Stabian Baths

Of course Romans liked to exercise. The Stabian baths provided a place to exercise, sauna and bathe.

A large courtyard was available for games.

There were lockers for your belongings

A suana was available to loosen up the muscles, as was a pool.

Victims of the eruption are on display here.

Recreational Facilities in Pompeii

Romans vacationing in Pompeii had several opportunities for recreation. These included public baths, which were similar to our athletic clubs, various amphitheaters for plays and gladiator contests and of course the red light district. Interestingly enough, the house of ill repute is the best restored building in Pompeii.

There is a sign on the door. My Italian is rusty, (or non-existent) but I believe this sign is warning you of the suggestive nature of the intereior decor. If you are offended, I would skip to the next post.

The interior was arranged in semi-private room or stalls. The upstairs was not accessible, but the guide explained that the beds were likely more comfortable since the upper levels were for the more affluent.

Since variety is the spice of life, especially in ancient Pompeii, you could shop for a particluar skill or position. Painted on the wall above each stall is a picture depicting that girl's particular technique that was available.

Open house - Pompeii Style

Welcome to the house of the Faun. In the courtyard is the statue that gives the house its name.

It is an upscale residence dating back to 200 BC. The houses had many rooms, most decorated with mosaics and 3-D false architecture painted on the walls. The rooms were somewhat open and airy to let in natural light. Check out the detailed frescoes on the wall. It was easier to paint wood work than to really nail it up. The detail is exquisite for it's time.This was painted 2000 years ago.This was believed to be a cistern for storing water

Of course you would need to go to the bathroom. Check out the old plumbing!This is the mosaic depicting the battle between Alaexander and Darius. It is hard to see, but the detail is amazing.

Relics from Pompeii

One thing that I noticed that was different from previous trips to Pompeii was the amount of relics that have been removed or stored. Off the main forum is a storage area where many recovered artifacts are kept. Pompeii is so cool because it was frozen in time. Bread loves were found in ovens, wine bottles were recovered and silverware and plates were on the table. These are just some household furnishings. I would imagine they didn't move stuff around too often.

This individual was found laying in a bed.
These are more victims that were not able to be recovered using the plaster cast method.