Pompeii: Exploring a Roman Ghost Town

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D.79 buried the Roman town of Pompeii under a thick layer of ash and stone. The hardened ash and lava obliterated all traces of Pompeii's existence, but also preserved the streets, marketplaces, public buildings, private homes, furnishings, artwork and graffiti that later revealed the city as a thriving commercial and agricultural center. Fifteen hundred years later, this prosperous ancient city was uncovered, piece by piece; this book skillfully recounts the drama and excitement of its discovery and subsequent exploration. The authors use the findings of archeologists to describe life as it existed in the Roman empire, yet their prose is never dry or overly technical. The many strong photographs add to the sense of wonder that the book creates, clearly illustrating the astonishingly well-preserved streets and buildings of Pompeii. The words and picturestogether tell a truly incredible story.(10-14)

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9 Life in the thriving Roman city of Pompeii stopped on August 24, a.d. 79, when the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius covered the seven-square mile city with lava, freezing it in time. By pouring concrete into spaces left by decayed organic matter and then breaking away the lava, archaeologists are able to create exact casts of figures and objects. Even plant roots can be duplicated using this technique. This uniquely preserved city gives a well-rounded picture of Roman times. In describing various private homes and public buildings and their functions, the Goors reveal a lot about Pompeian life and Roman society in general. Pompeii is brought to life even more by the Goors' inclusion of graffiti found on walls, recipes, and other anecdotal material. Exquisite black-and-white photographs on almost every page elucidate the text of this carefully designed book and evoke a mood of a beautiful, long vanished civilization. Latin terms and their definitions are integrated into the text. This readable history will be useful for assignments and as supplementary material on Roman life. A fascinating book that should excite young readers about ancient history. Marguerite F. Raybould, Glendale Public Library, Calif.