Pompeii Awakened: A Story of Rediscovery Tapa dura - 2007

Primera línea

Pompeii is a city that died and was buried in one night, destroyed by a volcano which erupted with a force equivalent to many thou- sands of the atomic bombs that struck Hiroshima. To historians, archaeologists and scientists, Pompeii's significance lies in its offering a total picture of the ancient world, captured at a single point in time. Other ancient cities such as Troy, Angkor Wat and Native American Pueblo habitats were burned or abandoned. The vision they offer is limited and partial. But Pompeii was not destroyed by age or enemy. It was simply blanketed, within the space of a few hours, under a layer seventeen feet thick and more, composed of dust, rocks and, above all light- weight pumice pebbles, resembling gravel. When the pebbles were cleared away, explorers found unbroken hensí eggs still on the table, an artistís brushes by his painting, the skeleton of a woman caught barracks, and still flaunting her best pearl earrings and snake bracelet.