Official Geocache of the week 30 March 2022 by Geocaching.com Blog
Note entrance fee is charged.
-Ticket Price: € 16.00
Prices are subject to change.
For further info on timetables and discounted tickets, go the booking website.
The visit starts at the Amphitheater of Pompeii, so if you enter in the ruins starting from Villa of the Mysteries, I would recommend to start looking for caches from the Amphitheater, and then come back following the steps of the multi.
Amphitheater of Pompeii
The Amphitheater of Pompeii is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheater, it was built around 80 B.C., and it is the earliest Roman amphitheater known to have been built of stone; previously, they had been built out of wood.
It was known as a spectacula rather than an amphitheatrum, since the latter term was not yet in use at the time.
The amphitheater's design is seen by some modern crowd control specialists as near optimal. Its washroom, located in the neighboring palaestra has also been cited as an inspiration for better bathroom design in modern stadiums.
The famed preservation of Pompeii and its amphitheater have given insights into the gladiatorial culture of Rome. Around 59 AD, a deadly brawl occurred between Pompeians and residents of Nuceria during games in the amphitheater, resulting in a 10 year ban on such events.
At posted coordinates you can see a plate:
C is the number of characters in the 4th line.
Consider the posted coordinates N 40 45.056 E 14 29.721
A0=056
and
B0=721
Move to stage 2, go N 40 45.A1 E 14 29.B1
Where
A1=A0+10-2*C (please consider 3 digits, adding a 0 before the result)
B1=B0-9-14*C
Domus of the cargo ship Europa
The name of this domus comes from a graffito of a cargo ship present on the left wall of the portico.
It depicts the ship, “Europa”, towing a life boat: this is the most impressive and elegant image of a boat found in the Vesuvian area.
To the right side of the entrance you can see a number, it is F.
Continue to stage 3 at N 40 45.A2 E 14 29.B2
Where:
A2=A1-10+2*C-F (please consider 3 digits, adding a 0 before the result)
B2=B1-6*C
Thermopolium Lucius Vetutius Placidus
Here you can see a counter, covered by opus sectile still contains original dolia.
A plate reported that in one of them some coins of little value were found:
A= number of asses
B= number of sestertii
Next stage is at N 40 45.A3 E 14 29.B3
Where:
A3=A2-2*(C-1) (please consider 3 digits, adding a 0 before the result)
B3=B2-A+2*(C-F) (please consider 3 digits, adding a 0 before the result)
Termae of the Forum (Terme del Foro)
The visit to the thermae begins with a courtyard and then you go into the locker room (apodyterium) from which you can directly access to the compartment of the furnace.
The location is the next tepidarium, the most fascinating of the entire local construction as it is still visible the wonderful stucco, one of the braziers and niches.
Through a corridor you pass the last room of the baths, the steam bath (calidarium) preserved very well.
To the RIGHT side of the entrance, very close to the gate, you can see a number, it is E.
Pay attention to take the number closest to the gate of the building, because a lot of Geocachers take the wrong one, and fail the final.
Go to visit the House of the Faun, at N 40 45.A4 E 14 29.B4
Where:
A4=A3+E+4*F (please consider 3 digits, adding a 0 before the result)
B4=B3+C+F (please consider 3 digits, adding a 0 before the result)
The House of the Faun (Casa del Fauno)
The House of the Faun was built during the 2nd century BC, was one of the largest, and most impressive private residences in Pompeii, and housed many great pieces of art. It is one of the most luxurious aristocratic houses from the Roman republic.
The House of the Faun was named for the bronze statue of the dancing faun located, originally, on the lip of the impluvium, a basin for catching rainwater; it has been moved to the center of the impluvium.
There is evidence, most notably in the eastern walls of the tetrastyle atrium, that after the great earthquake in AD 62, the House of the Faun was rebuilt or repaired; yet, the building was only used as a house from the 2nd century BC until AD 79, ultimately rendered unusable by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Although the eruption was devastating, the layers of ash covering the abandoned town preserved artworks, like the mosaics of the House of the Faun, which would have otherwise been likely destroyed or decayed due to the passage of time.
The House of the Faun contains the Alexander Mosaic, depicting the Battle of Issus in 333 BC between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia.
Look at the Faun in front of you:
D is the number of characters in the 1st line of the small plate on the foot of faun.
CHECKSUM=A+B+C+D+E+F=600
The final is at the following coordinates:
N 40 45.XXX E 14 28.YYY
XXX=B-(E+4*C) (please consider 3 digits, adding a 0 before the result)
YYY=A+2*B+D+8*(E+F)
