Pompeii

When visiting the ruins of Pompeii, one realizes that this was a city well advanced for the times. The people were prosperous with beautiful homes, servants and many of the services available in the best spas of today.
The design and art work in the homes and public buildings which what little remains is lovely. Since the residents worshiped various gods there are temples dedicated to those gods. The public baths are similar to a bathhouse that I used to frequent in Philadelphia, PA. where I could be in a steam room or cabinet, have a massage, swim in cold water and relax.
With the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which lasted three days, all was destroyed: the homes, temples, basilica, the forum, bakeries, baths and theaters. After the eruption calmed down the residents who had escaped returned perhaps to check on the damage and, on their possessions, thinking to do so was safe. They were overcome by the poisonous fumes and died. Today they are still excavating and each time I visit I find something new.