Photos by: tina natalini Pompeii, Italy 2018

Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and left Pompeii buried under 13 to 20 feet of volcanic ash and pumice that would lead to the preservation of the foundation of the region, artifacts, mosaics, frescoes, pottery along with human and animal remains. Archaeologist are still uncovering treasures and remains of the once thriving region with a population of about 12,000. Just about 1,200 (and counting) human remains have been discovered. The most recent findings were of a ceremonial chariot made from bronze and tin, in March 2021.

I had the honor of visiting Pompeii in 2018 where I stood in complete awe over the lasting structures, fountains, pigments in the wall art and mosaic floor tiles. While walking the streets—where water once carried sewage—imagined what life was like back then just as everyone else does when touring Pompeii. As I imagined the furniture that filled the rooms and the accessories that adorned the tabletops of Pompeii, I had a profound analogy to humans having an inner “Pompeii,” making new discoveries every day, year or decade of life. It’s kind of cool to think of self discovery as a never-ending excavation and we get to be the archaeologists of our own lives.

Please enjoy these pictures of Pompeii that I took on my most memorable trip.