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Friday, April 29 - Pompei

view of Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples. Terracina, Sorrento, Pompei were all magnificent. Pompei, with its wonderful ruins built on still older Etruscan ruins. The planning of the city - The great square - public buildings, commerce, oratory - all closed to traffic for quiet. The orators stone platform with its back to the sea - so that the winds from the sea would carry his voice to his listeners. The natural background of the glorious mountains forming a backdrop for the amphitheatre (in the round) the doors of which would be closed for entrance after the performance had begun. The cobblestone narrow streets, with wedges ground deep for the chariots & horses - a large stone block at end to separate the two horses. The white cats' eyes stones set between the larger grey stones of the streets to furnish light at dark - in the night. The metal foil used after the stone walls of the houses were built 



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April 29  Friday  Pompei

underneath the layers of plaster, to insulate the houses against humidity. The square sunken pools to catch the rain water, the wedges in the doorways of the large homes, showing the former use of sliding doors. the kind of air conditioning used in the public baths - set in the walls to provide heat - the designing of the ceilings of the bath houses [[image 1]] to catch the steam & drain it down the wedges in the ceilings -All so impressive - apart from the physical beauty of the city -

[[image 2]] 
2 miles in perimeter area 150 acres = less than 1/2 sq mile.
[[labels]] Cemetery  Residentials wine Womens [[?]] Baths  Sons  Theatre Forum Sea Gate [[/labels]]

Pompei was built 600 years BC. In 80 B.C. the Romans came. In 63 AD. Earthquake. In 79 AD. After the eruption of Vesuvius, Pompei was buried by ashes 20 ft. deep.

Of 20,000 Inhabitants 2,000 perished. Excavation was started in 1748. 2/3 of Pompei already has been excavated.

Transcription Notes:
image 1 - sketch of bath house ceiling design image 2 - sketch of plan of Pompei