Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Pompeii Walk - the 2nd 30 minutes: On the way to The Lupanar (The Brothel)

The second 30 minutes of the Pompeii Virtual Walk. This segment contains a visit to the Lupanar, the only purpose built of the 30 brothels in Pompeii. (The others were ancillary to taverns and inns.) Its frescoes contain mature content so viewer discretion is advised. You will also see storage areas in the Forum Granary where the vast majority of archaeological finds are kept. If you are planning a physical visit to Pompeii, I just wanted to advise you that the video was shot with a zoom lens through the bars of the gates securing these chambers. You will not be able to get as close to the objects as shown in the images. If you wish to get a closer look at body casts of victims, I recommend visiting one of the traveling exhibits about Pompeii. The casts displayed in these exhibits are mostly resin reproductions of the originals, but quite detailed. One of the casts I closely examined at one exhibit may have been original as I could see remnants of teeth.

For those of you exploring the virtual walk video yourself, I discovered that it's easier to navigate using the left and right arrow keys on a Windows workstation (I don't have a Mac so I don't know if it is the same for it). They allow you to backup or go forward 5 secs at a time. The slider bar jumps too far back or too far forward so is only helpful for jumping way back or forward, not for precise viewing of a particular scene.
Once again I have used Topaz Sharpen AI to remove the slight motion blur in screen captures as well as Adobe Camera Raw to adjust clarity, texture, highlights, shadows, and occasionally haze and white balance. I increase dynamic contrast and add a subtle vignette with On1 PhotoRaw Effects and remove distracting visitors and replace empty skies with Photoshop and its Sky Replacement feature, changing the blend mode from Screen to Multiply.
You can explore the video yourself here - no special hardware is required:

The Basilica which housed the law courts in Pompeii. Its second story collapsed in the earthquake of 62 CE and was not repaired at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE, screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK


Forum Granary now storing the largest collection of Pompeii archaeological finds once housed the Fruit and Vegetables Market in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Dog found behind the front door of the House of Vesonius Prims in Nov 1874 screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Cast of Child from House of the Golden Bracelet stored in Forum Granary screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Cast of a man found crouched in the corner of his house with a scarf over his mouth stored in the Forum Granary screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Entrance Mosaic in the House of the Wild Boar leading to the atrium with impluvium screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Pompeii Forum with Centaur facing Vesuvius screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Via dell'Abbondanza in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK


On the way to the brothel in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Explicit Street graphic pointing the way to the brothel in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK


Lupanar (brothel) exterior in Pompeii with dubious visitors waiting their turn screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Bed chamber in Lupanar (brothel) of Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Bed chamber in Lupanar (brothel) of Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Erotic fresco in the Lupanar (brothel) of Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Erotic fresco in the Lupanar (brothel) of Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Erotic fresco in the Lupanar (brothel) of Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Erotic fresco in the Lupanar (brothel) of Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Lupanar fresco depicting Priapus screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Closeup of Lupanar fresco depicting Priapus screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Erotic fresco in the Lupanar (brothel) of Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Another explicit Lupanar directional sign in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Arch leading from the Forum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Arch in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Arch leading from the Forum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Another view of the Forum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Fountain depicting the goddess Demeter screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Fountain depicting a theatrical mask on street corner in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Ovens in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

More Structures leaving the Lupanar (brothel) in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Structures leaving the Lupanar (brothel) in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Temple of Fortuna Augusta in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Temple of Jupiter in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Mensa Ponderaria weighing tables where weights from different parts of the empire were converted to valid Pompeii weights screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

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Friday, August 27, 2021

Pompeii Walk - 1st 30 minutes

The first 30 minutes of a 5 hour Pompeii walk video that I enjoyed immensely. Although I wasn't controlling the video camera, I was able to grab some screen shots that with a little editing with Topaz Sharpen AI, On1 Effects, and Photoshop's sky replacement feature (In summer Naples skies are usually empty and that makes for boring images!) I felt like I was revisiting the site and didn't even have to suffer any jet lag!



Enhanced screen captures:

House of the Mariner Tablinum screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Mosaic fragments from the House of Trittolemo Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Mosaic fragments from the House of Trittolemo Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Apollo statue in Temple of Apollo Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Apollo statue in Temple of Apollo Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Diana in the Temple of Apollo Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Temple of Apollo Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Temple of Apollo Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK


The Eumachia, the largest building in the Forum of Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Statue of the priestess Eumachia in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

The Forum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Interior of the Sanctuary of the Genius of Augusts in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Sanctuary of the Genius of Augustus in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

The circular area in the center of the Macellum was a fish market in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Frescoes on the walls of the Macellum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Frescoes on the walls of the Macellum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Frescoes on the walls of the Macellum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Remains of victims of Pompeii stored in the Macellum screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

A worship center in the end of the Macellum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Another view of the Forum in Pompeii screen capture from Pompeii Walk video courtesy of POMPEII ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

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