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Why are so many people fascinated by Pompeii? (Original Post) raccoon Apr 2013 OP
Because it's creepy as fuck. 2ndAmForComputers Apr 2013 #1
Because it's death was so instantaneous and it was so well preserved brooklynite Apr 2013 #2
It's one of the most fascinating places to see when things were left in place after the Valcano southernyankeebelle Apr 2013 #3
It's that "frozen moment" thing ... Time travel. Arugula Latte Apr 2013 #4
As gruesome as it is, I was fascinated with the 'frozen in time' aspect as well. pinto Apr 2013 #5
Most fascinating part of my geology class in college. MissB Apr 2013 #6
when I was there benddem Apr 2013 #7
Because it's one of the world's oldest ghost towns derby378 Apr 2013 #8
Because we see our own lives so closely mirrored there mainer Apr 2013 #9
Because it could have been any of us. RevStPatrick Apr 2013 #10
Those of us who live in the Northwest are prime candidates for insta-statue status Arugula Latte Apr 2013 #22
Location, Location, Location Capn Sunshine Apr 2013 #11
It's interesting to see the water pipes in the streets, the brothels, sinkingfeeling Apr 2013 #12
The brothel art work or whatever that was, was something else!!! n/t sammytko Apr 2013 #16
"What have the Romans ever done for us?!" Arugula Latte Apr 2013 #23
Because the city was almost frozen in time Marrah_G Apr 2013 #13
The History Channel had a program on a couple of days ago on "Sex in Pompeii" or CTyankee Apr 2013 #14
It's worth seeing. duffyduff Apr 2013 #15
I took a picture of one of them sleeping. LOL sammytko Apr 2013 #17
One thing, among many, that stood out for me was walking on the stone roadway... Spazito Apr 2013 #18
Do some research and find out. nt ladjf Apr 2013 #19
Because it was so absolutely horrifying. smirkymonkey Apr 2013 #20
I think it highlights the eerieness of impending doom SoCalDem Apr 2013 #21

2ndAmForComputers

(3,527 posts)
1. Because it's creepy as fuck.
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 03:53 PM
Apr 2013

And creepy sells.

Just remembering the photos of those instant-statue people gives me the chilly willies. Egads.

 

southernyankeebelle

(11,304 posts)
3. It's one of the most fascinating places to see when things were left in place after the Valcano
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 03:55 PM
Apr 2013

came off the mountains. There is so much history to see. If you ever have a chance you must go to Italy and see history all around you. It's beautiful and the food is great.

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
4. It's that "frozen moment" thing ... Time travel.
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 03:56 PM
Apr 2013

Plus it was a wealthy and advanced city. Then it all ended so abruptly. Fascinating.

The stories are poignant, too, like the skeleton of the teen girl holding the baby ... They think it was a malnourished slave girl holding her charge that she was trying to save. (That was actually in Herculaneum, but the two places are lumped together in the public imagination.)

MissB

(15,800 posts)
6. Most fascinating part of my geology class in college.
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:04 PM
Apr 2013

Echoing the frozen in time thing. Sudden death happens all too frequently, but the citizens here were somewhat preserved.

benddem

(3,172 posts)
7. when I was there
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:04 PM
Apr 2013

not that long ago...they were still finding bodies and bones. It is great testament to the force of volcanoes.

derby378

(30,252 posts)
8. Because it's one of the world's oldest ghost towns
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:04 PM
Apr 2013

A thriving settlement, wiped out literally overnight by Vesuvius, but leaving plenty for future archaeologists and explorers to discover.

mainer

(12,013 posts)
9. Because we see our own lives so closely mirrored there
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:05 PM
Apr 2013

right down to the fast-food stalls. And then to think how long ago all this was...

 

RevStPatrick

(2,208 posts)
10. Because it could have been any of us.
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:05 PM
Apr 2013

Normal people living their lives, and BOOM! frozen in ash forever.
I think we can all relate to and fear that happening to us.

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
22. Those of us who live in the Northwest are prime candidates for insta-statue status
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 11:41 AM
Apr 2013

if we rile the gods of the Cascades ...

sinkingfeeling

(51,276 posts)
12. It's interesting to see the water pipes in the streets, the brothels,
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:17 PM
Apr 2013

and art work. We think all things just came into being a 100 years or so ago, and then find out they existed well before that.

CTyankee

(63,769 posts)
14. The History Channel had a program on a couple of days ago on "Sex in Pompeii" or
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:22 PM
Apr 2013

something like that. They showed the erotic frescoes in the brothels and discussed the lives of the prostitutes (usually slaves from conquered lands). Evidently, Pompeii was not as sex obsessed as Rome was. It was an interesting show.

 

duffyduff

(3,251 posts)
15. It's worth seeing.
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:24 PM
Apr 2013

Saw it in 2007.

The dogs that live there are pretty interesting in and of themselves. It is said that many of them are descended from the original dogs of Pompeii.

Spazito

(49,753 posts)
18. One thing, among many, that stood out for me was walking on the stone roadway...
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:32 PM
Apr 2013

worn smooth by the footsteps of those who lived and died in Pompeii, it really struck home with me for some reason, made it more than just a historic site, very eerie feeling.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
20. Because it was so absolutely horrifying.
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 08:30 PM
Apr 2013

In an instant, all life was wiped out, yet preserved in time for future generations to see. They had no idea what hit them. It was the ultimate conquest of nature over man.

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
21. I think it highlights the eerieness of impending doom
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 08:33 PM
Apr 2013

and how we often cannot know what's about to happen.

the fact that they were all just going on about their daily lives and were caught totally unprepared, is a reminder to us all..

No doubt they had noticed the volcano spewing off and on, and yet never realized that it would kill them

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