Pompeii

Sometimes, we say the wrong things. At least, I say the wrong things. And I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say that other people slip up too. One of the more confusing things are words that sound alike, but mean different things. Like lead (a hard metal) vs. led (directing someone).

Today I am going to help you clear up one of those spelling errors, that so many of us mix up in our day to day conversation.

Pompei vs. Pompeii.


Pompei is the suburban town in Southern Italy, founded in 1891 and famous for it's ancient Roman ruins. Pompeii is a ruined city in Southern Italy, destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius. I bet you can see how this could be pretty awkward. Take for instance, this conversation that happened between two tourists, at the Roman Colosseum.
Tourist 1:"Hi, how are you?"
Tourist 2: "I'm well. How are you?"
Tourist 1: "I'm doing fine, Thanks. Where are you from?"
Tourist 2:"Pompei."
Tourist 1: "Oh, you're from Pompeii!"
There is a strained silence, at which point, Tourist 2 gets offended, because Tourist 1 implied that he was from a town of half buried ancient Roman ruins. Awkward.

So, just remember. One i means still inhabited. Two ii's mean Roman ruins.

Pompeii was founded around the 7th or 6th century, and a bunch of different people ruled it, developed it, and did all this stuff that isn't really that important. Infact, quite frankly, Pompeii doesn't get interesting until November 23, 79. That was when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. The eruption affected several towns, but Pompeii was the largest, and with it's society at it's greatest strength, it had the largest population, and is best recorded. The Mountain erupted, and rained down 25 feet of ash, which covered the city, and suffocated many. Many people escaped by ship, organized by Pliny the Elder. His nephew, Pliny the Younger was across the bay, and watched as his Uncle, and town were buried under  the ash. The ash was so thick, that it actually suffocated people. The next day, the mountain collapsed, sending a avalanche of dirt and ash that completely covered Pompeii, and it's inhabitants.

Years later, in the 1599, Popeii was rediscovered. And since then, through varying techniques, and cares, Pompeii has been unearthed, and due to the lack of moisture and air that could reach through the ash, Pompeii had been wonderfully preserved. As they uncovered the city, they found skeletons of those who died there. The body had deteriorated, and only the skeleton was left, and when they poured plaster into the space, they could make a cast of the body, sometimes, even getting perfect facial features.

The Garden of Fugitives

A Illustrated depiction of what it was probably like

The Ruins

“. . .the buildings were now shaking with violent shocks, and seemed to be swaying to and fro as if they were torn from their foundations. Outside, on the other hand, there was the danger of failing pumice stones, even though these were light and porous; however, after comparing the risks they chose the latter. In my uncle’s case one reason outweighed the other, but for the others it was a choice of fears. As a protection against falling objects they put pillows on their heads tied down with cloths. ”


and then:
“You could hear the shrieks of women, the wailing of infants, and the shouting of men; some were calling their parents, others their children or their wives, trying to recognize them by their voices. People bewailed their own fate or that of their relatives, and there were some who prayed for death in their terror of dying. Many besought the aid of the gods, but still more imagined there were no gods left, and that the universe was plunged into eternal darkness for evermore.”
-Pliny the Younger