Ad99998 04 027a/eng
Die aufgegrabene Stadt Pompeji
Beschreibungstext eng
Miscellanies XXXVI. Vol. IV. No. 25., POMPEJUM DISCOVEPED., Pompejum, a little Pioman town, was situated ncar Hercuîanum and 12 Italian miles from Naples. The explofion of the rnountVefuvius which in the Year 79 deftroyed Hercuîanum buried also Pompejum under a couch of lèverai feet of ashes and pumice stones. Some âges after, its situation was entirely unknown, and it was only in the lafl Century that some peafants by chance discovered it again. In the Year 1755 they began to dig, and, as the couch of ashes was but a few feet high, it was eafily removed from the gteateft part of the Town. The many vaîuable anliquides that were found, were lihe those of the Hercuîanum brought in the Royal Mufeum at Portici. The annexer! picture represents two principal views of the discovered Poaipejum., Fig. 1. The gate of the Town and the entrance into one of the streets., We perceive in the front the ruins of the Gate (aa) and through the gâte-way one of the streets of the ancient Pompejum. The houfes feem to be built against rocks (b) but it is only the stratum or couch of ashes which covered the town, and on the furface of which as may be seen (c) some modem houfes were built. The streets are only 12 feet broad; on the pavement of L. ava the oîd tracks are diftinctly feen. On the sides of the houfes runs an elevated footpath (d) for the Convenience of people going on foot. The houfes are finall and low, quadrangular, and commonly but one story high. The doors are large and give light to the forepart of the houfe, for towards the streets no Windows have as yet been discovered. The rooms were situated around an inner Yard, in the middle of which generally a fountain stood., Fig. 2. The Soldier's Quarter of Pompejum., In the Year 1772 the Soldier's Quarter was discovered which probably was called io, because it contained the Barracks and Parade of the Roman Garrifon. A row of Doric Columns of Stucco, 11 feet high furrounded an oblong fquare, (parallelogram) the covering ashes of which as may be seen (aa) are not yet entirely removed. Apparently it was the place where the troops were exercifed. Behind these columns there was a gallery, open towards the fquare and covered ou the top. The barracks or lodgings of the foldiers (bb) were contiguous to this gallery; in some of them roman armours were found; but one especially oflfered a pitiful aspect. It was the military prifon. Some of the Soldiers imprifoned at the time of the fatal cataftrophe, were forgotten in the gênerai confternation, and deprived of the power to escape were pitifully suffocated. Several fkeletous were found fitting in a row, the bones of their legs fiill loaded with heavy chains.