In Italy, on the
shore of the bay, the picturesque city of Naples is located. Archaeologists are
interested in the history of this city. They managed to become acquainted with
ancient documents that described the eruption of Vesuvius, at the foot of which
Naples took shelter. The eruption occurred in the first century AD - August 24,
79. Before this terrible event, Vesuvius slept calmly and did not seem
dangerous to people. Three Roman cities: Herculaneus, Stabia and Pompeii were
located around it.
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| Glass from Pompeii |
And suddenly one
of August days a fiery cloud of smoke rose from the crater of Vesuvius.
Following him, an invisible force threw stones up. Clouds of ash covered the
sky. Streams of hot lava flowed on peaceful homes...
For eighteen
centuries, the dead cities lay under the ashes of Vesuvius, until archaeologists
came and began excavations at the place where the eruption occurred.
The first thing
they came across turned out to be the roof of the house. Gradually, an entire
city was dug up underground. It was Pompeii. When the work was completed,
scientists were free to go into the houses, examine in some places preserved
interior decoration, furniture and utensils.
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| Glassware from Pompeii |
Among the
excavations of Pompeii, scientists were particularly interested in fragments of
white thick plates of glass. They found not only fragments but also whole
plates. They were inserted into bronze frames.
A
dispute arose between scientists. Some claimed that the plates found were
window panes. Others disputed this. They said that even the richest houses of
the Romans were built without windows. But, if you still consider that in
Pompeii there were houses with glass windows, then, apparently, this was a
rarity. Ordinary citizens of Pompeii, as well as residents of other Roman
cities, huddled in half-dark houses, eating from pottery. Glass was a luxury
item for them.
Margaret
Thursday, October 17, 2019
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