Saturday, April 2, 2011

Last Day of Pompei

While at Paestrum we bought a couple of Campagna 365 Arte cards, which give you access to all the cultural and historical sites in Campagna--hundreds, seemingly; it is one of Italy's largest provinces--two visits each, actually. We have been using these cards for a month, indeed visiting a couple of places more than once. Thus, our second visit to Pompei, to see the Villa of the Mysteries, a few more of the houses that require reservations, and the Surburban Baths. Another full but edifying day.
At the Villa of the Mysteries, a working farm/villa just
outside Pompei's walls on the north; the (reconstructed)
wine press

















What the Villa of the Mysteries is named for is a large room
with frescoes recording the initiation rite, for a young bride,
into the Dionysan mystery; it is one of the more beautiful
and complete frescoes in situ

















More















The bride being prepared for the wedding















Detail, reading the rites















Us at the Villa of the Mysteries















In another house














Another large home, peristyle atrium, et cetera















Plaster casts in the Garden of the Fugitives




















A particularly large old umbrella pine in a grove at Pompei















Another house, another fresco




















Ditto















In the Suburban Baths, privately owned, one room has three
kamasutra-style wall panels; only one survives, but here
it is (of course, closer-ups are available on request); just
outside the walls, near the Porta Marina

















Beautiful water-fall feature in another room















Detail















Another; happily, we saved one of the best places for last

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