pompeii herculaneum revision guide - gcse...
TRANSCRIPT
Pompeii &
Herculaneum
Revision Guide
Pliny’s Letters
It is really important that you know what Pliny’s letters say and what sort of
message they give.
The letters were written around 27 years AFTER the eruption when the Roman
writer Tacitus asked for information about the eruption (and what Pliny the Elder had
done).
There are two letters written by Pliny the Younger.
Letter 6.16
Talks about his uncle Pliny the Elder ‐ and how he hopes that his uncle’s memory will be preserved by Tacitus’ writing.
A key part of the letter explains the shape of the cloud rising ‐ he says it was like an umbrella pine tree (see the picture to
the left), the sort that grow around the Bay of Naples. They have “a very long trunk from which spread some branches."
The strange cloud encourages Pliny the Elder to examine the occurrence close up. He orders a boat from the fleet to be
made ready.
As he is getting ready a letter from a friend (Rectina) whose villa was on the other side of the bay at the base of Vesuvius.
SO turns into a rescue mission!
Tone of the letter was BRAVERY ‐ “He hurried to a place from which others were fleeing, and held his course directly into
danger. Was he afraid? It seems not…” ‐ Making his uncle sound very brave.
Talks about the increased levels of ash falling on the boats followed by the pumice and small rocks ‐ so much that the
debris “blocks the shore”. Others try to get him to go back ‐ Pliny being BRAVE AGAIN!
Pliny the Elder lands at Stabiae, at his friend Pomponianus’ villa. His friend had loaded his ships but needed the wind to
change direction to move.
His friend and family are scared SO to calm them, Pliny hugs his friend and asks to have a bath after a meal = TRYING TO
CALM OTHERS AND MAKE SITUATION SEEM NORMAL!
Describes how now sheets of flame were lighting up the sky ‐ PLINY THE ELDER TELLS OTHERS THESE ARE SIMPLY FIRES
FROM QUICKLY ABANDONED FARMS SPREADING ‐ To calm the others.
He then goes to sleep (SNORING!) And has to be woken as so much ash etc has fallen he wouldn’t be able to open the
door otherwise.
Earth tremors are rocking the house ‐ decide to go outside as probably safer than the house collapsing.
o Tie pillows to their heads!
Even though daytime “he darkness was darker and thicker than any night” ‐ went to the shore to see if they could get
away.
The sea was still not an option ‐ Pliny rests to have a drink, there is a smell of sulphur ‐ then collapses and dies.
Body recovered 2 days later found where it had been left
Letter 6.20
Talks more about what Pliny the Younger (and his aunt) did… Pliny and his aunt are scared by tremors that shake the house (worried of collapse) and decide to move away from the
built up area. HUGE numbers of people follow them, slow them at first and end up pushing them along!
Describes the way that the carts were being moved HUGELY by the tremors.
Describes how the sea seems to have been sucked away from the land ‐ similar to when a tsunami occurs ‐ “many sea
creatures were left on dry land”.
Describes how the day SUDDENLY turned black “a darkness came that was not like a moonless or cloudy night, but more
like the black of closed and unlighted rooms”.
o This terrifies people ‐ children crying, women screaming, people calling out for their family etc.
Describes how it seemed as if “the fire” was getting closer and it became lighter BUT this was only short lived as the ash
and pumice become heavy again and block the sun.
They “Stood up and shook the ash off again and again, otherwise we would have been covered with it and crushed by the
weight.”
o Shows how much was falling from the sky.
The light starts to break through the dark BUT not completely clear more like “after an eclipse”.
Describes how “the sight that met our still terrified eyes was a changed world, buried in ash like snow.” ‐ shows the
massive impact of the eruption.
Eruption & Destruction
24th August 79 AD ‐ The eruption began in the afternoon ‐ a large cloud formed coming out of the volcano.
Like Pliny’s description ‐ this sort of eruption is known as a Plinian eruption ‐ it looked like an umbrella Pine.
The cloud was a mixture of ash, gas and pumice stone to a height of 20 miles.
Wind played a major role ‐ the wind blew this ash cloud towards and over Pompeii, which was plunged
into darkness ‐ ash, pumice etc began to fall steadily and heavily onto Pompeii.
People still able to move around at this point ‐ majority of population appear to have fled = small number
of bodies found AND very few skeletons of horses/donkeys/oxen found, all used to evacuate people and
possessions?
By the evening of 24th August 79AD rooves began to collapse in Pompeii ‐ the amount of debris falling onto
rooves did this. Ash would have made it difficult to get in and out of buildings, blocking doors etc.
Early hours 25th August 79 AD ‐ seemed to have calmed down ‐ BUT it was actually the start of the PELEAN
STAGE ‐ the cloud was collapsing and a much worse stage beginning.
First of all a surge of between 100‐300 km per hour called nuees ardentes (burning clouds) ‐ a mixture of
hot gas and volcanic debris with temperatures of between 100‐400 degrees Celsius.
These were then followed by pyroclastic flows ‐ hot volcanic material, mud, ash etc travelling at a slightly
slower speed than the burning clouds, the flow was just as hot.
There were 6 nuees ardentes in total.
Herculaneum was hit by the first and second in the middle of the night on 25th August 79AD and destroyed.
This buried the town suddenly – carbonising organic material and preserving it. Many skeletons were found
at the shore line.
As it is much closer to the volcano than Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried by the pyroclastic flow to a
MUCH greater depth.
Pompeii’s northern wall marked the edge of the third wave but the town remained at 6:30am on 25th
August 79AD.
By 7:30am Pompeii was engulfed by 3 waves that completely destroyed the town that remained above the
ash etc. The final wave was very violent.
The northern side of the town was buried to a depth of 1.8 metres but the southern side was buried under
only 60cm of material ‐ so it seems possible that
some buildings remained visible.
Scientists have compared the initial
explosion to the bomb dropped at Hiroshima ‐
the eruption was 500 times more powerful!
Survivors tried to get any valuables they
could, but the site was abandoned and
eventually forgotten about….
Discovery & Excavation of the Towns Pompeii 1592 ‐ a canal was being dug from the river Sarno – found some ancient ruins, but covered them up and no further investigations were made. 1689 – an inscription was found in the same area with the word POMPEI BUT they thought this was talking about the Roman general Pompey, so again left the site. 1748 – Joaquin de Alcubierre appointed by the King of Naples who wanted to build his collection of treasures and sculptures. Alcubiere dig pits and tunnels in the area BUT did massive damage, knocking down walls, cutting out paintings etc. 1750 ‐ Karl Weber appointed deputy and modernised the system. Kept records, plans, maps and lists of artefacts. Areas were excavated systematically NOT just digging random hole! Inscription found that confirmed it WAS Pompeii that was being examined. 1760s‐1860 – Not much was learned, advances were slow and not fully funded. 1863 – Giuseppe Fiorelli appointed director of excavations. MASSIVE improvements:
o Digging – No more excavations from the side, or tunnelling. All now done from above. Rooves built on top of buildings to protect from the sun, rain etc.
o Recording – divided the site up into different regions, sub‐divided into different blocks. This meant items could be recorded carefully – for example the house of the Menander was I.10.4
o Artefacts – items were now all part of the Naples archaeological museum and could not be taken for private collections. When an item was removed a replica was put in place.
o Funding – Opened the site to the public for a charge, using the money to pay caretakers = kept away robbers.
Fiorelli’s Process
The most important contribution was to do with bodies. Excavators kept coming across ‘bubbles’ in the soil – where people had died, but their bodies had rotted.
Fiorelli had plaster of paris poured in – this was chipped around and you had a replica of the body.
This was a massive advance! It also allowed to recreate wood that had rotted, roots, furniture, doors etc! 1924‐61 – Amedo Maiuri in charge of excavations. Introduced stratigraphic excavation – working down level by level, the next stage on from the work of Fiorelli. 1997 – Pompeii is given financial authority and now all money taken on the gates is put back into preservation.
Herculaneum 1738 ‐ Joaquin de Alcubierre dug tunnels by the order of the King of Naples. Mapping out some of the town, digging the theatre and ripping out many statues, frescoes and treasures. This ignites great interest in the ancient world. 1780 – Excavations suspended in favour of Pompeii, eventually many tunnels collapse. It is not until the 20th century that excavations begin again. 1924‐61 – Excavations resume at Herculaneum under Amedo Maiuri. 1962 – Excavations limited to try and preserve what has already bee excavated. 1981‐98 – Excavations of the beach front at Herculaneum and the Villa of the Papyri. 300 bodies from at the beach.
Herculaneum – Bodies by the Shore For many years it was thought that most people escaped Herculaneum. Excavtions of the shoreline
between 1981‐1998 revealed a VERY different picture.
Some bodies were found hiding in the boat houses on the shore line, while others were found on the beach itself, probably trying to get out to sea.
These skeletons suggest from their positions and analysis that these people were killed INSTANTLY when the first nuees ardentes hit them.
The skeletons have really helped us learn about diet, average height (men 5 ft 7 inches, women 5 ft 1.5 inches), many had bad tartar on their teeth = BAD BREATH!
Several key bodies have been found:
Lady of the Rings – found wearing 2 gold rings with gemstones. Also wearing gold bracelets and earrings. Tests show she was in her 40s and well nourished with good teeth. She had had 2 or 3 children. It seems likely she was a wealthy citizen from the goods found on her.
The Soldier – Found with a sword attached to its belt. Also had a set of carpenters tools. His right arm was VERY developed, possibly as a result of his years as a carpenter.
The boathouses on the
shoreline at Herculaneum
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Pompeii’s Streets
The streets in Pompeii are all very different in
width ‐ between 4.5 and 2.5m in width!
Made of blocks of Vesuvian lava rock cut into
polygonal blocks.
Usually at each side of the road were raised
pavements for pedestrians. This was usually between 30‐
50cm above the road. The pavement was made of brick
chips and mortar so it was much smoother than the road.
The pavement sloped downwards slightly to allow
water to run off.
Between the pavements were placed crossing
stones ‐ these allowed people to get across the street
without getting wet/mucky.
As there were no sewers in Pompeii the roads would have been filthy and in winter very, very wet ‐ so the
crossing stones were essential!
The stepping stones were carefully placed to allow carts to pass over them.
Three stepping stones was a main road, two stepping stones show a minor road.
Along the streets of Pompeii you will find deep wheel ruts ‐ showing where the carts moved.
Dotted around Pompeii are public fountains, like the one shown above. These were served by lead pipes
that were below the pavement.
Pompeii Shops
Along the main streets of Pompeii are a
range of shops selling food, everyday items
and crafted goods.
These usually took the same form ‐ a wide
door opening onto the street with the
good displayed on a counter and other
items hung from the ceiling.
Sometimes there was an upstairs area that
could be accessed by a ladder, sometimes
the shopkeeper would live above the shop.
A problem we have is finding out what a
shop sold ‐ the goods have either rotted
OR were removed. The best example of a
shop is the shop of Verus the Bronzesmith.
Many bronze items and lamps were found
inside the shop.
The shops were secured by wooden
shutters that were drawn across the front
of the shop. Though these have all rotted, they were discovered by the use of Fiorelli’s process (see later).
You can often see the ruts cut across the front of the shop where the shutters would have run along.
Awnings were also used to give some shade in front of some of the shops ‐ the only evidence of these are
holes cut into the pavement blocks to secure the ropes.
Bakeries
We know of 20 bakeries operating in Pompeii.
At the back of a bakery were the large
flour mills made of the black lava stone.
Grain was poured into the top of these
and flour collected at the bottom. Either slaves
OR if a larger bakery donkeys turned the mills
to make the flour.
The flour was then mixed with other
ingredients and cooked in a large oven at the
rear of the bakery.
The ovens had a HUGE capacity ‐ one
over was found with 81 loaves still inside!
The Pompeii bread ovens were VERY
similar to modern pizza ovens.
The bread at Pompeii was stamped with the name of the
baker that made the bread, like modern branding.
We have found carbonized loaves of bread at Herculaneum
showing us EXACTLY what they looked like.
Bars
Dotted along the main streets of Pompeii were many, many bars ‐ called thermopolia.
The most simple were rooms that opened onto the street ‐ sometimes they were a little larger. They closed
in the same way as other shops ‐ with wooden shutters.
Thermopolia consisted of a counter with large, HUGE jars (called dolia) sunk into the bar. Foord and drink
could be stored in these.
Often the bar was decorated with lots of odd shaped pieces of marble ‐ very colourful!
Bars did not have seating ‐ customers would have stood and drunk their drinks.
The bar of Asselina is the best example of a bar in Pompeii ‐ a range of items were found here including:
o A large number of
amphora ‐ large storage
jars for wine/oil.
o Dishes on tripods to hold
hot snacks.
o A kettle for hot water at
the back of the bar.
o A range of jugs were
found, with some very
showy jugs of a cockerel
and a fox.
Graffiti and paintings have been
found on the walls of the different
bars.
o “The weaver Successus loves Iris, the slave of the innkeeper’s wife. She doesn’t think much of him
but he tries to make her feel sorry for him” ‐ Bar in insula 6.
Fuller & Laundries
Fullonica were found in Pompeii ‐ these were laundries BUT their main job was to complete the
manufacture of cloth.
The best example is the fullonica of Stephanus ‐ this was an old house that was converted into a fullonica.
The process was very complicated but roughly went as follows:
o Cloth was checked for faults and then soaked in urine to stiffen it. This was collected in pots on the
street ‐ for people to wee into! These were placed all over the city ‐ wee was important!
o Next it was washed with a chemical mix of earth called fullers earth. This was trodden in big vats by
slaves.
o The cloth was then stretch out and then washed in water again.
o The cloth was then combed and any bits picked off.
o Finally the cloth was placed over wooden baskets on the roof where sulphur and chemicals were
burned beneath it to help bleach it.
These were VERY busy placed and must have been horrible to work in! The picture below shows how
complicated the place must have been!
The Forum
The Forum was the political, economic AND religious heart of Pompeii.
150 x 40 metres, located in the oldest part of Pompeii.
The centre was a large open paved square, with a double colonnade running along the two long sides. At
the end was the Temple of Jupiter with two impressive arches either side of the temple. The picture below
shows a reconstruction of what it would have looked like.
People could meet and discuss business here ‐ it was the heart of the town.
There were three types of buildings in the Forum.
Commercial Buildings.
Macellum
A rectangular food market located at the north‐eastern side of the Forum.
In the middle was a round structure which had a pool in the middle ad from where fish was sold.
Stalls were set up around the area to sell different foods and along the south side were some permanent
shop spaces.
Some paintings still show on some of the walls what was sold here ‐ fish, bread, poultry and wine.
Building of Eumachia
Named after a woman called Eumachia, who may have been a priestess, who paid for the building (we
know this from an inscription). We don’t actually know what it was used for!
BUT possibly to do with the fulling industry as the fullers guild had the statue of Eumachia put up BUT we
simply don’t know!
It is however the biggest building in the forum, so was clearly important…
Weights and Measures Table
Very small, but very important, found on the western side of the Forum.
This was where you or an official could check that you had been sold the correct amount of grain, oil
etc.
The table had 9 spaces/bowls for different measures with a trap door beneath each to release the
goods when checked.
This was important as fines could be put in place against traders underselling ‐ like today!
Political and Legal Buildings
Basilica
Built in 100 BC it was one of the grandest buildings in Pompeii.
5 huge wooden doors led into a large hall with huge columns on each side.
At the end of the building was a raised platform called a tribunal, which is where the judge would sit.
The building would be used for hearing court cases.
It would also have been somewhere that people would have been able to meet and discuss business under
cover.
Comitium
A large walled open air hall to the south east side of the forum.
Traditionally believed to have been where people voted in elections etc BUT possible that the whole area
was used for this.
Municipal Offices
These are where we believe the town magistrates worked and had their offices, where the town archive
was and where the council met.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FOR THIS! Archaeologists only believe this based on the layout of other towns.
Religious Buildings
Temple of Jupiter
Situated at the northern end of the Forum ‐ it was in a very important location.
It was based on the capitol temple in Rome, dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.
Each had their own room in the temple ‐ each housing a statue of the God/ Goddess.
When it was excavated a HUGE head of Jupiter was found ‐ showing that a really big statue was housed here.
Underneath the main temple podium were rooms that could act as a safe place to store items from the temple.
Temple of Vespasian
Although named after Vespasian by modern archaeologists, we now think it was built around 50 years earlier when Augustus was Emperor.
The temple is dedicated to the genius (spirit) of the Emperor ‐ it was very useful to show how dedicated to Rome and the Emperor the people of Pompeii were.
A very Impressive altar in front of the temple showing scenes of a religious sacrifice was found in front of the temple.
Sanctuary of Apollo
Technically not on the Forum, but right next door to it!
The oldest temple was built here in the 6th century BC but the temple you see is from the 2nd century BC.
The temple was surrounded by a portico.
A bronze statue of Apollo firing an arrow and another bronze statue of his sister Diana were found at the temple.
Sanctuary of the Public Lares
Originally thought to be where the spirits of the city were worshipped NOW WE DON’T THINK THIS! Evidence of how unclear many identifications have been.
Now believed that possibly somewhere that the statues of the Imperial family were displayed as there are many niches in the walls of the building.
Ultimately we don’t really know what it was used for!
Map of the Forum
Artist’s reconstruction of the Forum
Amphitheatre The Amphitheatre at Pompeii was built around 70BC and is the oldest example found in the Roman world.
It is oval in shape and the size is around 135 x 104 metres. Built into natural depression in ground and is built into earth embankments on 2 sides.
It was paid for by leading citizens Valgus and Porcius ‐ a good way to win votes in elections! We know this from an inscription that tells us this.
It had a capacity of between 10‐20,000 people ‐ much bigger than the actual population of the town ‐ showing people from the surrounding area must have attended games.
Seating was divided into three tiers ‐ the most important people sat lower down (magistrates etc) and the lowest class sat at the back (slaves, women etc). There was a separate entrance the lower seating to keep the rich away from the poor!
There was a canvas awning which was designed to offer shad to the people inside the amphitheatre.
Shows were free to attend and were paid for by a wealthy Roman who wanted votes ‐ they were called the editor. They chose how many gladiators fought, when etc.
There were two entrances into the amphitheatre arena from each end.
The 2m wall that protected the spectators from the animals/gladiators was originally decorated which is shown from paintings when it was first excavated, but this has now been lost.
Lots of graffiti linked to the amphitheatre has been found across Pompeii – showing popularity.
The Riot
In 59AD a riot broke out in the amphitheatre between people from Pompeii and people from nearby Nuceria. This spilled out onto the streets ‐ it was so violent Tacitus even write about it in his work.
A wall painting has also been found that shows the violence.
As a result the people of Pompeii were punished and the amphitheatre was closed by the Emperor for 10 years and the magistrates punished.
HOWEVER it was reopened fully by 64AD possibly to help keep people happy after the earthquake of 62AD.
The different tiers of seating
at the amphitheatre. Graffiti from Pompeii showing a gladiator fight
Theatres Pompeii has two theatres, each used for slightly different purposes and with their own key features.
The Main Theatre Had a capacity of around 4000 people, the
building was built in the 2nd century BC but gradually adapted in the following 200 years.
Seating was made of stone ledges – likely you could have brought/hired cushions for performances.
Three tiers of seating, like the Amphitheatre. The closer to the front you were, the more important.
o Ima Cavea – 4 rows o Media Cavea – 20 rows o Summa Cavea – 4 rows of seats
Followed the Greek design with some modifications – the seating was a horseshoe shape around what was called the orchestra BUT this was actually where the actors performed as well as the raised stage.
A building (with storage for props etc) called the scenae was behind the stage.
The major changed came in the 1st century BC when the upper section of seating was added. This was paid for by Marcus Holconius Rufus and Marcus Holconius Celer who have and inscription on seats near the stage.
Many mosaics and paintings linked to the theatre in Pompeii – showing popularity among population.
Awnings (canvass sails) were put up around the top to give shade to the people in the theatre.
The Small Theatre – Odeon Built around 70 BC it could seat
around 1000 people.
The major difference (apart from the size) was that the Odeon was rooved.
Used to put on smaller, more intimate performances – poetry and music recitals would have been typical in here.
Suggestions that it COULD (NOT CERTAIN) be used for council meetings as well.
Image showing the main theatre
and the Odeon side by side
Baths Bathhouses were very important for Romans. They were somewhere to get clean, to exercise, to meet
friends and socialise – they were more than a swimming pool, more like a Gym or health club.
The public baths were open to general public and VERY cheap to use (so only the very, very poorest could not afford them. Rich Romans would use private baths or even if very wealthy, have their own baths.
In a typical bathhouse you would have the o Apodyterium or changing room o Frigidarium or cold bath room
o Tepidarium or warm room o Calidarium or hot bath room.
In Pompeii there were three main bathhouses, the Forum baths, the Stabian baths and the Central baths (still under construction at the time of the eruption).
Men and women would have separate bath suites AND even separate entrances.
You would enter through the main entrance and would walk into the palaestra (exercise yard). You would then move into the apodyterium (changing room) and remove your clothes.
Next you could either exercise or start bathing.
After working up a sweat, men could have slaves rub oil into the skin, massage them and scrape the sweat off them using a strigil ‐ a curved bronze tool that would scrape the sweat, oil and skin off the man. This left you VERY clean.
When bathing, you would first of all either have a dip in a cold pool (frigidarium) or move straight into the warm room (tepidarium). Here you could talk with friends while your body acclimatized to the temperature.
Next you would go into the hot room (caldarium) where you would use the hot baths. After you would likely cool down again using the relevant rooms.
The picture below shows a reconstruction of the Stabian baths
Hypocaust Heating
The baths obviously needed heat to warm the water in the caldarium and to keep a steady temperature in the tedpidarium.
The Roman system for heating rooms and water, was called a hypocaust system. The Stabian baths had three large tanks; one for cold water, one for warm water and one for hot water. A
furnace below the hot tank heated the water. The floors of the rooms were built on stilts, which then allowed hot air to circulate and heat the floor –
toasty warm! In the walls were chimneys that allowed the hot air to escape while heating the walls! This system required a HUGE amount of work.
o Slaves were needed to stoke the fire, constantly keeping it going o Slaves were needed to move the wood/deliver the wood o Slaves would be constantly moving and checking the baths.
Public Toilets
Within the baths were also a set of public toilets.
These were communal – no individual booths! BUT obviously men and women were separate.
Water would flow into and through a trough beneath the seats which water flowed through to wash away the human waste.
In front of the seats was a small water channel, through which water flowed. People would wipe themselves with a sponge on a stick, which they would wash in this channel to clean.
BUT while we think the baths may have been lovely and relaxing, the Roman writer Seneca wrote about the baths in Rome showing not everyone loved them… “I live over a public bath-house. Just imagine every kind of annoying noise! The sturdy gentleman does his exercise with lead weights; when he is working hard(or pretending to) I can hear him grunt; when he breathes out, I can hear him panting in high pitched tones. Or I might notice some lazy fellow, content with a cheap rub-down, and hear the blows of the hand slapping his shoulders. The sound varies, depending on whether the massager hits with a flat or hollow hand.To all of this, you can add the arrest of the occasional pickpocket; there’s also the racket made by the man who loves to hear his own voice in the bath or the chap who dives in with a lot of noise and splashing.”
Temples
Temples were an important part of everyday life in the Roman world – they were used to ask the Gods for help, either for you as an individual, for your family, for the town of Pompeii or even for the Emperor.
Temples were usually built on a platform (a podium), on top of this was a building (the cella), usually with columns to the front and sometimes on the side. This could be accessed by steps leading up the podium. There would be an altar in front of the temple – sacrifices would be made here.
Inside the building was a statue of the God the temple was dedicated to. Incense was burned inside the temple, priests would carry out activities here and offerings would be left to the God.
The image to the left shows a cutaway from a typical Roman temple.
Several temples have already been discussed, but we will also examine the temple of Isis.
Temple of Isis
All the other temples mentioned here are official, public temples – open to anyone.
Another type of religion existed, which came from outside of Italy – called mystery religions. The Goddess Isis was one such Goddess.
Their temples were closed away and worshippers had to be inducted (kind of given membership) before they could come into the temple and worship.
The temple of Isis was far smaller than the other temples as fewer people would worship here.
Likely that it had been rebuilt after the eruption of 62AD.
Images and statues found in more than 20 houses across Pompeii – suggesting growing popularity?
At the centre of the sanctuary (shown above) was the temple building, which like the other temples housed the statue of the goddess.
Closeby was a small square building (the purgatorium) which had a well of water from the river Nile.
An assembly hall for worshippers to meet in ‐ the ekklesiasterion.
A living space including kitchen, dining room and bedroom – perhaps for the priests of the cult.
This temple was important as it shows worship of a foreign, non‐Roman god.
PRIVATE BUILDINGS
Housing
The houses of Pompeii are our best examples from across the Roman world of what wealthier Roman homes were like.
Poorer people would have lived in flats above shops or in apartment blocks – but as we have lost the upper stories of the buildings in Pompeii, we haven’t go the evidence of these in Pompeii.
If we look at places like Rome and Ostia we have some examples of poorer housing preserved.
SO the houses we have in Pompeii are generally those of wealthy citizens.
The most straightforward design was focussed around a courtyard (atrium) with rooms coming off it and a garden area (peristyle) at the rear.
o BUT at Pompeii there are wide variations.
Apartments
Almost all the evidence we have relating to houses in Pompeii and Herculaneum is for the wealthy.
The majority of people would have lived in apartments above shops and workshops.
The picture below shows a typical Pompeii scene – with a shop to the left, a small entrance to a large house and above windows for the apartments above the shop –this is where poorer Pompeiians would have lived.
Pompeii ‐ House of the Vettii Election notices on the walls outside and inscribed rings suggest that the house was owed by two
brothers – Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus who were merchants.
House had been badly damaged and then repaired after the 62AD earthquake.
Famous for painting of Priapus with a huge penis by the entrance – with a bag of gold to show wealth and fertility of the owners = SHOWING OFF.
LARGE amount of plumbing for elaborate fountains etc = SHOW OFFS!
Major focus of the house was the Peristyle (garden) which was the largest area of the house.
In the atrium was a lararium (shrine to the household Gods) with a famous fresco.
Detailed wall frescoes of cupids found – very detailed.
Wealth on display for all to see – in the Atrium were two huge chests – for the brothers’ wealth to be kept.
Detailed painting on
the lararium
Cupids from the
house of the Vettii
Pompeii ‐ House of the Faun Largest house discovered in the whole of Pompeii – HUGE! It takes up a WHOLE insulae (usually
this would be made up of several houses, shops etc). Covers around 3000m2!
HAVE (Welcome!) inscribed on the pavement at the main entrance.
Name from the statue of the dancing faun found in the impluvium.
Lots of clear influences from the Greek world – paintings, mosaics etc.
Four triclinia (dining rooms) ‐ one per season?
Most famous for artworks. o Mosaics showing scenes from Egypt, with crocodiles and other animals from the Nile. o The Alexander mosaic shows Alexander the Great at the battle of Issus fighting the
Persians. The detail is STUNNING – shows the wealth of the owners.
The Alexander Mosaic – It is HUGE – 272cm
x 513cm. VERY detailed.
Plan of the House of the Faun Nile Mosaic
Pompeii ‐ House of the Menander
A very large house, taking up over 50% of an insulae. Named after a portrait of the Greek playwright Menander found on one of the walls – showing a love of
the theatre by the owner.
Elaborate lararium (shrine to the household Gods) in the Atrium Real focus of the house is the Peristyle, with very grand rooms around.
o Detailed floor mosaic of scenes of the Nile. o A HUGE banqueting hall 11.5 x 7.5 m = a great way to show off! Biggest found in Pompeii. o Detailed series of three frescoes showing scenes from the Trojan war – clear influence
from Greece AND a good way for the owner to show their education to others.
Treasure trove of silver items found – plates, spoons, bowls – all wrapped up and stacked carefully in the cellar. Perhaps they thought that they could collect these after the eruption…
Plan of the House of the MenanderLararium shaped like a small temple
One of the frescoes depicting the Trojan war.
Pompeii ‐ House of the Tragic Poet One of the smaller houses but a very good example of a house from the later stages of Pompeii.
In the fauces (entrance hall) is a mosaic of a dog with the warning CAVE CANEM (Beware of the dog!)
The Atrium is unusual as it has 6 large, detailed frescoes showing scenes from the Iliad = a good way of showing off that you were educated and knew your classical literature.
House named after a fresco showing the delivery to Admetus of the oracle which declared he must die unless someone volunteered to die in his place.
Tablinum has good example of more common simple black and white geometric mosaic.
Frescoes of a high standard throughout.
One of the frescoes in
the atrium showing
scenes from the Iliad
Beware of the
dog mosaic!
Pompeii ‐ House of Caecilius The house belonged to the banker Lucius Caecilius Jucundus. We
know this from the large number of documents found recording this.
Small mosaic of a sleeping dog in the fauces (entrance hall).
A herm of the house owner’s father was found in the atrium.
Lararium has interesting decoration showing the destruction of the Forum in the 62AD earthquake. Buildings are wonky and clearly a lot of damage has been done.
Some of the wall frescoes represent scenes from mythology ‐ reference to education etc.
KEY – a strongbox for money and valuables was found in the house. The box protected the contents from the heat and were preserved.
o 154 wooden tablets recording sales, taxes etc up to the year 56AD.
o “Umbricia Januaria declares that she has received
from Lucius Caecilius Jucundus 11,039 sesterces, which sum came into the hands of Lucius Caecilius Jucundus by agreement as the
proceeds of an auction sale for Umbricia Januaria, the commission due him having been deducted.
Done at Pompeii, on the 12th of December, in the consulship of
Lucius Duvius and Publius Clodius.”
Herm of L Caecilius
Jucundus’ father
Detail on lararium showing earthquake damage in 62AD.
Wax tablets found in the strongbox recording financial deals.
Herculaneum ‐ House of the wooden partition
A big house for Herculaneum with some rooms converted into shops during the 1st century AD. o A large clothes press was found in one of these shops.
Upper floor had separate entrance/staircase – possibly a separate apartment? Façade of the house (eastern side) is the best preserved of any house in Pompeii or Herculaneum – ground
floor, first floor up to the roof preserved. o Benches outside were where clients for the owner would sit and wait until they could go into the
house.
The most important part of the house were the preserved remains of a wooden partition in the Tablinum which would allow the head of the house to close the room off from the atrium, giving some privacy.
The panels were preserved as the wood was instantly turned to carbon in the super heat of the nuees ardentes and the pyroclastic flow.
o The panels were very well carved with bronze hinges and fittings for oil lamps to hang off.
A carefully crafted bed was also found in one of the other rooms off the atrium.
A – Fauces B – Atrium C – Cubiculum D – Cubiculum E – Tablinum F – Oecus G – Peristyle H – Workshop/ Shop I – Workshop/ Shop J – Staircase
Wooden partition between the Tablinum and
the atrium Façade (front) of the house – note the
small windows and the benches.
Herculaneum ‐ House of Neptune and Amphitrite Typical smaller Herculaneum house – shop at the front of the house to the side of the entrance BUT
probably owner/run by a family slave as there was an entrance.
The shop has some great preservation – with amphora, a balcony etc being preserved.
Two upper floor areas – front area accessed by staircase from the main house – so used by the family/slaves.
Focus of the house is the amazingly decorated courtyard at the rear of the building which could have been used as a triclinium in the summer.
Outdoor scenes are shown in bright wall paintings and the amazing glass mosaics.
There is also a large, impressive fountain. All of this helps make up for the fact that there isn’t space for a full peristyle garden.
A – Fauces B – Atrium C – Cubiculum D – Triclinium E – Courtyard F ‐ Shop
The shop attached to the house
Detail from the courtyard
Reconstruction of the villa
Villas Outside of the city walls were many, many villas – a villa was a large country home. There were two types
of villa; o Working villas – these were working farms producing grapes, oil, olives, vegetables etc. o Luxury villas – these were luxury out of town residences for rich Romans.
Villa of the Mysteries
Built in the 2nd Century BC, the large luxury villa grew to its maximum size in 80BC.
It was a very large elaborately decorated villa. o The most famous and most elaborate decoration are thought to represent the mysteries (religious
ceremonies) to do with the God Dionysus – this is where the Villa gets its name. o We are not certain exactly what the scenes show, but they appear to show the worship of
Dionysus. o The worship of Dionysus was illegal INSIDE towns and cities, but this was outside, so perhaps the
room was used for worship. o Room most probably used as a triclinium. o Another suggestion is that as women were so prominent in the picture, that the house belonged to
a priestess of Dionysus.
The house was built onto a slope SO the villa was built onto an artificial base, called a cryptoporticus.
Sometime around 63AD the villa appears to have been being turned into a large winery. Possibly due to damage to the site in the 62AD earthquake.
o A wine‐press was found on the site.
The wall paintings showing the mysteries of Dionysus
Reconstruction of the room
Villa of Diomedes
Another example of a large luxury villa, this is JUST outside the city gate.
One of the largest villas in the countryside around Pompeii.
Named after Marcus Arrius Diomedes, whose tomb is directly in front of the house.
Famous when it was excavated due to the discovery of 20 bodies hiding in the cryptoporticus – they had probably tried to hide here during the eruption as it was a very strong, secure area.
Another two bodies were found in the portico in the garden – one holding a key and the other man holding one of the largest collections of coins found in Pompeii.
The villa was on a slope, so partly built on an artificial base, called a cryptoporticus.
The building of the villa itself was entered at street level into the main building which included a private bathhouse. The building lead through to a balcony overlooking the countryside and the HUGE peristyle garden.
Reconstruction of the
peristyle near the entrance
(marked b on the plan).
Artists painting
from 1846
A – Fauces B – Peristyle C – G – Bathhouse J – Tablinum M – Terrace O – Colonnade/promenade Q – Fish Pond R – Summer Triclinium S – Stairs to lower level
House Decoration
Wall Paintings The First Style (c. 200 BC until 80 BC) is characterized by colourful, patchwork walls of brightly painted faux‐marble. Each rectangle of painted “marble” was connected by stucco mouldings that added a three‐dimensional effect. In temples and other official buildings, the Romans used costly imported marbles in a variety of colours to decorate the wall. Ordinary Romans could not afford such expense, so they decorated their homes with painted imitations of the luxurious yellow, purple and pink marbles. Painters became so skilled at imitating certain marbles that the large, rectangular slabs were rendered on the wall marbled and veined, just like real pieces of stone. Great examples of the First Pompeian Style can be found in the House of the Faun.
The Second Style (c. 100 BC ‐ 1 BC) developed out of the First Style and incorporated elements of the First, such as faux marble blocks along the base of walls. The Second Style attempted to trick the viewer into believing that they were looking through a window by painting illusionistic images, filled with columns, buildings and stoas.
The Third Style (20BC – 60AD)was still architectural but rather than using realists architectural designs that viewers would see in their everyday world, the Third Style incorporated fantastic and impossible columns and pediments that could only exist in the imagined space of a painted wall. The centre of walls often feature very small painted scenes, featuring livestock, shepherds, temples, shrines and rolling hills. The Third Style also saw the introduction of Egyptian themes and imagery, including scenes of the Nile as well as Egyptian deities and images.
The Fourth Style (c. 60–79 AD) became popular in the mid‐first century AD. and is seen in Pompeii until the city’s destruction in 79 AD. It can be best described as a combination of the three styles that came before. Fake marble blocks along the base of the walls, as in the First Style, frame the naturalistic architectural scenes from the Second Style, which in turn combine with the large flat planes of colour and impossible architectural details from the Third Style. The Fourth Style also incorporates central panel pictures, although on a much larger scale than in the third style and with a much wider range of themes, incorporating mythological, genre, landscape and still life images.
Furniture
Wood was the most common material to build furniture out of, but this has rotted at Pompeii; some wooden items HAVE been reconstructed using Fiorelli’s process, but we have VERY little.
The only furniture from homes we have are made of marble or metal; they belonged to wealthy Romans, so are not typical everyday items.
HERCULANEUM = as it was not covered in ash first, wood was preserved when the super heat of the nuees ardentes and pyroclastic flow coverer thed buildings, instantly carbonizing it and preserving it in the mud slide that engulfed the town.
Some impressive finds include a wooden baby cradle and a the remains of a
wooden and leather couch.
Lighting & Heating
HUGE numbers of oil lamps have been across Pompeii and Herculaneum – clear evidence they were the main source of light in the dark. They are very varied in size, shape and decoration, from simple everyday examples to VERY detailed expensive lamps.
BUT they only gave off a small amount of light; many were needed to light a whole room!
Lamp stands have been found (made of bronze) and fittings to hang lamps from (House of the Wooden Partition).
Charcoal burning braziers have been found) made of bronze, for heat in the winter.
Oil lamps Left – Gladiator decoration Right – Double wick
An elaborate brazier used in winter for warmth – belonged to a wealthy individual!
Pompeii HerculaneumPopulation Approximately 12,‐15,000 4‐5,000
Size 660,000 M2 165,000 M2
Victims Found 1,150 (394 in the pumice level, 653 in the ash
level) – around 10% of the population Approximately 400 – around 10% of the
population
Amount Excavated
70% 25%
Location Built approx. 2 km inland from the sea on the
River Sarno – boats could navigate here. On the coast – the town goes right up to the
shoreline.
Level of Preservation
Upper levels of buildings destroyed – buildings collapsed under weight. Ash
covered the site before it was covered by the pyroclastic flow.
Upper levels and some rooves preserved as not covered by ash – pyroclasic flow overwhelmed the site quickly. Wood and organic material
preserved as carbonised – preserved food etc.
Water Supplies
Water supplied by aqueduct – pipes supply public fountains and private homes.
No sewers.
Water supplied by aqueduct – pipes supply public fountains and private homes.
Sewers run waste into the sea.
Burial Depth Up to 5 metres Up to 20 metres
Entertainment Amphitheatre, Theatre, Odeon, 3 public bathhouses, Over 150 bars and taverns.
Theatre, At least 2 public bathhouses, 12 bars and taverns,
Houses Range of rich and poorer residences. Range BUT far more wealthy houses and homes
in comparison to Pompeii.
