Midway (CVB 41) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 106 text:

Kveryone wlio slopped at tlie cameo factor, niidway between .Naples and Pompei. marvelled at the intricate and artistic pieces sculptured from seashells bv the craftsmen. Italian-Aineritan oocUvill and friendline?? prevail as the nn tery of the lire is explained to three MIDW AY sailors. Fortunately, these exchange houses were present in all ports visited. Al J f £i - k 1 . fl l b Bh liSil

Page 105 text:

All iiiiiisual pictiirf. taken llirou ' ili a glas. uiiidou. II (iu look. I ' loscly oii will see the rellectioiis of several persons, incluUini; thai of an attractive young girl. A thirteenth century bronze door in Naples Spanish castle. Embedded in the door is a cannonball from one of the battles which occurred in this area. Lady Godiva, in company with a Javanese dancer and an entrancing nude, provides a center of interest for three art lovers adrift ill llle r.liciclll trccl-.

Page 107 text:

In -lately s|)k ' n(lor Mofiit esuvii-.s lias lool.etl down tliroui:h the ages upon Pompei which was buried under 25 feet of ashes. The ruins began to be exca- vated in 1748. FOUiVDED by the Oscans, Pompei look cm (inik characteristics as early as the sixth century B. C. long before an earthquake heavily damaged the city in 63 A. D. Built on an elliptical plan, the original city was encircled by a wall with eight towered gates placed at regular intervals. Taking sixteen years of hand labor to restore, tlie city was again struck by disaster, taking the lives of 2(1.0(10 jieople. Mount esuvius erupted and buried the ancient city under a thick sea of ashes in 79 A. D. A visit to Pompei shows the ri cxhunird from its ashes after a lapse of 1900 years. The streets are paved aiul bordered with sidewalks, (lanked in turn with dwellings and shops. Tracks worn into the streets show the passage of many heavy carts throughout the city. The homes, in their oldest and most simple form, consisted of an atrium (inner courtyard: surrounded by a rec- tangle of masonry containing a ntunber of rooms. At a later date, rooms towards the facade were transformed into shops. Today we can still see many hotels, stables, restaur, nts. bars and shops, each with characteristic furnishings and in.scriptions, indicating that Pompei was first and foremost a connnercial center. Pompei now sleeps placidly amid silent fields of green grass anil grazing sheep.