You may think those figure above are just another replication inspired by the Chinese terra-cotta army. But you’re wrong if that’s what your thought. Those are once real people and what’s more, they’re Ancient Roman.
So, what caused this? Aren’t they statues? Why they shaped like this?…. Such questions may arose for those who see this pictures for the first time. The main craftmen for these ’statues’ were the ashes from the Mountain Vesuvius. And yes, these Romans were once the inhabitants of the porpular Roman city of Pompeii and Herculanium.
Herculanium? Many have heard what’s Pompeii but Herculanium is not that significant. Well, one reason, Herculanium has less preservatived ’statues’ compared to Pompeii’s. Both cities’ faith were under the control of this active volcano years ago (even in present day).
And on this day, the mountain erupted in the afternoon of 24 August 79AD. The eruption were so enormous that it overpower the atomic bomb both in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And no more eruption after that were so powerful until the eruption of Krakatoa.
The eruption kicks off with a big splash of ashes and debris ranging miles into the atmosphere. A deadly pyroclastic flow follow on. And it would eventually take major casualties of disaster. With temperature rises up to thousands of degree celcius, the flow killed everything in its path. While for the human, their flesh were burned, all left was a shell shape of the human being.
Though this tragedy claim numerous lives, it was still the largest contribution for the archological world as this event preserved the original Roman lifestyles and their building intact. This archeological site was discovered during 17th century and was fully excavated by the end of 19th century.
Among the great discoveries were the residential area of the ancient Rome, forums, bath houses, markets…..and even temples were unearthed.
