Getting to know thePEOPLE OF

POMPEII

A visit to POMPEII can be at both fascinating and overwhelming.But if you know how to look, you’ll find traces of daily life there that will lead to a surprising discovery: the city’s ancient inhabitants weren’t that different from the tourists who roam its streets today.

Without some context and explanations, you may find that Pompeii’s ruins have little meaning.

Row after row of crumbling red-black walls, street after street of cobblestones become almost overwhelming.

The occasional colonnade comes as a surprise, but maybe not more than that. It’s probably best to visit Pompeii with some help.

You can hire a guide on-site, but while most of these freelancers are very knowledgeable, they’re also pricey, often asking around 100 euros or more per visit.

Even without a guide, there are ways to understand and identify with the ancient Pompeiians, if you know what to look for. Don’t be afraid to walk down

some of the quieter side streets.

You’ll find many things that are strangely familiar. For example, no matter where you wander, you’re bound to come across numerous ancient fast food places. You can recognize them by their counters with holes that once held amphorae

full of food or change.

The famous “Cave Canum” (“Beware of Dog”) mosaic is another surprisingly modern aspect of the ancient city – you or your neighbor might have one in another, probably less ornate version, today.

There are still dogs in Pompeii. Strays stroll around and sleep on the ancient stones. Like their predecessor, you should probably beware of them; although they seem benevolent and relaxed, signs around the

site tell visitors to be cautious.

There are still dogs in Pompeii. Strays stroll around and sleep on the ancient stones. Like their predecessor, you should probably beware of them; although they seem benevolent and relaxed, signs around the

site tell visitors to be cautious.

At the House of the Faun, you’ll find still another familiar sight, though you might not realize it at first. A sidewalk mosaic in front of the

entrance spells out “HAVE”, a Latin greeting: you’re standing in front of an ancient Roman welcome mat!

An easily missed sign of life is the regular ruts under your feet: deep grooves of carriage wheels cut into the paving stones, a reminder of the busy traffic that these streets saw long before the eruption.

A section of the Forum, with Mount

Vesuvius in the background.

Pompeii seems like a pretty easyand straightforward place to visit.

Plan a trip now!