#rome

#rome

This Restored Home in Pompeii Shows How The Elite LivedThe House of Vettii (also known as the Domus Vettiorum) was finally unveiled to visitors after two decades of restoration. Initially unearthed during the late 19th century, experts decided to close it in 2002 to have it repaired. The roofing of the home was shored up, and the frescoes, the floors, and the colonnades were restored.This opulent home was determined to belong to two former slaves who became rich through the wine trade. Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus were hypothesized to be brothers, but there is no certainty about that. They could be married for all we know (and there is nothing wrong with that)! The house showcases how the rich lived in Pompeii and how Roman society operated. The two homeowners did their best to show just how high they rose in the ranks of society through the lavish artworks and frescoes in their living room to their lavish gardens. “They evidently tried to show their new status also through culture and through Greek mythological paintings, and it’s all about saying, ‘We’ve made it and so we are part of this elite’ of the Roman world.” Pompeii’s director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel shared.Image credit: Casa Dei Vetti#homes #ancienthomes #Rome #society #elite #architecture #artworks

The Roman Pyramid of CestiusAncient people built pyramids all over the world, although the most famous ones are in Egypt and date back more than four thousand years. Modern people build them as well, although the one in Memphis, Tennessee, probably won't last as long as the ancient stone structures. You may be surprised to know that the Romans built pyramids, too! The Pyramid of Cestius was built in Rome around 18 to 12 BC for Gaius Cestius Epulo. Cestius wasn't an emperor, but he was a wealthy and powerful politician and a priest besides, and wanted to be buried in a pyramid. It was the fashionable thing to do, as Rome was undergoing somewhat of an Egyptian craze at the time. The tomb was built in the countryside outside of Rome, but the city overtook the pyramid over time. At one point, it was even incorporated as part of a wall. The pyramid was vandalized, then excavated, in the Middle Ages, and was mistakenly ascribed to someone else. Read the story of Rome's pyramid at Amusing Planet.(Image credit: Flickr user Dennis Jarvis) #pyramid #Rome #RomanEmpire #Cestius