Material culture to biblical backgrounds in Italy: National Archeological Museum in Naples, Herculaneum

Herculonium

Naples is third largest city after Milan and Rome, known for restaurants. Most heavily bombed city in WWII. It's where pizza was invented. It's highly regulated here, eg crust thickness, type of tomatoes, no tomato skins.

Best place to study biblical backgrounds between Vesuvius and Rome, even though neither Jesus nor Paul came to here because when it erupted, it preserved structures 45' deep. Everything was encased in ash and cinder or lava until 1709 when first artifact was uncovered. Villa of the papiron (Epicurious) recently uncovered (current news cycle) discovered 1000 papyrus scrolls. New technology allows them to use ultra infrared light to read texts.

Picture is of Vesuvius at right and Samoa at left. Fertile soil result of volcanic activity.

Pliny the younger had correspondence with Trajion, "what to do about these Christians" around the time of the eruption.

Heroclonium 3-4 miles away and was destroyed bottom up by lava whereas Pompeii was destroyed top down by pyrotechnic materials. Most people didn't get killed here in Herculonium. They were able to escape. Ten percent excavated. Lava flow extends one more mile to sea whereas arches denote original shoreline.  Structures are generally 100bc to 100ad. Vesuvius had constant plume of smoke shown in art. They knew it was active. There had been an earthquake 17 years before eruption. Most people evacuated. 500 corpses found in 25,000 population of those who wished to ride it out.

Pictures are of boat encased in lava and preserved.

Picture of painting that showed exactly how they ate.

Warehouses where ships would load and store goods.

House walls made from paint and wet plaster. Grooves begin art at earlier level of many coats of plaster.

Renaissance (Leonardo and Michaelangelo) relearn perspective from ancient Rome which had been lost.

Thermopoli-fast food restaurant-breakfast and supper at home but hot lunch on the street. (Place for pots, counter).

Photo of marble pool and cistern where bucket would be lowered and water drawn.

Romans were most religious people in history because they were extremely aware of the divine and had altars in every house.

Photo: House of Neptune and Aphrodite

Photo of island of Capri