Architecture as a Architecture as a source in source in

discovering discovering Pompeii & Pompeii &

HerculaneumHerculaneum

Architecture can provide an image of Architecture can provide an image of Pompeiian society, but much of the Pompeiian society, but much of the architectural evidence has disappeared forever. architectural evidence has disappeared forever.

The reporting on excavated houses and The reporting on excavated houses and buildings has been patchy and careless, and a buildings has been patchy and careless, and a lot of the information produced about the lot of the information produced about the buildings was based on sometimes inexpert buildings was based on sometimes inexpert opinion. opinion.

Many of the artifacts from buildings were Many of the artifacts from buildings were looted or removed without recording their looted or removed without recording their position, and without a record of their context, position, and without a record of their context, making it difficult to make deductions on the making it difficult to make deductions on the status and standards of living of the people. status and standards of living of the people.

Archaeologists do not really know, for example, what Archaeologists do not really know, for example, what Pompeiians called different rooms, as there is no matching Pompeiians called different rooms, as there is no matching literary evidence. literary evidence.

Within Pompeii itself, there was no boundary between Within Pompeii itself, there was no boundary between residential and commercial units. They sat side by side in residential and commercial units. They sat side by side in the streets, and shops and workshops were incorporated the streets, and shops and workshops were incorporated into the house’s structure. into the house’s structure.

The layout of Pompeii, set between the slopes of Mt The layout of Pompeii, set between the slopes of Mt Vesuvius and the sea, meant that the city could only Vesuvius and the sea, meant that the city could only develop with a confined space. As the population of this develop with a confined space. As the population of this prosperous city grew bigger, the houses tended to be prosperous city grew bigger, the houses tended to be extended upwards instead of outwards. extended upwards instead of outwards.

Dwellings were set into rectangular urban blocks, known Dwellings were set into rectangular urban blocks, known as insulae, and 1 insula could include: Tabernas, Cauponas as insulae, and 1 insula could include: Tabernas, Cauponas (bars), houses, a Fullonica (laundry), a Thermopolia, and a (bars), houses, a Fullonica (laundry), a Thermopolia, and a brothel. brothel.

What kind of buildings and architecture in Pompeii and What kind of buildings and architecture in Pompeii and Herculaneum are useful as primary sources?Herculaneum are useful as primary sources?

Walls, gates and streetsWalls, gates and streets Aqueducts, water towers, fountains and sewerage systemsAqueducts, water towers, fountains and sewerage systems The Forum – temples, law courts, marketsThe Forum – temples, law courts, markets Public lavatories and bathsPublic lavatories and baths TheatresTheatres AmpitheatreAmpitheatre Exercise grounds (palaestra and gymnasiums)Exercise grounds (palaestra and gymnasiums) TemplesTemples Townhouses – grand and humbleTownhouses – grand and humble Suburban and country villas (rustica and otium)Suburban and country villas (rustica and otium) Shops – bakeries, hot food barsShops – bakeries, hot food bars Taverns and innsTaverns and inns Workshops – e.g. fulleriesWorkshops – e.g. fulleries BrothelsBrothels TombsTombs

What kind of evidence can we get What kind of evidence can we get from these primary sources, and from these primary sources, and what deductions are we able to what deductions are we able to make about Pompeii as a society? make about Pompeii as a society?

Tombs lined the roads Tombs lined the roads that led into Pompeii, that led into Pompeii, as the dead were not as the dead were not permitted to be buried permitted to be buried inside the town walls.inside the town walls.

The streets of both towns The streets of both towns were paved with lava were paved with lava stone, and raised in the stone, and raised in the centre to allow for centre to allow for drainage. Water and the drainage. Water and the contents of chamber pots contents of chamber pots were thrown out into the were thrown out into the streets, so stepping streets, so stepping stones were set into the stones were set into the road to stop people’s feet road to stop people’s feet getting dirty.getting dirty.

The streets had no The streets had no names at the time of names at the time of excavation, and were excavation, and were named by early named by early archaeologistsarchaeologists

8 gates around the 8 gates around the defensive walls of defensive walls of Pompeii led people Pompeii led people into the city. The city into the city. The city walls were built by the walls were built by the Samnites. The gates Samnites. The gates were shut each night were shut each night and opened in the and opened in the morning after saying morning after saying prayers to Minerva, prayers to Minerva, goddess of wisdom goddess of wisdom and defender of cities. and defender of cities.

Richer households Richer households had water fountains, had water fountains, which were supplied which were supplied with water by with water by ingenious ingenious underwater underwater channelling systems channelling systems known as aqueducts. known as aqueducts.

The water in P & H The water in P & H came from the Sarnocame from the Sarno

Although most houses in the Although most houses in the 11stst century AD had a running century AD had a running water connection, those that water connection, those that didn’t could access fresh didn’t could access fresh water at any one of over 40 water at any one of over 40 fountains in the city.fountains in the city.

The water from the The water from the aqueduct into the city was aqueduct into the city was forced through small pipes forced through small pipes into lead tanks inside water into lead tanks inside water towers around the city. towers around the city. From the water tower, From the water tower, smaller pipes (fistulae) smaller pipes (fistulae) supplied private homes, supplied private homes, businesses, gardens and businesses, gardens and public fountains. public fountains.

The forum, or town centre, was The forum, or town centre, was where the government offices, where the government offices, temples and markets were temples and markets were centered in P & H. centered in P & H.

The forum was decorated with The forum was decorated with about 40 statues, usually of about 40 statues, usually of emperors and other important emperors and other important Roman heroesRoman heroes

The rows of columns that The rows of columns that surrounded the open space of the surrounded the open space of the forum were painted brightly, as forum were painted brightly, as were the buildings. The Romans were the buildings. The Romans loved reds and yellows as loved reds and yellows as building coloursbuilding colours

No wheeled traffic was allowed No wheeled traffic was allowed into the forum.into the forum.

The lower storey buildings’ walls The lower storey buildings’ walls were covered in painted notices were covered in painted notices informing the public about informing the public about auctions, elections, theatre auctions, elections, theatre productions, etc. productions, etc.

The Comitium (people’s assembly) The Comitium (people’s assembly) was a roofless building where was a roofless building where citizens could question the members citizens could question the members of governmentof government

It may also have been used for It may also have been used for voting on election dayvoting on election day

The basilica was the seat of the The basilica was the seat of the judiciary and law courts, as well as a judiciary and law courts, as well as a centre for business activities.centre for business activities.

It was generally considered to be the It was generally considered to be the finest building in both P & H.finest building in both P & H.

Basilicas usually followed a standard Basilicas usually followed a standard plan – a long rectangular central hall, plan – a long rectangular central hall, with colonnaded aisles on either side with colonnaded aisles on either side and an apse at one end.and an apse at one end.

The Forum also contained some temples The Forum also contained some temples devoted to the worship of Roman godsdevoted to the worship of Roman gods

The Capitoline Triad was a temple dedicated The Capitoline Triad was a temple dedicated to 3 gods – Jupiter, Juno and Minerva (the to 3 gods – Jupiter, Juno and Minerva (the Roman equivalents of Zeus, Hera and Athena), Roman equivalents of Zeus, Hera and Athena), and was modelled on the Capitoline in Rome.and was modelled on the Capitoline in Rome.

The temple of Apollo (god of music and light), The temple of Apollo (god of music and light), and the temple of Vespasian (a former and the temple of Vespasian (a former Emperor who was deified) were also situated Emperor who was deified) were also situated in the Forumin the Forum

The amphitheatre in Pompeii was large The amphitheatre in Pompeii was large enough to seat the entire population.enough to seat the entire population.

It was the most popular place to go for It was the most popular place to go for entertainment, and wealthy Romans entertainment, and wealthy Romans would put on free shows of gladiator would put on free shows of gladiator fights to the death, or hunting animals to fights to the death, or hunting animals to death, in order to win the approval of the death, in order to win the approval of the people. (0nly wealthy Romans could seek people. (0nly wealthy Romans could seek to be elected into public office)to be elected into public office)

The Gladiators lived in the Gladiatorial The Gladiators lived in the Gladiatorial barracks near the Stabian Gatebarracks near the Stabian Gate

The palaestra was a large sports The palaestra was a large sports centre where ordinary Pompeiians centre where ordinary Pompeiians could take part in boxing, wrestling, could take part in boxing, wrestling, weight-lifting, bowls, discus-weight-lifting, bowls, discus-throwing, running and gymnastics.throwing, running and gymnastics.

The smaller sports centres attached The smaller sports centres attached to the baths around Pompeii catered to the baths around Pompeii catered for the wealthyfor the wealthy

The theatre was a publicly owned The theatre was a publicly owned building, and entry to see shows was free.building, and entry to see shows was free.

The theatre was able to be shaded by The theatre was able to be shaded by awnings, and patrons could be sprayed awnings, and patrons could be sprayed with scented water on hot dayswith scented water on hot days

Greek tragedies were performed, as were Greek tragedies were performed, as were comedies and mimes.comedies and mimes.

You could also see dancing, juggling, You could also see dancing, juggling, clowning and athletic displays at the clowning and athletic displays at the theatre.theatre.