By Constance Borrett
'He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke' (Psalm 104:32).
The horror of an earthquake or volcanic eruption is beyond comprehension to those who have not suffered such calamities, but Pliny the Younger left a vivid and moving account of one such happening.
On August 24th 79 A.D. Vesuvius erupted and brutally wiped out Pompeii, Herculaneum and surrounding places. In a matter of hours, these pleasant, thriving cities disappeared. There had been a severe earthquake in 62 A.D., but they had survived and buildings were being repaired and made even more grand.
After vague rumblings underfoot during the week, the volcano split apart with a terrifying, deafening crack; sunlight was blotted out and birds in flight fell to the ground. Fierce heat rose from the ground. A boiling mixture of blazing mud and fiery rocks poured down the verdant slopes, carrying away villas and farmhouses, rushing to join the heaving, swollen sea, to crush all the shipping in its path.
Pompeii was covered with lapilli and ashes up to twenty three feet deep. Roofs caved in and many of the 20,000 people were suffocated by poisonous volcanic gas. Herculaneum was swamped by a slimy mixture of lava and mud which crept into every house to a depth of sixty feet, and solidified into tufa. A huge, desolate expanse resulted, in place of a delightful resort of 5,000 souls. Recently, hundreds of skeletons pathetically clinging together, were found in the harbour. They sought escape in vain.
'How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people!' (Lam 1:1).
Over 2000 years may separate us, but our thoughts, feelings and lifestyle are a startling echo of those of 79 A.D. Excavations done over hundreds of years have revealed evidence of a fascinating society not unlike our own. In this time capsule we see the prosperous trading city of Pompeii, and the attractive resort Herculaneum, much loved by holiday-makers for its glorious Bay of Naples setting. Streets, shops, taverns, workrooms, public buildings, villas, theatres and temples have been uncovered.
The preserved remains of food (eggs, fish) on the table, bread still in the oven, produce in shops, tell of the panic-stricken flight from an ordinary, busy life.
They were a people who loved poetry and philosophy, and left behind many inscriptions on walls expressing these things. Eye-catching notices announced circus games, auctions, and proclaimed the merits of political candidates. Also, they had graffiti artists, when the common folk voiced feelings about landlords who served watered wine, or praised a favourite actor. A different landlord displayed a pictorial notice warning drunks: 'Itas Forsa Rixatis' (Scram! You can do your quarrelling outside).
Apparently everybody could read and write. Even little children scrawled the alphabet and the days of the week on walls.
The Forum was the centre of Business: money-changing, trading and tax collection, carried out under the gaze of statues dedicated to gods, emperors and worthy citizens.
The theatre was popular and entry-free, enjoyed after a busy day, with 'Fast food' available nearby. The Thermae, where vigorous exercise was followed by hot and cold baths and massage by slaves, was considered an essential daily indulgence. It was a social occasion when deep subjects would be discussed or the latest poem mulled over.
Frescoes inside the houses have been much praised. Scenes from Greek mythology and humble portrayals of everyday life are of high quality. Gardens, especially those attached to villas, were havens of peace, with trees and flowers between colonades and fountains, water jets and statues.
According to law, the dead were buried beyond the pomerium (green belt) outside the city wall, but unlike our cemetaries, tombs were ranged along the main roads. Dealers set up their stalls between them; stone benches were built into tombs for weary wayfarers to rest. The cheerful bustle of life was shared with the dead -- it was believed that they took an interest.
'Then Paul stood... and said, Ye men...I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious' (Acts 17:22).
The Campanians believed in an after life, but were fearful of it. Their many gods were an integral part of life. Grace was said at meals - over every course, each wine. Shrines to Lares and statues of Apollo, Venus and Hercules were in houses and public places. Temples to Isis were regularly attended. Superstition was rife. Amulets and talismans were a profitable business. Fear of the evil eye and practice of witchcraft made life precarious. If you stumbled when leaving the house it was better to re-enter and stay there until next day. Fire spoken of at table, a bottle of oil spilt, or sneezing when being served food, all presaged misfortune and must be exorcised.
While banqueting, a grisly reminder would be present: skeletons carved on vessels passed around, implying: 'Enjoy life here below to the full, for what awaits us in eternity?' Frescoes pictured the frenetic eating and drinking, music and dancing that filled their lives.
The pinnacle of wickedness in Roman culture was the circus held in the amphitheatre. Gladiators were the pop idols of the day, vain, and wearing splendid helmets and cuirasses for pre-fight processions. But their end was certain death. Seneca, the Roman philosopher, was aghast after a visit and wrote a strong letter to Roman satirist Lucillius expressing his horror and disgust at the orgy of blood he witnessed. Thousands of wild animals were slaughtered and criminals disposed of by wild beasts for the entertainment of the enthusiastic audience.
Audiences were given far more consideration, with awnings to shield them from the sun, and cool, scented showers sprinkled from the roof during the interval.
Life was a roller-coaster of excitement and indulgence. The main pursuits were Profit and Pleasure, as manifested in inscriptions found in two villas: 'Welcome Profits!' and 'Profits mean joy!' The dark shadow of Vesuvius looming over them did not unduly worry them. It had been quiet for centuries and its slopes were a rich verdure of vineyards and fruits.
'But the Lord...is the living God...at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation... The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth' (Jer 10:10,11).
Complacency was swept away on that dreadful August day in 79 A.D. Faith in false gods - even Venus their 'Protector', was in vain. Pathetic corpses, preserved by the lava, can now be viewed as ghastly museum items by the public: priests of Isis clutching gold and silver icons, wealthy merchants gripping bags of coins, women vainly trying to rescue their finery, whole families trapped in rooms, and a beautiful young girl lying face down in an attitude of despair. These are people who had lived without the True God and depended on false ideals. Profit and Pleasure were all. Their lives ended suddenly and without hope.
'I have long time holden my peace...now... I will destroy. I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs' (Is 42:14,15).
The verdant slopes of Vesuvius turned to cinder. The sun became black as sackcloth (Rev 6:12).
'Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof' (2 Tim 3:5).
Were there any Christians in these cities full of temples and gods? The Apostle Paul visited Pozzuoli (Puteoli) around 60 A.D. and stayed seven days with believers there. Was it a Christian, appalled by the immorality of the Campanians, who marked a wall 'Sodoma Gomora'? And was the little room discovered in Herculaneum's 'House of the Bicentenary', with its altar-like wooden cupboard set under the mark of a cross on the wall (the cross having been moved), a humble meeting place for 'one or two gathered together' to worship our Lord? Conversely, the cross as a symbol was not adopted until about the 5th century. Sadly, the question remains unresolved. The victims of Vesuvius probably died without hearing the Gospel.
How many people in the 21st century are in a similar state? Profit and Pleasure are dominant world-wide. Ignorance of the saving power of Jesus Christ is widespread. We may not have a Vesuvius looming over us, but a different, spiritual catastrophy awaits those who, like the Campanians, put their trust in the false gods of Profit and Pleasure. It behoves all Christians to pray and support the missionaries and evangelists who are courageously fighting to bring enlightenment and hope to a dark world.
'Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him' (Ps 33:8).
'Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble' (Ps 32:7).