August 19-23 2019: Rome and Pompeii

During this week of the London Temple closure, we visited Italy including sites in Rome and Pompeii.  We flew to Rome Monday afternoon arriving early evening and having been acclimatized to the London weather, Rome was hot!  We started our own personal walking tour Tuesday morning while it was still cool.

Pantheon

Our first historic site was the "Pantheon" which in Greek means "temple of all the gods".  It was originally built as a Roman Temple by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus Caesar and is one of the best-preserved of all Ancient Roman buildings, in large part because it has been in continuous use throughout its history.  Since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been in use as a church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs" or "Santa Maria Rotonda". 

The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda (Square of the Rotunda).  The obelisk was originally constructed by Pharaoh Ramses II (Moses' adopted brother) for the Temple of Ra as a shrine to the Egyptian God Isis.  Pope Clement XI had the base and the cross added in.  The early Romans admired the ancient Egyptian civilization. 

The Pantheon's large circular domed inner chamber, with a conventional temple portico front, was unique in Roman architecture.  The building originally had a flight of steps but later construction raised the level of the ground burying the steps. The rotunda is actually designed so that a 43.3 meter (142 feet) diameter sphere could fit under its dome.  Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson's library which is now a part of the University of Virginia, was modeled after the Panthenon.  

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the Pantheon near the center of Rome.  The inscription reads M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT  or in full, "M[arcus] Agrippa L[ucii] f[ilius] co[n]s[ul] tertium fecit," meaning "Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made [this building] when consul for the third time."  The obelisk in the foreground, dated about 1250 BC, was taken from the Egyptian Temple of Ra built by Ramses the Great who challenged Moses in the Book of Exodus.

A picture of the Pantheon dome from inside.  The 4535 tonne concrete dome has a thickness which varies from 6.4 metres (21 ft) at the base of the dome to 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) around the 30 foot diameter oculus (Latin for eye) which opens to the sky to provide light and ventilation.  Drains under the floor beneath the oculus handle rain that enters. 

A panoramic view of some of the niche chapels around the Pantheon.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the high altar in the Pantheon.  The gold picture above the crucifix is a 7th-century Byzantine icon of the Virgin and Child commemorating the dedication of the Pantheon for Christian worship on 13 May 609.

An interesting Pantheon tradition is that each year, on the day of Pentecost (the seventh Sunday after Easter), thousands of red rose petals are dropped through the oculus memorializing Acts 2:3 where the "cloven tongues like as of fire" (i.e. flames) appeared symbolizing the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the followers of Jesus Christ. 

The tomb of King Victor Emmanuel II, the ruler who unified modern Italy on 17 March 1861, rests in the Pantheon.  The caption PADRE DELLA PATRIA is Italian for Father of the Country.  One of our later tour guides told us that most Italians still identify more with their geographic area (such as Milan, Naples, Rome, Bologna, Palermo, Sicily, etc.) than with the nation as a whole and Italians from different regions have significant challenges understanding each other because of their regional dialects.

Below the sculpture Madonna del Sasso (Madonna of the Rock) is the tomb of Rafael, the Renaissance painter, who died at the young age of 37.  He requested to be entombed on the east side of the Pantheon where the last light of the day shone through the oculus.  Rafael, together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, form the trinity of great masters of that period.  The bust to the left of the sculpture is Rafael.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the a sculpture of St Anne and the Blessed Virgin.  According to the Apocrypha, St Anne was the mother of Mary the mother of Jesus.

Trevi Fountain
Trevi (three) Fountain is the largest fountain in Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world, having appeared in several notable films including Roman Holiday,  Three Coins in the Fountain, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, and Sabrina Goes to Rome.  The fountain was built of travertine (a porous limestone) quarried near Rome and was started in 1735 and completed in 1762 under the direction of architect Giuseppe Pannini (who was also famous for his excellent grilled sandwiches 😉).  

Trevi Fountain which was designed around the theme of the taming of the waters.  The fountain marks the terminal point of three aqueducts that supplied pure drinking water to ancient Rome.  In the centre of the fountain is a statue of Oceanus, standing under a triumphal arch. His chariot is being pulled by two sea horses, one wild and one docile, representing the opposing moods of the sea.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of Trevi Fountain with her fan (it was quite warm, about 95°F).  The inscription on the fountain translates to "Clemens XII Pontifex Maximus decorated the Virgin Aqueduct and committed it with abundance and salubrity (health) to the cult in the Year of the Lord 1735, 6th year of his pontificate"

Sister Burkinshaw preparing to throw a €1 coin into Trevi Fountain.  The legend is that one coin thrown in Trevi Fountain ensures you will return again to Rome; Two coins thrown ensures romance with a Roman (either male or female), and three coins thrown ensures the marriage with him or her.  Fortunately she only threw in one coin! 😉  

Elder Burkinshaw tried to tell Sister Burkinshaw he did not want an ice cream, but this was an obvious prevarication. 😉 Obviously Pinocchio is Italian and was created by Italian writer Carlo Collodi. In the story, a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan village carves Pinocchio but he dreams of his puppet becoming a real boy. When Pinocchio tells a lie, his nose grows longer!

In an effort to repent of his prevarication, Elder Burkinshaw found a store that made custom "to order" Magnum bars near Trevi Fountain.

As a final admission of his guilt, Elder Burkinshaw ate most of the vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate coating with toppings of chocolate coated caramel, brownie and pistachios.  However, Sister Burkinshaw did get a bite or two. 😉

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps climb a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square) with it's impressive  Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the longboat") at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti (Trinity of the Mountains Square) with the Renaissance era Trinità dei Monti church at the top.  The monumental 174 steps were constructed in 1725.  The film Roman Holiday (1953), starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, made the Spanish Steps famous to the American audience.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the Fontana della Barcaccia, the Spanish Steps and the Trinità dei Monti church. 

From the top of the Spanish Steps (all 174 of them) looking back towards the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square). 

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw at the top of the Spanish Steps overlooking the city of Rome.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the Sallustian Obelisk which is believed to be an ancient Roman copy of an Egyptian obelisk currently standing in the Piazza del Popolo.  As mentioned previously, the Romans were enamored with the ancient Egyptian civilization.

Villa Borghese Gardens and Gallery

In 1605, Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V and patron of Bernini, began turning this former vineyard into the most extensive gardens built in Rome since Antiquity.  It is a naturalistic English landscape garden and includes the Borghese Art Gallery and other attractions for families.  It is a beautiful park and we saw lots of families there.

While walking through the park, we saw this sculpture of the great English poet, George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron who was more popularly known as simply Lord Byron.  He is regarded as one of the greatest English poets and remains widely read and influential.  

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw enjoying some cool shade on a warm day in Rome at Villa Borghese Gardens.

Villa Borghese Gallery which contains some of the great sculptures of Gian Lorenzo Bernini as well as the paintings of many great Italian artists.  The Villa which contains the Gallery is itself is considered a great work of architectural art and was built in 1644.  

Elder Burkinshaw in Villa Borghese gardens with a statue of Victor Hugo, the author of Les Miserables.

As we walked back towards our hotel from Villa Borghese Gardens, we realized the old city of Rome is enclosed by walls.  They were built from 271 to 275 AD by the Roman Emperor Aurelian to protect the city and they have been well maintained and used as a defense well into the 19th century.    

Here is one of the gates of the Aurelian wall around ancient Rome at the Piazza del Popolo (Square of the People).

Rome Temple

Our visit to the Rome Temple was a highlight of our trip.  The building of a temple in Rome was announced on 4 October 2008 with groundbreaking on 23 October 2010 and was just recently dedicated on 10 Mach 2019. 

The Rome Temple from the highway.

The Rome Temple from the drop-off and parking area.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw at the Rome Temple.

Sister Burkinshaw on the plaza between the Rome Temple and the Visitors Center.

Elder Burkinshaw with the Thorvaldsen Christus in Carrara marble (quarried from Tuscany) in the Rome Visitors Center.

Sister Burkinshaw in the rotunda of the Rome Visitors Center with the Christus and the apostles which are replicas of the originals by the Thorvaldsen in Copenhagen. 

Peter, James and John.  
(For a description of each sculpture, go to our Copenhagen post and scroll down)

Andrew, Phillip and Bartholomew.  
(For a description of each sculpture, go to our Copenhagen post and scroll down)

Thomas, Matthew and James the Son of Alpheus.  
(For a description of each sculpture, go to our Copenhagen post and scroll down)

Judas Thaddaeus, Simon Zelotes and Paul (who replaces Judas Iscariot).  
(For a description of each sculpture, go to our Copenhagen post and scroll down)

Stained-glass in the Rome Visitors Center of Jesus and the twelve apostles with more than 100 visual references to the Savior’s mortal time on earth and symbols from each of his New Testament parables.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw at the Rome Temple.

The Vatican

Vatican City, officially Vatican City State is an independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy. Established with the Lateran Treaty between the government of Italy and the Catholic Church in 1929, it is under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See (the Bishop of Rome who is the Pope).  With an area of 110 acres and a population of about 1,000, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world by both area and population.  

During ancient Roman times, the area of the Vatican was a marshland.  This area became the site of martyrdom of many Christians who were scapegoated for the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64. Ancient tradition holds that it was in there that Saint Peter was crucified upside-down. 

We were able to see the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica and Square.

Sister Burkinshaw at the entrance to the Vatican Museum.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw on the balcony of the Vatican Museum with the dome of St Peter's Basilica in the background.  Our tour provided headsets so we could hear the tour guide with him having to speak out loud in the various areas of the Vatican.

The Vatican Museum was founded in the early 16th Century by Pope Julius II (1503-1513) who was a great patron of the arts. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope or the Terrible Pope, he chose his papal name not in honor of Pope Julius I but in emulation of Julius Caesar and he created the Swiss Guards to protect the popes.  The museum contains roughly 70,000 works, of which 20,000 are on display, and currently employs 640 people who work in 40 different administrative, scholarly, and restoration departments.  We just scratched the surface in our visit there.

This photo shows the ornately decorated ceiling of just one of the gallery halls in the Vatican Museum.  And you can see it was packed with people.

The ornate entrance to one of the gallery halls of the Vatican Museum.  Note the gold dragon in the center of a scarlet background in the center.  This was symbol of Pope Gregory XIII who is known for developing and instituting in 1582 the Gregorian Calendar where year numbers evenly divisible by 100 are not leap years, except that those evenly divisible by 400 remain leap years (i.e. year 2000 had a leap year but 1800, 1900 did not nor will 2100 and 2200)

A tapestry dated 1531 of the resurrected Christ exiting his tomb.  Something unique about this tapestry is that through artistic illusionism, Jesus's eyes seem to follow you from any vantage point.

This fresco in the Vatican Museum by Raphael is called "The School of Athens" celebrating the Greek philosophy which so heavily influenced Catholic doctrine particularly the concepts of the Trinity as a three-in-one spirit and the ideal of living as a spirit with the corruption of a physical body.  In the center, Plato points upwards with a finger, flanked by Aristotle; Pythagoras is shown in the bottom left writing in a book. Diogenes (author of Cynicism) is lying on the stairs with a dish, while the pessimist philosopher, Heracleitus, is leaning against a block of marble, writing on a sheet of paper.  On the right front we see Euclid, who is teaching geometry to his pupils., Zoroaster holding the heavenly sphere and Ptolemy holding the earthly sphere. The personage on the extreme right with the black beret is a self-portrait of Raphael.

The Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is so-named because it was built by Pope Sixtus IV (Sixtus is a Roman name taken from Greek meaning "polished").  While it is a good-sized building (134' long x 44' wide x 68' high) , it is dwarfed by the adjacent St Peter's Basilica (720' long x 420 ' wide x 448' high).  The famous Michelangelo ceiling depicting events from the Book of Genesis  was added 30 years later under the patronage of Pope Julius II (The "Terrible" Pope).

The Sistine Chapel giving an overall view of the many paintings therein.  The side wall paintings had been added in the 1470's whereas the ceiling was not painted until the early 1500's and the last judgement on the end wall was not completed until about 1530.

The Sistine Chapel is quite important in the Catholic Church because when the Pope dies or resigns (such as happened with Pope Benedict XVI in 2013) it is there that a papal conclave is held to elect a new pope.  The papal conclave is a meeting of the college of cardinals (all cardinals worldwide receive a lifetime appointment by the pope and are members of the college of cardinals).  More recently Pope Paul VI limited the conclave to cardinals under the age of 80.  They sequester themselves in the Sistine Chapel and a two-thirds "super-majority" is required to elect the new pope.  After each vote, if no one has received a super-majority, the ballots are burned in a stove with a pipe going out of one of the windows in the Sistine Chapel along with potassium perchlorate which makes the smoke black.  When a new pope is finally elected, potassium chlorate is added which makes the smoke white.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling with scenes from Genesis along the center.  The order goes right to left (opposite of the way we read).  It is divided into three sets of three scenes each which are: First - the creation of the heavens and earth; Second -  the creation of man, woman and their Fall; Third - the plight of humanity using the story of Noah.

This guide helps identify the various paintings on the Sistine Chapel ceiling by Michelangelo.

The other famous Michelangelo painting in the Sistine Chapel was "The Last Judgement" which was painted about 30 years later when the Catholic Church was in crisis due to the challenges by the Protestant Reformers after it had been alleged that the previous pope, Pope Julius II, had three daughters out of wedlock and was also a sodomite as well as having acquired extensive personal landholdings.  He had also approved Henry VIII's marriage to his brothers wife, Catherine of Aragon.  Our guide told us that whereas the ceiling was painted with lighter and brighter colors and with the aspect of hope, "The Last Judgement was darker and reflected fear and despair with the intent of frightening observers into obedience to the reigning authority. 

"The Last Judgement" by Michelangelo which shows the saved rising on the left, the damned descending on the right and a very muscular Christ meting out justice in the upper center.

One of the more interesting stories about the painting of "The Last Judgement" is about the pope's Master of Ceremonies, Biagio da Cesena.  He said that: "it was most disgraceful that in so sacred a place there should have been depicted all those nude figures, exposing themselves so shamefully, and that it was no work for a papal chapel but rather for the public baths and taverns".  Michelangelo immediately painted Cesena's face into the scene as Minos (judge of the underworld in the far bottom-right corner of the painting) with donkey ears (i.e. indicating foolishness), while his nudity is covered by a coiled snake. It is said that when Cesena complained to the Pope, the pontiff joked that his jurisdiction did not extend to Hell, so the portrait would have to remain.  The moral to the story was not to cross Michelangelo! ;-)

St Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica is the most renowned work of Renaissance architecture and the largest church in the world.  (FYI basilicas were originally a Roman judgement halls with a raised platform for the magistrate and when Rome adopted Christianity, this same architecture was adopted and today it is a large and important Catholic church that has been given special ceremonial rights by the Pope, whatever its architectural plan.)  

Catholic tradition holds that the basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter, chief among Jesus's apostles and also the first Bishop of Rome (Pope). Saint Peter's tomb is supposedly directly below the high altar of the basilica. 

Sister Burkinshaw in St Peter's Basilica looking from the back towards the front or high altar.

Michelangelo's sculpture entitled "Pietà" (Italian for pity or compassion) which portrays Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus.  It is the first of the great works of Michelangelo and the only work that he signed.  It is in the first chapel as you enter St Peter's Basilica. 

The high altar in St Peter's Basilica covered by a large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy, called a baldachin.  The baldachin is directly under the dome of the basilica and was made from bronze taken from the roof of the ancient Roman Pantheon.

The dome of St Peter's Basilica.

A sculpture of Pope Pope Gregory XIII who was a patron of science and who is remembered for the institution of the Gregorian calendar which we use today.  Prior to implementation of the Gregorian calendar, the date of the vernal equinox (first day of Spring) had slowly slipped to 10 March.  

This ancient statue of St Peter, portrayed as he gives a blessing and preaches, while holding the keys to the kingdom has the toes of the left foot worn down because so many pilgrims have touched or kissed them and is believed to be dated to the fifth century AD.

St Peter's Basilica and the obelisk known as "The Witness" in St Peter's Square.  The obelisk was taken from Egypt by the Romans and according to Origen, the early Christian theologian, Peter was crucified here upside down because he considered himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.  The crucifixion took place near the obelisk in what was then called the Circus of Nero and is revered as a "witness" to Peter's death. 

Sister Burkinshaw in front of St Peter's Basilica.  The inscription across the front of the basilica translated to English says, "In honor of the prince of Apostles; Paul V Borghese, Pope, in the year 1612 and he seventh year of his pontificate."  Interesting that the pope who did this was more interested in having his name on the basilica than that of Peter.

Panoramic view of St Peter's Square in Rome.

A view of St Peter's Square and the city of Rome from the Basilica Dome.

The Colosseum 

The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater (after the Flavian dynasty) is an oval amphitheater in the center of Rome built of travertine limestone and capable of holding up to 80,000 spectators.  It is elliptical, 615' long, 510' wide and 157' high with a base area of 11 acres. This compares with the New Orleans Superdome which is 680' in diameter and 273' high with a base area of 13 acres and a maximum capacity of 76,000 spectators.  The name Colosseum is believed to be derived from a colossal statue of Nero (100' high) that stood nearby the amphitheater.

The Colosseum was part of the Roman rulers strategy to keep the people of Rome happy by keeping them entertained.  The Colosseum presented gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology.  It was the martyrdom site of many believers during the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.  Most famously, the great fire of Rome, which destroyed two-thirds of the city, was blamed upon the Christians by Nero in an effort to draw scrutiny away from himself.  As a part of this distraction, Nero indiscriminately crucified or fed to the lions thousands of Christians. 

The "Colossal" statue of Nero which was originally erected next to the Flavian Amphitheater.  The statue was eventually torn down and the name transferred to the adjacent building becoming the "Colosseum." 

Overall view of the current Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater.

Close-up view of the wall of the Colosseum.  Note the entry door numbers above the arch in Roman numerals, LII (52) and LIII (53) which shows we use a similar system for directing spectators to the right gate to get to their seats today.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the Colosseum. 

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw outside the Colosseum.

A panoramic shot of what it looks like currently inside the Colosseum.

This is the equivalent of a "box seat" inside the Colosseum.  This is the type of seat that would be reserved for a Roman senator and his family.

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum.  It was the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches; and the nucleus of commercial affairs. Here statues and monuments commemorated the city's great men.  It has been called the most celebrated meeting place in the world, and in all history.

The Temple of Vespasian and Titus (members of the Flavian family and therefore Flavian Dynasty) at the western end of the Roman Forum.  It was dedicated to the deified Vespasian and his son, the deified Titus. It was begun by Titus in 79 AD after Vespasian's death and completed and dedicated in approximately 87 AD.

The Tabularium was the official records office of ancient Rome, and also housed the offices of many city officials. 

The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina is an ancient Roman temple which was later adapted as a Roman Catholic church, namely, the Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Miranda or simply "San Lorenzo in Miranda".

A hypocaust  which is a system of central heating in a building that produces and circulates hot air below the floor of a room, and may also warm the walls with a series of pipes through which the hot air passes. The word derives from the Ancient Greek hypo meaning "under" and caust-, meaning "burnt" (as in caustic).  Its invention improved the hygiene and living conditions of citizens, and was a forerunner of modern central heating.  As you can see, some of the passages have collapsed here, leaving the floor wavy instead of flat.

This is a panoramic shot of the former Circus Maximus (Latin for greatest or largest circus) which was an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue adjacent to the Roman Forum.  It was the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome and its later Empire. It measured 2,037' in length and 387' in width and could accommodate over 150,000 spectators. It became the model for circuses throughout the Roman Empire.  Today the Circus Maximus is a public park.

Sister Burkinshaw with a bronze statue of the Emperor Julius Caesar.  SPQR is an abbreviated phrase (Senātus PopulusQue Rōmānus) referring to the government of the ancient Roman Republic.  The rest translates to Caesar the Perpetual Dictator.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument, also known as the Vittoriano or Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland).  It is a monument built in honor of Victor Emmanuel II, first king of a unified Italy and is regarded as a national symbol of Italy where important national celebrations are held every year.

Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

Pompeii was an ancient Roman city near modern Naples which was buried under 13 to 20 feet of volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.  Largely preserved under the ash, the excavated city offers a unique snapshot of Roman life, frozen at the moment it was buried and providing detailed insight into the everyday life of its inhabitants.  Organic remains, including wooden objects and human bodies, were entombed in the ash and decayed away, making natural molds which excavators used to make plaster casts of figures from the last minutes of the catastrophe.

The perimeter of the Pompeii excavation.  Approximately one-third of the city has yet to be unearthed because it is better preserved while buried.  As improved techniques are developed, more of the city will be excavated.

An unearthed courtyard of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius ominously in the background.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw in the Pompeii ruins with Mount Vesuvius as the backdrop.

A panoramic shot of the Pompeii amphitheater.

A street in ancient Pompeii.  Note the ruts in the stone from chariot wheels.  Also note the three "speed bumps" placed in the road to moderate speed on the road.

A well within a building complex excavated in Pompeii.

This was the ground floor of a two story shop or store with a back storage room.

On the corner of each street intersection was a pillar with the name of the street inscribed (not visible in this photo) and a potable water well.

Plaster cast made using hardened ash around a person buried and asphyxiated during the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius.  The pulverized rock and volcanic gasses were flowing at 150 miles per hour giving the people of Pompeii no chance of survival.   

The other side of a plaster cast made from hardened ash that buried a person in Pompeii.

This was the changing room of a public bath in Pompeii

Here you can see the passage between two walls which were heated for the public baths in Pompeii.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw along one of the road in the unearthed city of Pompeii.

This was the residence of a well-to-do citizen of Pompeii.

Here you can see the mosaic floor decorated in the home of a wealthy person in Pompeii.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw in the main square of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background.

A panoramic shot of the public square in Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is a somma-stratovolcano located about 6 miles east of Naples and a short distance from the shore on the Gulf of Naples.  It consists of a large cone partially encircled by the steep rim of a summit caldera caused by the collapse of an earlier and originally much higher structure.  Mount Vesuvius is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years. Today, it is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of the population of 3,000,000 people living nearby, making it the most densely populated volcanic region in the world, as well as its tendency towards violent, explosive eruptions.  Since we lived in Oklahoma for so long braving various tornadoes and other catastrophic weather, this only encouraged us to hike up to the crater! ;-)

A selfie of Elder and Sister Burkinshaw looking down into the crater of Mount Vesuvius.

A panoramic view of Mount Vesuvius' crater.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw on the rim of Mount Vesuvius' crater looking down onto the nearby city of Naples.

Epilogue

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see sites which we have learned about all our lives and which figured prominently in the history of Western Civilization.  It, however, reinforced our conviction that it is through the atonement of Christ that all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Joseph F Smith said, "It has not been by the wisdom of man that this people have been directed in their course until the present; it has been by the wisdom of Him who is above man and whose knowledge is greater than that of man, and whose power is above the power of man. . . . The hand of the Lord may not be visible to all. There may be many who can not discern the workings of God's will in the progress and development of this great latter-day work, but there are those who see in every hour and in every moment of the existence of the Church, from its beginning until now, the overruling, almighty hand of Him who sent His only Begotten Son to the world to become a sacrifice for the sin of the world. (In Conference Report, April 1904, p. 2, italics added.)

If we look with eye of faith, we can all see the Lord's hand in our lives.

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw