Lost in Translation
Looking for meanings in words, images and sounds
Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry …. in the Ancient World
Almost 2,000 years ago the ancient seaside city of Pompeii, nestled at the bottom of the deadly Vesuvius got buried beneath a mountain of volcanic ash following a fierce volcano eruption. Nearly three thousand people lost their lives, and the city remained hidden for 1,700 years.
Today one of the largest and best preserved archaeological sites in the world, Pompeii will take you back into the past showing you the remnants of Roman civilization by providing a fascinating picture of “daily” life.
The following photo shows Palestra Grande, an athletics field where gladiators and athletes practiced before competing in the adjacent amphitheatre.
I think you will see why I picked this precise shot for geometry theme. The geometry of columns and trees in the frame is what had caught my eye.
As usual I am enclosing a musical treat: Erik Satie’s Gymnopédie ……
***Gymnopédie is the French form of “gymnopaidiai”, an annual festival in Ancient Sparta where naked youths (athletes in Ancient Greece were always naked) performed athletic dances.
Lost in Translation 
Pompeii is pretty cool but my personal favourite is Herculaneum, It’s smaller and almost no tourists but for most parts it better preserved 😉
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I had to miss it last time I was there … the wind was fierce last December around Xmas, so I will have to go back…. Thank you Poul 🙂
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I really want to go back as well, last time was just a very quick stop 🙂
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Actually it caught my eye, too, before I read your comment…….thank you ,Paula!
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Grazie mille Anna 🙂 Ti piace la musica?
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Sicuro! E anche la musica lirica……
E a te?
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Anche a me 🙂
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Extremely interesting and thought provoking. Well done.
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🙂 🙂 🙂 this is music to my ears :). Thank you Phil!
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Great choice, Paula! The columns and trees is a cool choice for the Geometry. Thank you for the beautiful music. 🙂 Happy weekend!
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I appreciate your compliments Amy 🙂 Enjoy your weekend, dear!
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Special atmosphere, composition and editing. I love this, Paula.
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I am happy you do Mar :). I wish you to go and visit Pompeii for yourself 🙂 You will love it. Please, listen to the music. *hugs*
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Your music makes me close my eyes and travel to far-away places in my mind. Lovely.
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Awwww, I am happy to hear that my sweet Marion 🙂
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A big Dutchie *knuffel* on this rainy day! 🙂
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is knuffel a dessert?
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And I will visit Pompeii if ever I am near, that’s a promise.
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Good, and don’t make my mistake … go to Hercolaneum too 😉
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By that time I will contact you to dictate me a list with have-to-sees! 😉
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You’d better! 😀
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I’ve been to Pompei and I loved it… it was quite a special experience. I’ve always wondered if people were that much smaller back then or do the “bodies” shrink over time.
I loved the little coliseum and market that they had… it really made you imagine how a city & civilization existed years back. Thanks for taking me down memory lane 🙂
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It’s nice to share memories together :). I think they were smaller back then …. A fascinating site that I plan to revisit some day…
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Wonderful photo, Paula. I really like the composition with no color.
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I am glad you like it, Angeline 🙂 I hope you liked the music too 😉 Thank you!
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Fantastic shot you have taken here great choice, and your music is also super awesome .
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You are very kind Amresh 🙂 Thank you.
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Amazing use of geometry and very well captured idea… 🙂
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😀 You mon drake are amazing for always making me smile with your comments 🙂
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Perfect photo for the geometry theme, Paula – well done! 🙂
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🙂 Thank you so much, Marianne 🙂
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Yet another excellent image Paula! I saw it yesterday on my iPhone, but waited to comment until I could get a really good look at the photo on the big screen. I have to say, it was well worth the wait. Your composition and the processing are spot on.
I also enjoyed the post itself. A few of the fact I remember from school, oh so many years ago, but most I didn’t. Thank you for the informative post, and the beautiful image that accompanied it.
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This is very kind of you Jeffo :). It did me good to write this post 🙂 I remembered a very nice trip, had chance to work on my post-processing skill, chose the music that was sent to me the same day by a dear friend and as a plus I even learned by googling about the origin of “gymnopedie” – It has just dawned on me that we are writing blogs to teach ourselves something….more than each other 😀
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I have never thought of it that way, but you are right. I’m always learning, especially when asked to teach something. I do more research when asked to teach than I do when learning for myself. 🙂
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Very well presented in this toned photo.
It’s amazing that this place was ever found again.
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Yes! It was an amazing discovery. Thank you, Allan 🙂
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***Gymnopédie is the French form of “gymnopaidiai”, an annual festival in Ancient Sparta where naked youths (athletes in Ancient Greece were always naked) performed athletic dances.
– If they brought that back, I would consider to start watching the Olympic Games…. 😀
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I know you would :D, and you wouldn’t be the only one 😉
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Will come back again.
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🙂 I hope so 🙂
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I haven’t been to Pompei…would love to go there!
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🙂 You should 🙂
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Now that I live so far away…I need to make a calender of places to visit and do 1 a year!!
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Perfect combination of lines and music with so much atmosphere lurking in the shadows of both!
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Thank you Patti 🙂 I am so glad you took time to listen to the music.
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