Mosaics, ruins and volcanoes

Floor mosaic in the Vatican

Mosaics, ruins and volcanoes

When we were learning about mosaics last year, did we talk about how many mosaics there are in Italy?  I saw the most beautiful mosaics when I travelled through Italy.  In Rome especially, there were mosaics everywhere.  

A mosaic wall in St Peter's Dome

In St Peter’s Basilica, the big church in Rome, has art work on every wall and ceiling.  All the art was mosaic!  Some of the mosaic tile was so small you couldn’t believe it was mosaic, it looked like paintings.  When you got close you could see the tiles.  A lot of it was real gold!!!  I’ll attach some photos so you can see the incredible art work.

Close up of the mosaic above

Beware of Dog mosaic in Pompeii ruins

Chariot ruts on a street in Pompeii

I also visited the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii.  Pompeii was completely covered by about 6m of ash and pumice stone when the volcano behind it erupted in 79 AD.  When I was in grade six I read a story called, “The Dog of Pompeii.”  It was a great story and when I got to the ruins of Pompeii I went to a house with a mosaic of a dog in the front entranceway.  The mosaic is black and white and the dog looks mean, all growling.  Underneath the dog it says “Cave Canem” which means “Beware of the Dog” in Latin.

The buried remains of the city of Pompeii were not found until 1749, and then archaeologists started excavating, or digging 

out the site.  The ruins are amazing.  We walked through the old city streets for the whole day!  On the roads there are ruts where the chariots used to drive!  It was very cool.

The ampitheatre in Pompeii--dug out of 6m of ash and pumice!

Mt Vesuvius

More Mt Vesuvius

Behind Pompeii is Mount Vesuvius.  That is the huge volcano that erupted in 79 AD.  Since then, Vesuvius has erupted lots of times, with the most recent eruption being in 1944.  We went up to the top of Mt. Vesuvius and walked around the rim.  We could look in the crater and we saw little wisps of smoke coming up through the crater.  Mt. Vesuvius is still active and could have another eruption, but there are usually warning signs and most likely people could be evacuated before the eruption happened.  So we felt safe enough going up there.  It was also very cool.  The rock all around was hardened lava.  It was either pitch black or bright red.  It was really interesting.  I’m glad I went.