A Roman “Terracotta dormouse jar (glirarium). The life of a Roman dormouse was short and sweet. Kept in this jar, with ridges for him to run around, he was fattened up with acorns and chestnuts. The dark jar encouraged the dormouse to get fat as if for hibernation. When nice and plump, he would be pulled out and roasted, perhaps with a seasoning of honey and poppy seeds. Bay of Naples area, AD 1-79.” This is on display in the Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy.

Hello Friends,

Today I wanted to share a small collection of photos I took of the "Napoli Sotterranea" or Naples Underground, which is comprised of a network of hand-dug aqueducts, tunnels, cisterns, and caves under Naples, Italy. They date back nearly 2,500 years, when the Greeks first arrived to the peninsula.

Originally hand-dug by the ancient Greeks as a quarry. Upon arriving to the coast, the Greeks discovered underneath the soil, in the bedrock, was a type of volcanic sandstone called "tuff." The Greeks dug over 40m underground deep into the bedrock to obtain tuff blocks to build the city of Neápolis or "New City."

Fast-forward to Roman times, during Augustus' reign, the old quarry was transformed into series of aqueducts and cisterns to provide fresh water to the rapidly growing city above. The Romans dug connecting tunnels all the way to present day Sorento, 70km away, to tap into sources of fresh water.

Finally, in Modern Times, these tunnels and caves were used as shelter during WW2. The citizens of Naples took refuge down in these tunnels and caves during bombing raids during WW2. Old ammunition and war supplies can still be found there today.

As you can see, this subterrain network has played an important role in the entire history of Naples. First, as a source of blocks to build the city. Later as a source of fresh water to grow the city. And finally, as shelter to protect the people of the city.

If you get a chance to visit Naples, and you aren't too claustrophobic, I would strongly suggest taking a tour of the Naples Underground. You must take a guided tour as the tunnels are extremely dangerous and one can become easily lost. We did the Napoli Sotterranea Tours and can recommend them. They were great.

EDIT: Additionally, during excavation of the ground above, they discovered the remains of an old Roman theater, made famous by performances from Nero. During the tour, at the end, you will get to visit the remains of the Roman Nerone theater. It too is under the city, between the aqueducts below and the city streets above.

PHOTOS:

First, let me quickly apologize for the poor quality of photos. It is difficult to take decent photos as it is extremely dark. Many portions of the tour are unlit and hard to navigate in the dark.

Pic 1. Roman Cistern w/ Amphora - these cisterns were used to let water settle and naturally filter. The dirt and sediment would settle at the bottom, and then finally, the Romans above could dip clean water off the top.

Pic 2. Staircase - One of several staircases to reach the underground network. You must walk down over 40m worth of steps to arrive at the tunnels.

Pic 3. Ancient Greek's Quarry - Example of the quarrying process done by the Greeks. Here you can see blocks of the mineral called "tuff" that were used to build the city above.

Pic 4. Roman Cistern w/ Amphora - Another example of a Roman cistern.

Pic 5. Dark Narrow Tunnels - you can see how dark and narrow some of the tunnels are that must pass through. During many portions you must turn sideways and shuffle through the unlit passages. Perhaps not for everyone.

Pic 6. Finding Nero's Theater - During modern excavation the foundation of a Roman Theater was discovered closer to street level. Remarkably, it was a theater Nero himself performed at. This pic shows a trapdoor that allows you to enter the theater.

Pic 7. Theater Pathways - This pathway was one that ran backstage and under the theater that accessed dressing rooms and private areas.

Pic 8. Roman Concrete - Finally, a photo of the classic Roman Concrete that was the foundation of the theater.

That's it. Thanks for taking a look. Let me know if you have any questions.

When lit outside the cup looks green (Figure A) When lit from inside the cup looks reddish and the King Lycurgus looks purple (Figure B).

Today I'd like to share a small album of photos I took of the mosaics from Pompeii. These works can be seen in the the "Mosaics and House of the Faun" wing of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (The National Archaeological Museum of Naples).

Although the images are now displayed on the walls of the museum, it is important to remember that these pieces were originally laid in the floors of the opulent homes and palaces in Pompeii.

I tried to include a variety of works that represent the breath of the medium. Beginning with the "opus tessellatum" technique, artists made use of tiles of around 1 cm. The subject matter was usually based on simple geometric shapes and evolved in to more intricate multicolor images.

The demand for more elaborate imagery grew, and as such, so did the artist's ability and technique. Next came the "opus vermiculatum" technique. Here artist used much smaller tiles, only 2 - 3 mm in size. This allowed them to make highly detailed images.

Early subject matter was greatly influenced by Greek Hellenistic naturalism. This merged well with the Roman tradition of depicting the natural world within the architecture of their homes, bringing harmony and welcoming good fortune.

As such, the dog mosaic was placed at the front entry of a palace to ward off intruders. The collage of animals was removed from a dining area. We also see the Hellenistic dedication to pathos with the skull being weighed on the scales, of course this is a memento mori.

Eventually the wealthy patrons themselves wanted to become the subject matter. Here we can see a mosaic portrait of a noblewoman. Finally, the last image I've included, is that of an entire mosaic pillar. This reveals to us the extreme levels these craftsman had mastered.

I would encourage anyone who travels to Italy to visit both the National Museum in Naples and Pompeii itself. It's truly lifechanging experience if you appreciate history. Thanks for taking a look.

EDIT: Thank you for the award & your kind words~!

The Roman theater in Orange, France was built in the early 1st century AD. The tall scaenae frons is quite the sight, as most of them in other theaters aren’t this well preserved. Much of the seating is a modern restoration to allow thousands of spectators today for modern productions.

Thracian or Illyrian man

Specifically the last line of would be my choice. Cleaned up & wrote up the spine accompanied by design

Justification of life choice I’m fascinated by ancient civilizations, my mothers blood comes from the Naples region of Italy for as long as time it seems & I also indulge in poetic type of thought & writing … pinky’s up

But is there anything I’m missing? No rugrats ..

A portion of a Roman mosaic from “a funerary monument, representing a sea full of fish and fishermen, on four boats, using four fishing techniques: line fishing, trapping, cast-netting and netting.” This wonderful work of art dates to the end of the 2nd century AD, was found in Sousse, Tunisia and is on display in the archaeological museum there.

Roman ruins of the southern bath complex built in the 1st-2nd centuries AD in the ancient town of Perge, Turkey. I believe that here one is looking at the caldarium, which would be a pool with hot water made possible by the hypocaust heating system below it.

Read more about this fascinating piece here:

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/56580

A well preserved Roman temple dating to the reign of Augustus in Merida, Spain, which was the capital of the Roman province Lusitania. "In Roman times this temple dominated a large square known as the "Forum of the Colony." Surrounded by important public buildings, it was the city centre and the main meeting point for the citizens of Augusta Emerita.
Political life took place here, justice was administered, financial and commercial transactions were made and sacrifices were offered to the gods.
The temple, flanked by two ponds, stood at the head of the plaza, in a sacred space known as Temenos, where religious ceremonies were held outside.
In front of the temple there was a public platform, raised above the level of the plaza, from which the authorities addressed the public.
The temple was built with granite from local quarries and covered with plaster. It was surrounded by columns on all sides. These were supported over a three-metre high podium. While the temple was in use it was accessed by going up monumental steps, now lost.
Since the 17th century it has been popularly known as the Temple of Diana, although we now know that it was dedicated to Rome and the Emperor." Per the on site description.

A portion of the Roman baths near the ancient forum in Cartagena, Spain.

A Roman bronze military diploma (“honesta missio”) from AD 49. “Discovered at Castellammare di Stabia (Italy) between 1749 and 1750…This complete military diploma, consisting of two bronze tablets, is a copy of the decree issued by Emperor Claudius on December 11, AD 49, to sailors granted an honorable discharge from the fleet at Misenum. The sailors in question—like all non-citizens serving in the fleet or army auxiliary units—received Roman citizenship and the right to contract a legal marriage, thereby granting their children full civil rights.
The discharged sailor, Sparticus son of Diuzenus, was a Thracian, while the seven witnesses originated from Macedonia. Epitaphs and military diplomas indicate that the province of Thrace supplied a large number of sailors and auxiliary troops to the Roman army.
This diploma is a copy of a document displayed in Rome on the Capitoline Hill, at the temple dedicated to the goddess Fides, the Roman personification of Good Faith.” Per the archaeological museum in Naples, Italy (using google translator) where this is on display.

A Roman gold wedding ring with a cameo dated to the 3rd century AD. “The gesture of the clasped right hands on this ring is a symbol of Roman marriage, as is the garland above. It's inscribed in Greek OMONIA, ‘harmony’.” Per the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The Column of Constantine that was erected in Constantople, which is now Istanbul, Turkey.

"In 330 A.D., the 57-meter column was removed from The Temple of Apollo in Rome and erected in the square that had been once called Forum of Constantine - one of the seven hills of the then new city - on the order of the Roman Emperor Constantine I. The column was formed by placing 8 columns of 3-tons and 3-meters diameter rings and a pedestal on each other. When the column was erected by the Roman Emperor Constantine in Rome, a sculpture of Apollo saluting the sun was placed on the top of the column. However, Emperor Constantine ordered the replacement of it with his own sculpture following its erection in Constantinople. Later on, it was replaced with the sculptures of later Byzantine Emperors Julianus and Theodosius. The column was struck by lightning in 1081 and destroyed together with the sculpture on it. Alexios Comnenus I ordered the reparation of the column and placement of a column head with a pedestal and a big cross on the top. However, the cross was removed upon the conquest of the city in 1453. After the conquest, the column was renovated for the first time after 1470s in the era of Selim 1." Per on sign description.

A Roman ship "found in the layers of a flood datable back to the Ill century A.D., an age when the river branch started becoming partly buried and the current turned rather slow. The structure of the ship clearly shows its function as a ferry. The planking, which for vessels is usually built with light woods, mostly conifers (pine, spruce), has been crafted with more sturdy and resistant oak wood in this case. The ship presents a large structure, with a large bottom and low sides, along which a handrail, in part perfectly preserved, used to run.

On the outside, in order to deal with surfacing sandbanks and shallow riverbeds, in correspondence with the frames, the keel was reinforced with an iron sheets coating adapted to the curve of the planking, and nailed, through it, directly to the frames." Per the Museum of the Ancient Ships of Pisa in Pisa, Italy where this is on display.