Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7 pm. Casa Belvedere - 79 Howard Avenue, Staten Island, NY. Presented by Dr. Snjezana Smodlaka. Register here. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD destroyed the prosperous cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and they remained buried under many feet of volcanic ash, stone and hardened lava for more than 16 centuries.

The debris left from that horrible tragedy created a shell which did not allow moisture and air to penetrate. It actually preserved many objects and artistic treasures in good condition, as was revealed in archaeological excavation in the last 250 years. In unearthed areas of Pompeii and Herculaneum, priceless historic and artistic information was uncovered that gives us the best insight into the life of ancient Romans and their civilization.

In this presentation, numerous slides will lead us along excavated streets of Pompeii and into their luxurious villas embellished with brilliant frescoes and mosaics. We will see how they used to entertain themselves and spend their leisure time in theatres, amphitheater, festivals and banquets, and in complex public baths and restaurants.

Majestic statues, splendid mosaics, frescoes and preserved objects will show us exquisite pieces of golden jewelry, their fashion, food they ate and grew, as well as give us a glimpse into their relationships toward women and slaves. We will also try to understand their predilection for cruel games, and their desire to surround themselves with brilliant art and beauty.