Page 36 - Mediterraneo e dintorni - nr 18

Orion , are just some of the scenes that the intersection between the Alley of merous graffiti inscriptions relating
adorn interior and exterior, a sign that the Balconies and the Alley of Silver to this world. Among the various di-
the owners enjoyed a certain cultural Wedding, probably a stairway. Above scoveries in the Regio V, one has par-
depth that often manifested in the choi- the painting, also the imprint of a wo- ticularly surprised: it is a charcoal
ce of certain subjects painted on the rich oden staircase, which suggests the pre- inscription in italic type, coming from
wall decoration or mosaics. Among the sence of a second floor perhaps housing the house of the Garden, which could
latest finds we remember a casket con- of the owner or cell for the practice of date to October 17 the eruption of Ve-
taining amulets, gems and decorative prostitution. suvius, in spite of traditional date of
elements, and a fresco with a scene of This practice most likely had to be fre- August 24 as reported by the medie-
combat between gladiators. The latter quented mainly by gladiators, given val transcripts of Pliny the Younger.
comes from a commercial activity loca- the proximity to the “barracks” from Pompeii, after centuries, is alive and
ted in a space behind the widening of where, among other things, come nu- still continues to surprise us.

Gladiatori (courtesy of Pompei Parco Archeologico)

borbonici che, seppur con enor- to, ma di una città sempre in mo- vibili ma attraverso il piacere e
mi danni alle strutture, hanno la- vimento con un grande pubblico il dovere della divulgazione che
sciato tracce interessanti dei loro internazionale pronta a visitar- finalmente esce dall’accademia
lavori. A Pompei viene final- la. Pompei è viva e dopo secoli per informare tutti sulle bellezze
mente restituita la sua immagine continua ancora a raccontarci la che la nostra Italia deve e dovrà
più stringente, non solo quella di sua straordinaria storia, senza difendere, tutelare, preservare e
una città il cui tempo si è ferma- sensazionalismi e misteri irrisol- valorizzare oggi e domani.

Mediterraneo e dintorni - 34