Page 30 - FAST 2024 Calendar Yearbook

The ancient city of Pompei which was first discovered here some 200 years ago buried under 40 feet of volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It has been thought the city was destroyed, but discovery of a roof top by a farmer digging in his field, followed then by archaeological excavation over the last 200 years has removed all the ash about 40-50 feet deep and brought much of the old city back to life.
The vast ruins provide fascinating insights into how the ancient Romans lived, and included impressive temples, a forum, one of the largest Roman am- phitheaters which was used as a model for the one in Rome, plus luxurious houses with frescoes and mosaics, and streets lined with shops including fast food vendors with cook pots on the front counters.
On entering the old historic city of Pompei which has been unearthed from under 40 feet of ash the past 200 years, the first thing we see is on tho left is the Gladiator high walled Gladiator School ground and barracks, and on the right the huge and nearly perfectly intact Pompei Amphitheater were gladiators clashed to the delight of thousands of spectators.
There is a full circumferential walkway tunnel under the seating area for spectators to reach their seating locations with stairways leading up, just like modern stadiums today. The later constructed Coliseum in Rome was inspired by this Pompei Amphitheater. The carved stone plaque at right, located inside the tunnel; entrance,displays the names of the rich sponsors who helped pay for the construction of the Amphitheater.
Aside from being a historical landmark and an object of archaeological study, the amphitheater has been used for concerts and other public events in modern times. Frank Sinatra was the first to be granted special permission by the
site's chief archaeologist to perform concert in the amphitheater. Over a 4-day pe- riod in October 1971, Pink Floyd made a concert film at the amphitheater in 1991 titled Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii. David Gilmore, the band's guitarist,
returned to perform two concerts at the amphitheater in July 2016 as part of his Rattle That Lock Tour.
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