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''The Last Days of Pompeii'' is a novel written by the baron Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1834. The novel was inspired by the painting ''The Last Day of Pompeii'' by the Russian painter Karl Briullov, which Bulwer-Lytton had seen in Milan. Once a very widely read book and now relatively neglected, it culminates in the cataclysmic destruction of the city of Pompeii by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The novel uses its characters to contrast the decadent culture of 1st-century Rome with both older cultures and coming trends. The protagonist, Glaucus, represents the Greeks who have been subordinated by Rome, and his nemesis Arbaces the still older culture of Egypt. Olinthus is the chief representative of the nascent Christian religion, which is presented favourably but not uncritically. The Witch of Vesuvius, though she has no supernatural powers, shows Bulwer-Lytton's interest in the occult – a theme which would emerge in his later writing, particularly ''The Coming Race''. A popular sculpture by American sculptor Randolph Rogers, ''Nydia, the Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii'' (1856) was based on a character from the book. ==Main characters== * Glaucus, The protagonist, a handsome Athenian nobleman and Ione's betrothed. * Ione, A beautiful and intelligent high-born Greek set to marry Glaucus. Orphaned in childhood, she was Arbaces' ward and becomes the target of his evil attempts at seduction. * Arbaces, The antagonist, a scheming Egyptian sorcerer and a high priest of Isis, and the former guardian of Ione and Apaecides. Murders Apaecides and frames Glaucus for the crime. Repeatedly attempts to seduce Ione. * Nydia, A young slave stolen from high-born parents by kidnappers in Thessaly. She weaves and sells garlands of flowers to earn coins for her tyrannical owners. Nydia pines for Glaucus and eventually commits suicide rather than suffer unrequited love. * Sallust, A good-hearted epicurian and friend of Glaucus. * Calenthus, A greedy priest of the cult of Isis who witnesses Arbaces murder Apaecides. First blackmails Arbaces, then tells the truth when Arbaces turns on him. * Olinthus, A Christian who converts Apaecides to Christianity. Sentenced to death for his religion. * Diomed, A rich, dyspeptic merchant known in Pompeii for his lavish banquets. Julia's father. * Julia, The handsome but spoiled daughter of Diomed. Has eyes for Glaucus and obtains a potion that will make him love her; instead receives a potion that will make him insane. * Clodius, A spendthrift noble with a gambling problem. Becomes Julia's suitor after she loses interest in Glaucus. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Last Days of Pompeii」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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