The lonely city Pompeii of Italy and the Acropolis of Athens: Visitors attraction

By asad russel - 

Pompeii, Italy

In Italy near the Bay of Naples there is a volcano in the Mount Vesuvius. This volcano is more than hundreds of thousands year old and more than 50 times this volcano erupted. In the year of 79 A.D. the most dangerous eruption of this volcano took place. It destroyed a ancient Roman city which was the Pompeii. This city was buried under thick carpet of the volcano ash in that time. One witness wrote that, "Like a flood across the land the dust poured and like the unlighted closed room the city shrouded in darkness". In that incident about 2,000 people died and after that the city was abandoned for several years.

In 1748 this city was rediscovered by a group of explorers who were looking for the ancient artifacts. They came near the area of Mount Vesuvius and began to dig. They discovered that the ashes acted like the marvelous preservatives. When they discover this city, Pompeii was almost the same which it had been in 2,000 years ago. The skeletons were frozen where they were fallen and the house were intact too. Later the jars of preserved fruits and loaves of bread even discovered by the archaeologists. In the neo-Classical revival the excavation of the city of Pompeii played a major role, many scholars think that.

In the 8th century B.C. the ancient people of Greek civilization settled here. The are of Mount Vesuvius and it's surrounding areas were attracted the wealthy peoples who wants to enjoy the beautiful scenery and soak up the sun. But in the first century A.D. the Pompeii was located five miles away from the mountain. It was then became the most flourishing resort for the distinguished citizens of Rome. Many elegant houses and elaborate villas were built beside the paved street. In the small factories, shops, brothels and bathhouses, cafes and taverns tourists, townspeople and the slaves were bustled. There was a arena in this city which capacity was 20,000. People also gathered in the marketplaces and in the open air squares lounged. According to an estimate at the time of great eruption of the volcano 20,000 people were living in Pompeii.

For almost three centuries ago the excavation of the Pompeii city has been going on but still now this ruins fascinated the tourists and of course the scholars as they were before. Every year almost 2.5 million visitors visit this city. Pompeii gives the visitors the first century Roman life experience.

Acropolis, Athens

The Acropolis of Athens has a long history which related with the creation of flourished art and the philosophy of democracy. In the ancient Greek civilization particularly the Acropolis and the Parthenon was the most characteristic monuments. In many ways they were the symbols for the people of ancient Greek. First of all the Acropolis was the symbol of Greek civilization and for the democracy. The beginning of the western civilizations it also symbolizes. For the European culture it stands like a icon. This was built during the 5th century B.C. and under the instruction of their political leader Pericles the construction work was going on.

On a rocky promontory which height is 156 meters the Acropolis is located. Less than 3ha it covers a surface of area. It was a royal palace and a fortress protecting places of worship from the second millennium B.C. By a wall, the Pelasgicon was protected the access to the plateau. The Acropolis was reconstructed after the fall of tyrants, in 514 by Hipparchus and in 510 by Hippias. The Pelasgicon was destroyed, was weakened the upper town and under Xerxex the persians took it over in 480. They were burning the sanctuaries and looting. In 472-471 B.C. the rampart was destroyed and as well the long walls too which divided the Athens and the ports.

The Acropolis is the most important site in Athens. It also one of the most visited monument in the world. For the ancient Greek Culture it is the most significant point of reference. In the sacred area the Propylaea are the monumental entrances which was dedicated to the Goddess Athena. Athena was the patron Goddess for the Greeks. The Propylaea was built with Pentelic marble. From the date of Neolithic period on the Acropolis the first habitation remains. Either as a residential area or as a cult area or as both the rocky hill was continuously used over the centuries.

The Acropolis is like a complex with the hilltop Parthenon, the temple of Goddess Athena and the Acropolis itself. Every year 2 million people visit this historical place from all around the world.

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Posted by : Unknown 7:13 PM Tags : Travel Destinations

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