庞贝城是亚平宁半岛西南角坎帕尼亚地区一座历史悠久的古城，公元前8世纪的一场突发的灭顶之灾使庞贝的生命倏然终止，它在被毁灭的那一刻也同时被永远地凝固了。庞贝成为我们今天还能领略到的最伟大的古代文明遗址，这处遗址的最动人心魄之处在于：它真实地保留着灾难来临前庞贝人的样子。
1. Pompeii：The past prosperous time and the magical landscapes of appearance and disappearance
Pompeii， a hustling and bustling city in ancient Rome， was deeply buried by the volcanic ash when the Vesuvius Volcano erupted. The disappeared city has been excavated in the last 200 years under successive archaeological explorations. In 1997， the Pompeii Archaeological Zone was listed as a World Cultural Heritage.
庞贝：曾经的繁荣时光与或现或灭的神奇景观
庞贝古城，这个古罗马曾经繁华的象征，被深深的掩埋在维苏威火山灰中。在过去的200年中，这座消失的城市被考古学者发掘出来得以重见天日，1997年庞贝考古区被世界文化遗产收录。
General history and prosperity of Pompeii 庞贝古城的历史和繁荣
The site of Pompeii is located in western Italy in a region called Campania， near the Bay of Naples. In the eighth century BC， a group of Italic people known as the Oscans occupied the region； they most likely established Pompeii， though the exact date of its origin is unknown. Ionians also settled in Campania during the eighth century BC. Their Greek settlements began as a series of small trading posts， but soon grew into successful merchant cities that eventually dominated the area. During the fifth century BC， a group of warriors from Samnium invaded and seized control of Pompeii. Rome drove the Samnites out in the fourth century B C and took Pompeii as its own ally about 290 BC.
Pompeii continued to expand and develop in every sector， in the economic field in particular， greatly helped by its fertile hinterland and its advantageous position. All the activities linked to trade and maritime traffic saw a period of growth. All of these contributed to a general increase in the standard of living for many of the social classes. Pompeii’s flourishing economy led to a decisive population increase， widespread affluence and in addition the remarkable embellishment of the town. However， the life and splendour of Pompeii was destined to come to an end.
庞贝是坐落于意大利西南沿海坎帕尼亚地区的一座古城，位于那不勒斯湾附近。公元前8世纪，一群被称为奥斯坎人的意大利人占领了此区域，尽管庞贝城创建的确切时间并不为人知，但大概还是这群奥斯坎人建立了庞贝城。爱奥尼亚人也在公元前8世纪定居坎帕尼亚地区，此地区的希腊殖民由最初的一系列小贸易站点迅速发展到成功的商业城市并最终控制这个地域。公元前5世纪，来自萨姆尼特的一群士兵侵略并占领了庞贝城，罗马在公元前4世纪打败萨姆尼特人，庞贝大约是于公元前290年归属为罗马的盟国。
庞贝古城版图持续扩大。其肥沃的腹地以及有利的地理位置大大推动了各个方面的发展，尤其是在经济领域，与贸易和海上交通有关的一切活动都蒸蒸日上，所有这些都促进了庞贝古城各个社会阶层的生活水平的提高。庞贝的繁荣经济不仅使得人口增长，人们生活富足，而且也使得庞贝古城得到华丽装饰，然而，庞贝古城的活力与富足却注定最终会烟消云散。
Oblivion：The 1000-year-old City Disappeared Overnight
On the morning of August 24th， 79 AD， the volcano Mt. Vesuvius burst open with an earsplitting crack. Smoke， mud and burning stones spewed from the summit of the mountain， sending a rain of ash and rock through the surrounding countryside. The town of Herculaneum， about two miles away， was deeply covered by a stream of mud. In the Middle Ages， the place and everything about it was forgotten.
According to legend， the wife of a wine merchant in the ancient Rome suddenly got a cough that would not go away. Her daughter Sophia was so worried to keep on crying. Her fiance Carlow offered himself to ride to his hometown Pompeii to fetch a hemostatic stone. But Rome was far from Pompeii， and the travel was full of danger. after Carlow left， Sophia lay awake all night， thinking of Carlow’s return journey in vain. Until one night， the Mount Vesuvius erupted blood red magma， and then Pompeii， the millennium city disappeared in the flames. Unfortunately， the disaster occurred at the same time as Carlow returned Pompeii. Her fiance was gone forever， and the song "the Heartbroken Sophia" sounded everywhere in the Mediterranean.
沉睡：千年古城一夜消失
公元79年8月24日，维苏威火山突然发出惊天动地的恐怖怒吼，火山顶卷起一股烟雾、泥渣和熔岩喷向空中，硫黄烟弥漫附近的城镇。2英里外的赫库兰尼姆城也被一道泥流深深埋住，中世纪时期的人们对这个地方及有关的一切都已忘怀。
相传，古罗马一位大酒商之妻突然咯血不止，女儿索菲亚急得哇哇直哭。她的未婚夫卡洛自告奋勇骑快马去庞贝老家拿取止血石，可是罗马离庞贝很远，一路还充满险情。卡洛离开后索菲亚彻夜不眠，她每天都计算着卡洛的归程，可卡洛就是迟迟不归。直到一天深夜，维苏威神山喷发出血红岩浆，接着，千年名城庞贝从此消失在火海之中。不幸的是，灾难发生的时间正是卡洛赶到庞贝的时刻。未婚夫一去不返，从此地中海四处响起了民歌《伤心欲绝的索菲娅》。
Revival：The Reappearance of Pompeii’s Magical Remains
Pompeii was buried by the rain of ashes and pumice stones. These fell over Pompeii in a dry state， and the mass which covered the city was 5 to 6 metres thick. Thus it was remarkably preserved.
In 1594， an underground aqueduct was started here， and the ruins were discovered. Excavations did not occur， however， until the 18th century， when Herculaneum was rediscovered by a peasant digging a well. Pompeii itself was found during an excavation that began on March 23， 1748. From that date on， excavations at Pompeii have continued sporadically. Even today， excavation and research teams are still attempting to reveal this mysterious city's secrets.
重生：庞贝古迹千古奇观的重现
庞贝城被落下的火山灰和浮石埋住，落下的这些东西处于干燥状态，盖在城上达五六米厚，因此庞贝城得以保存得十分完好。
1594年，人们在这里开挖一条地下渡槽时发现了古城的遗址，然而发掘工作直到18世纪才开始。那时，一位农民在挖井时发掘出赫库兰尼姆城，庞贝古城则是在开始于1748年3月23日的发掘工作中被发现的。从此，庞贝古城的发掘工作断断续续地展开，直至今天发掘和研究团队仍然试图解开庞贝古城这个谜一样城市的秘密。
2. Wonderful cultural relics of Pompeii
Pompeii， at the expense of a moment of pain destruction， traveled through thousands of years of time and space， and told people the world why to enjoy the life. The descendants called Pompeii "the natural history museum". It attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world every day.
庞贝的文化遗迹奇观
庞贝古城以瞬间痛苦的毁灭为代价，穿越了千余年的时空，告诉世人为什么要尽享生命之欢乐。后人们称它是“天然的历史博物馆”，它每天吸引着数以万计的来自世界各地的游人们来这里参观。
Pompeii streets：As advanced and perfect as today
As you wander around Pompeii， it is strange to think that you are walking along the same pavements and streets as people did over 2000 years ago. The roads are paved with slabs of grey， volcanic rock from Vesuvius - just like the streets of nearby Naples today.