The statue of Diana inside the Temple of Apollo in Pompeii

Pompeii - Temple of Apollo 3, originally uploaded by Paul 'Tuna' Turner.

The Temple of Apollo is the oldest of the religious buildings in Pompeii, dating back to the sixth century BC. The layout at the time of the eruption dates from the third century BC and combines Greek and Italian elements.

There are copies of statues of Apollo and Diana within the temple – the originals are in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples.

Pompeii is one of, if not the, most famous archaeological site in the world. The entire Roman town was engulfed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD and preserved by the huge shower of ash that came down afterwards.

The town remained buried for hundreds of years until it was rediscovered in the 16th century. Excavations proper began under the auspices of Charles III of Bourbon, King of Naples, though much of the early work though damaged the site and many works of historical importance were looted or destroyed.

The site has now been preserved and, in some cases, restored, and an average of more than 8,000 tourists visit the site every day of the year. The excavated site covers more than 45 hectares and is amazing to visit, with numerous houses, mansions, theatres and shops preserved to an unbelievable extent.

The ash which covered the site left the buildings in a great condition, meaning that you can get a real feel for what must have been like living under the Roman Empire.