the city within seconds and the lively city would cease to exist.
Beneath the tranquil mountain top, there is a heaving sea of molten fire, which could engulf the city within seconds and the lively city would cease to exist. #travel #Pompeii #Italy Click To TweetRuins of Pompeii
The dilapidated houses, ram-shackled amphitheater, a basilica, thermal-baths, a market, a public fountain etc all give us a hint that Pompeii was one of the most attractive resorts for the most distinctive citizens of Rome at that time. The once busy city is now just a memory. Include Pompeii in your Italy bucket list and enjoy its mystical heritage.
Ram-shackled amphitheater in Pompeii
Today’s well preserved ruins are the only gateway to know and perceive yesterdays Pompeii.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_ReeRgtLwk[/embedyt]
Today's well preserved ruins are the only gateway to know and perceive yesterdays Pompeii. #travel #pompeii #Italy Click To Tweet
The city of catastrophic fate has been conserved in detail and hence gives us an unprecedented opportunity to travel back in time and experience the lives of people two thousand years ago. The city was frozen in time. Archaeologists have discovered hollows in the volcanic ash where the victims’ bodies fell and eventually decayed. They have filled these cavities with plaster to see the outline of their final places of repose.
The city of catastrophic fate has been conserved in detail and hence gives us an unprecedented opportunity to travel back in time and experience the lives of people two thousand years ago. #Travel Click To Tweet The city was frozen in time. Archaeologists have discovered hollows in the volcanic ash where the victims' bodies fell and eventually decayed. #travel Click To Tweet
I felt that our technical advancements, revolutionary theories and path breaking discoveries can only give us a pseudo certainty of life; it may minimize some uncertainties but the final call will be taken by nature. The earthquake in 2011 in Japan is a major proof to this.
I felt that our technical advancements, revolutionary theories and path breaking discoveries can only give us a pseudo certainty of life; it may minimize some uncertainties but the final call will be taken by nature. #Travel Click To Tweet
The ceramic floors, one piece marble fountain and well decorated interiors of houses almost two thousand years ago, all bore the same fate.
Travel Realizations
We human beings are just a part of this vast universe, limited in time and space and have very little to do when such catastrophic events occur. At the end of the journey, I stood still and silently uttered to the frighteningly beautiful land “Good bye fiery world and bid you adieu Pompeii – the land which once intended to last but alas”!!
At the end of the journey, I stood still and silently uttered to the frighteningly beautiful land -Good bye fiery world and bid you adieu Pompeii - the land which once intended to last but alas!! #travel Click To Tweet
Before I end my blog post, I would like to ask you which one of the photographs about Pompeii you liked the most and why?
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Balaka Basu
first, you are looking gorgeous…second this post is amazing and shows the vulnerability of human beings in front of nature
Travel Realizations
Dear Balaka, What a lovely compliment!! I am flattered. If nature starts showering its anger on us, we will be non-existent.
Optimistic Existentialist
I would LOVE to visit Mount Vesuvius someday. I think it would be fascinating!
Tom L
Amazing photos and place, I'm going there this weekend. Thank you for sharing this article!
Filip and Kristel
That's an amazing place to visit. We were also there last year.
Greetings,
Filip
Pradip Saha
We human being think that we are apart from this nature, we do not think that we are also a part of this nature,we are the creation of this nature,creation of the mother Earth,we have no existence,deviating us from the nature.We have explored moon and other planets, but supported by the materials taken from this nature, from the mother Earth.Our intelligence is the product of this nature,and this intelligence has been surpassed so far, that it can destroy it's own creator i.e. The whole nature, i.e The mother Earth.We know,that the human intelligence has created such destructive weapons which can destroy 20 earths within a second, and can make it a mere dust to fly in the unending zero.Human intelligence may be more furious than the furies of other parts of the nature, the human intelligence is 'The Frankenstine',created by nature itself.So, the Visuvias,a part of nature, which destroyed and can destroy a small part of human civlisation gets shy before the intelligence of such human beings ,which has acqired power to destroy it's own creator.
But only hope that there is an another part of this intelligence,which hankers to create, which hankers to survive.That's why,we are still surviving and we feel sorry for the people and the civilisation which was destroyed by the monster VISUVIAS.
Sanuk Yim
Thanks for the photos, nice and awesome
halfwhiteboy
oh how i love to go there someday, though i also know it's a sad reminder of nature's unforgiving fury.
http://halfwhiteboy.blogspot.com/
Plowing Through Life (Martha)
"…we human beings are indeed vulnerable in front of the forces of nature." Truer words could not be spoken. Every moment of every day we are lucky to still be alive because anything can happen that will end it all.
What an amazing place to visit. I like all the photographs, but the first one speaks to me the most. The volcano looming in the back of the ruins is a reminder of just how fragile and vulnerable we are when facing the forces of nature. We stand no chance.