CITIES OF VESUVIUS

Campania

province of Pompeii and Herculaneum

below Mount Vesuvius on a natural terrace

where is Herculaneum

south of the volcano on a higher plateau

where is Pompeii

provided safety, many Roman ships anchored at Misenum

benefits of bay of Naples

ran south of Vesuvius towards the ocean, creating route to Mediterranean (Pompeii was closer to river)

Sarnus River

sulphureous lagoons and bubbling mud made Romans think it was entrance to the underworld 

Phlegraean Fields

“this area appears to have been on fire in the past…no doubt this is the reason for the fertility of the surrounding area”

geographical context Strabo quote

“the city is in a delightful bay set back from the open sea”

geographical context Seneca quote

“over this area gods of wine and grain fought hardest…no where else do the olives produce this much oil”

geographical context Pliny the elder quote

• salt from evaporated pools of seawater

• soil rich in minerals from volcanic ash

• wheat, barley, olives

• fish to make garum fish paste

• pumice stone used for building, grinding grain, pressing olives

natural resources of Pompeii and Herculaneum

• ash was blown to pompeii

• 5 surges

• 12 ft of pyroclastic material

how did the eruption affect pompeii

• mainly got  pyroclastic flow

• 6 surges

• 65ft of pyroclastic material

how did the eruption affect herculaneum

eruption stage 1

from 62CE, earthquakes shook Campania. buildings in both cities destroyed

eruption stage 2

vesuvius erupts on 24th august 79CE

eruption stage 3

18 hours of ash and pumice falling, 2.5 metre deposit on pompeii

eruption stage 4

avalanche of ashes and toxic gases (pompeii), 400 degree temps (herculaneum

eruption stage 5

finer particles filled structures, leaving them largely intact

eruption stage 6

flows of denser material

eruption stage 7

thick layer of ash and pumice buried both cities

“a very long trunk from which spread some branches”

pliny the younger eruption evidence

1734-1860

bourbons controlling area, excavations were to gain prestige, power and wealth

1750

swiss engineer karl weber introduces systematic and documented methods. discovers villa of papyri at herculaneum and villa of julia felix at pompeii

1815-1860

bourbons reinstated to power, corrupt and incompetent, lots of thefts

1863

fiorelli appointed superintendent of excavations

fiorelli’s innovations

• excavating methodically with attention to stratigraphy

• exact measurements, maps, plans

• plaster casts

august mau

• dating houses based on style of art

• structural, architectural, ornamental, fantastic

spinazzola

• 1910-1923

• reconstructed facades

• displayed objects in original context

• photographed stages of excavations

maiuri 

• 1924-1961

• cleared much of the Herculaneum site

• restorations 

• kept paintings and mosaics in place instead of removing

• attracted to visitors and built fame of site

• uncovered villa of mysteries 

early representations of P and H

focused more on neoclassical art elements e.g. Piranesi art in 18th century showing Herculaneum gates

recent representations of P and H

virtual reconstruction to provide unique appreciation of site e.g. Pompeii Forum Project (VR walking tour)

role of forum

hub for political, religious and cultural life

temple to triad of goddesses (minerva, jupiter, juno)

central capitolium

market for meats (greek influence columns,pedestal for dignitaries)

marcellum

• for town deities

• small (public buildings were mainly for honouring roman imperial family)

temple for public lares

comitium

town voting area

basilica

law courts, public archives

olitorium

oil and vegetable markets

• pompeii’s largest industry

• statue of priestess and benefactor Eumachia

• Eumachia paid for building as part of her son’s electoral campaign

the fuller’s market

strabo describes pompeii as “fortified trading post”

pompeii trade evidence

table wear from Puteoli, wine, olive oil, garum

imports

garum, wine, bronze and metal work

exports

1. “no other liquid had come to be more highly valued” - Pliny the Elder

2. mosaic from house of Scaurus depicts bottle of garum with stopper (intention for transport and trade)

garum industry evidence

weights and measures

in forum outside temple of Apollo, limestone tablet was found with official set of weights and measures for market goods to be weighed against. dates from 1st century BCE and inscription says it was set up by decree of town council

“7 days before the Ides bread was worth 8 copper asses but 3 days before the Ides it went down to only 2”- anonymous inscription at forum

roman currency evidence

1. “profit is joy” on mosaic entryway

2. fresco in house of julia felix with busy market scenes

evidence for bustling economy

• washing, dyeing, manufacturing of wool

• e.g. fullery of stephanus

• camel urine was prized but human urine often used

fullery industry

powerful organisation with headquarters in Eumachia building

guild of fullers

torcula

press for making wine and oil

“districts with a mild climate store their wine in jars thus protecting them from the weather”- pliny the elder

wine industry evidence

thermapolia (cooking), thermae (baths), and palaestra (gym)

uses for olives in P and H

• over 30 discovered in Pompeii

• 81 loaves of carbonised bread found at bakery of modestus

• donkey skeletons attached to small mills at herculaneum

bakery evidence

• dolia were food were kept warm

• endorsed electoral candidates

Aseilina’s tavern

familia

basic unit of society- family + slaves

• absolute rule over household and children

• could kill them, sell them into slavery or disown them

• could adopt nephew if he didnt have a son

paterfamilia

senatorial elite

• only males

• achieved this status by holding public office

• senators with villas or estates in Campania region

marcus nonius balbus built suburban baths in Herculaneum “To Marcus Nonius Balbus, praetor, proconsul, patron (from) the entire Council of the people of Herculaneum in recognition of his merits” on his funeral altar

senatorial elite evidence

• local politics

• generational wealth

• large houses in town and agricultural holdings on outskirts

local town elite

• 2 chief magistrates

• serious duties in Pompeii local government

• inscriptions referred to their “judicial power”

• every 5 years they switched up the town council

duumviri

• 2 lower ranking magistrates

• day to day administration e.g. upkeep of temples, supervising marketplace

aediles

freedborn evidence

a seal found in bakery in Herculaneum identified owner Sextus Patulcus Felix, typical member of Roman middle class

a bracelet in Pompeii reads “from the master to his slave girl”

slaves evidence

privileged wore toga, others wore loosely belted tunic like slaves

class dependent clothing

vestibulum

arched entryway (present in house of the faun)

impluvium

body of water on floor of atrium

compluvium

hole in the roof for light 

peristyle

garden with pillars

lararium

shrine to household gods

caldarium= hot room

frigidarium= cold room

tepidarium= medium room

thermae rooms

in house of menander,fresco depicting cassandra opposing entry of horse into troy 

example of greek influence in private buildings

triclinium

formal banqueting hall

nile mosaic in the house of faun

evidence for egyptian influence in private buildings