Past Preservers experiences life as it was in Pompeii

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—2^nd of August 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of Discovering Pompeii, a great new tour for Rama, an augmented reality app available for iPhone.

The tour, by Natasha Sheldon, explores what life was like for the ordinary person living in day to day Pompeii. Fresco murals from the town showing scenes of daily life, house plans, reconstructions, and even a photo of a carbonised loaf of bread, accompany the text, which takes you for a stroll down the Via del Abbondanza, the ‘Street of Abundance.’

“My idea was not to concentrate on the loss of the city in the eruption of 79AD, but to give the visitor a feel of the real Pompeii,” said Sheldon, a freelance writer with degrees in Ancient History and Archaeology, who specialises in Roman magic and religion. “The Via dell Abbondanza does just that. It was one of the main streets of the city, crammed with buildings and features that illustrate daily life in Pompeii. Grand and unusual houses are found next door to shops and workshops such as bakeries and fulleries. There are several beautiful gardens that show how residents tried to introduce the countryside into their homes, and even an urban vineyard and winery. Sex, politics and violence were also part of daily life, not only at the amphitheatre, but in taverns, bath houses and the graffiti on the walls too.”

Sheldon has been fascinated with this ancient and incredibly well-preserved site for as long as she can remember. She has visited Pompeii three or four times, but reports that there are still parts she needs to see! Recognising the challenge visitors face when going to the town for the first time, for $2.99 Discovering Pompeii introduces you to the heart and soul of this fascinating location and brings it alive once more.

Rama can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama and author information packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.