Fertile ground

The city was built on what the Romans considered it a mountain fertile Strabo describing Vesuvius in the ^first century BC. AD, as "entirely covered by fertile fields except the top plate partially but totally sterile and gritty . In reality, it was a volcanic plateau formed by an ancient tongue of lava and steep on three sides. The southwest side overlooking the sea but the whole is overlooked by Vesuvius in the north.

The volcano , extinct for several centuries, was not a concern for area residents. The land, as are all rich soils of volcanic origin, allowed, in particular, the culture of the vine and thus promoted the influx of population. Pompeii had about twelve thousand inhabitants.

A strategic

Pompeii was built near the mouth of the river Sarno (southeast) which is the airworthiness of the city, according to Strabo, "a port at Nola , Nuceria Acherra and " , cities located within land.

The elevated situation of the city built on a plateau (33 m) makes it a strategic position for monitoring the movement of ships in the Bay of Naples . But the city is surrounded by springs and is a drawback. The Romans then built tanks for rainwater , then an aqueduct from the river Sarno to ensure the supply of the city .

Pompeii was a prosperous land So when, one day of the year 79 she was completely devastated. If the date of 24 August 79 is the date officially adopted (including UNESCO), no one is absolutely sure of the exact date of the eruption. Only the story of the Younger Pliny has survived. According to recent research, the vegetation found on the site seems to indicate that the eruption would have rather held in Autumn. View: The end date.

This tragic end partly explains the fame of the city about the excavations, they have to conjure up a city of its matrix developed to revive an entire society and its rich history.

From the foundation of Pompeii to its tragic end

Pompeii was founded before the ^sixth (maybe the ^seventh or ^eighth century BC. ) by a group of five villages Oscan (pompaios = five) and destroyed, according to the account of Pliny the Younger , on 24 August 79 by an eruption of Vesuvius. The town developed first east and then running north-west and south-east to reach nearly 66 hectares, 44 dwellings, the remainder consisting of gardens and fields focusing mainly north of the path of abundance.

Foundation

Based on an outcome of lava at the foot of Vesuvius , in the heart of Regions VII and VIII of the city on a major trade route , Pompeii was built on an ideal site (see: Pompeii: "Land of the Gods" ).

Various influences

In ^the sixth century BC. BC , the Greeks introduced the cult of Apollo (construction of the temple of Apollo building the temple Doric on the agora triangular). Pompeii is a basis for controlling the outlets of the hinterland, very fertile.

The city was subject to the Etruscans for almost fifty years (until 474 BC) when they occupied the inner part of Campania. Immediately after, she returned to the sphere of influence of the Greeks, before being subsumed into the expansion area of the Samnites (V ^centuryBC.). It grows with them known, while inspiring the historical center, whose remains are still very important. It is recognizable thanks to its oldest city walls, the architecture of some houses (those characterized by the Tuscan style atrium), public buildings Triangular Forum and the Temple of Apollo in the Forum civilian.

Of -474 to -424 , the Greeks regained control of the city, restoring the temples, develop a neighborhood plan geometry (region VI), Pompeii and surrounding walls.

In -424 , Pompeii was conquered by the Samnites, who took the name of Campania arrived in the plains. It starts to speak the Oscan , the language common to older occupants, Oscans , and new occupants, the Samnites that extend the city walls.

Roman influence

Meanwhile, Rome had begun its gradual progress towards southern Italy and had begun to undermine the resistance of the Italic populations. Samnite peoples had also to go to the City, after three long years of war, whose last lasted from 298 to 290 BC With the conquest of Campania, Pompeii underwent therefore the dominance of the Romans, becoming "Socialist" status, which included the maintenance of local autonomy.

Between -214 and -210 is held the Second Punic War : Hannibal part in the conquest of Rome with his elephants. Pompeii, unlike other cities Samnites, remains loyal to Rome.

This long period of prosperity interrupted with the war conducted by the cities against Rome, including Pompeii-italics to obtain Roman citizenship. In March 90 BC. BC , the Samnites cities revolted against Rome during the Social War. This time, Pompei joins them. The war is hard and the Romans led by Sulla take Pompeii. The Romans did not rebuild a new city on that of the Samnites, but settled in Pompeii as it was at the time of the Samnites.

Roman period

In 80 BC. AD , Pompeii is transformed by Sulla in Roman colony : the rich Roman colonists then replace the inhabitants driven from their homes and settled mainly in large villas built on the slopes of Vesuvius , the location of the primary walls. The Roman era begins. Sylla 2000 installs veterans in Pompeii, now Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum.

As before, Pompeii continued to grow and develop in all areas, especially in the economic sector, fueled largely by its fertile hinterland and its enviable location. All activities related to trade and maritime traffic progressed. The result of this remarkable development was immediate: on the outside, it led to an increase of Pompeii over other towns of Campania, from the inside, the result was an overall increase in quality of life of a large part of different social classes. Thus the class of merchants and entrepreneurs who had made the fortune of Pompeii, never ceased to develop.

The booming economy led to a considerable population growth, increased living standards of the population and a city beautification. The new rich, who want to override the upper class traditionally holds power, entered into competition for flaunting their wealth through extravagant houses, objects and precious jewels. Urban expansion was realized mainly along the Via dell'Abbondanza, the symbolic center of the new emerging class.

End

In 62 AD, Pompeii and many centers established in the vicinity of Vesuvius are damaged by a major earthquake that destroyed much of the public and private buildings. Restoration works are undertaken immediately, many of them ending soon - especially those relating to private buildings.

The recovery was not easy. The most disadvantaged social class suffered severe consequences because their houses were destroyed. Most public and private buildings were still in a consolidation phase and recovery from the eruption in 79.

But about 70 AD, the city undergoes a series of earthquakes: some people - those who can - leave the city for safer places, selling their possessions at very low prices to people who thus acquire great properties.

The end date

On a date traditionally set at 24 August 79 , the eruption of Vesuvius causes the destruction of the city. Pliny the Younger , who was nearby, described the eruption in two letters to Tacitus. Vesuvius began spilling onto the city and those of Herculaneum and Stabiae , nearby, a huge mass of ash, lapilli and lava . Everything was buried under a thick crust of erupted material, sometimes 30 m deep . The inhabitants, most of whom had rushed to the coast, were suffocated by the fumes, while others were killed inside their houses even.

The exact date of the eruption was long placed at 24 August 79 because the majority of manuscripts of Pliny was a reference to the Kalends of September, though some manuscripts were lessons showing different dates and slightly later: one shows in particular Kalends of November (November 1), perhaps he should then place the eruption on the ninth day before the Kalends of November, our October 24. Long neglected this dating has attracted renewed interest by historians in the light of growing evidence that many seemed to place the eruption in fall: dolia (large jars) appeared to contain wine freshly pressed, the brazier was lit the day of the eruption, vegetation indicated the autumn nuts, figs ... . According to recent studies, particularly those of the Italian archaeologist Grete Stefani, analysis of coins found in 1974 in the house of gold bracelet dating from the fifteenth greeting Imperial Titus, necessarily subsequent to the beginning of September 79, have recently confirmed this dating .

Pompeii: a ghost town and an exceptional

Its state of preservation after being mummified under a deluge of ash, Pompeii is an amazing testimony point of Roman civilization.

It is now possible to go further back in time to the origins of the city. It has been found in some places, up to three layers of sediment corresponding to three distinct ages, the ^Eighth , ^Fourth and ^second century BC. AD , providing valuable information on the colonization of the region BCE Roman.

The excavations have unearthed a sleepy town at the exact time of the eruption of Vesuvius , there are over 1900 years. The ashes that burned all living tissue, there are deposited, creating both a protective sleeve and a mold of the destroyed object . The conservation status of the site also comes from the ash layer, which up to 20 meters (the equivalent of a 6 storey building), the site was covered and protected from looting.

Fixed first by the ash and lapilli that engulfed the city, the inhabitants of Pompeii were then by the plaster casts, and can be seen today in the attitude in which death was a surprise. Some tried to escape, to protect their children or put their nest egg safe. Archaeologists estimate between 15,000 and 20,000 casualties directly related to the eruption.

Some of these figures are observable in the Antiquarium, the spa at Stabiae. Others were left to the very place of their discovery.

Discovery of the site in 1600

During the digging of a canal to divert the river Sarno (between 1594 and 1600 ), the architect Fontana discovered some ancient buildings, walls covered with inscriptions or paintings : this is the first discovery , incidentally, remains of Pompeii.

We did not grant, however, that little value to such discoveries and it took a century and a half later to see actual excavations undertaken through the Abbe Martorelli , like what had been done A few years earlier, in Herculaneum.

What made the particularity of Pompeii, the ease of work, due to the fact that the layer of ash was much easier to extract than the solidified lava that had covered Herculaneum. The logical consequence was the immediate dominance that passed the ruins of Pompeii, which allowed to obtain brilliant results.

Site identification: 1763

In 1763 , the identification of the site is confirmed with the discovery .

If until the end of the ^nineteenth century , methods of excavation were sketchy, mainly aimed to uncover valuable items and put them first in private collections and museums, by contrast, searches of the century last (and more recent excavations) were conducted with the specific aim of saving as much as possible the integrity of the site uncovered. Considerable attention therefore focused on the discovery and restoration work of elements of structures above the houses. It was also kept with great care, decorating walls and mosaics, and objects of art or everyday life, to provide the visitor a feeling of strong emotional impact on life.

In 1808 , the arrival of Joachim Murat as King of Naples , with his wife Caroline , revived enthusiasm for the archaeological site.

Moulding: 1860

A second phase began in 1860 , with Giuseppe Fiorelli, to whom we owe the ingenious casting method : thanks to which were reconstructed - by pouring liquid plaster into the gaps left in the layers of stone pumice and ash from the 1100 human bodies, not including animals, trees and wooden objects - all forms of organic bodies remained trapped in the lava eruption. You can see the people of Pompeii in attitudes when death overtook them. There are some who try to flee, to protect their children ... or put their nest egg safe. You can see these shocking spectra Antiquarium or baths Stabiae. But some were left at the spot where the bodies were once discovered.

The new method of excavation has been a strong impetus to the ^twentieth century , first with Vittorio Spinazzola, then with Amedeo Maiuri , brilliant researcher who studied tirelessly Pompeian Archaeology and Campania.

The city of Pompeii

Distribution of buildings by type

Religious buildings Temple of Venus Temple of Apollo Temple of Jupiter Macellum Temple of the Lares Temple of Vespasian Block of Eumachie Forum Trangulaire Temple of Isis Temple of Jupiter Meilichios Not specified	img alt = "" src = "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Plan_von_Pompeji2.jpg/220px-Plan_von_Pompeji2.jpg" width = "220" height = "179" class = "thumbimage" /> Phases of development of the city Foundation 1, enlargement 2nd extension 3 rd enlargement
Baths and sport facilities Suburban baths Spa Forum Spa Central Stabian Baths Not specified Triangular Forum Samnite Palaestra Great Palestra Brothel	The main axes of the city Via Marinier Via dell'Abondanza Via di Porta Nocera Via di Nola Via di Stabia Via di Mercurio Via del Foro

Streets

Pompeii is divided by a street network that has evolved over the centuries. The street pattern has evolved over the different populations that have succeeded. The core Oscan city has a tortuous course that clashes with the rectilinear urban Greeks and Samnites. The cardo (north to south) of the original town is evidenced by the Street of Mercury. The decumanus (east to west) is the oldest street in the compound of the Sea and part of the path to Abundance. These primitive areas are modified: the decumani materialized by the axis in 79 from the Door to Door Marine Sarno (route of Plenty) and Nola Street for the second decumanus. The cardo connects the main door of the Vesuvius Gate Stabiae.

The street network provides fast communication between peripheral Forum ( Forum Civil and Triangular Forum ) and the amphitheater. The crossroads of major routes, arteries expand to facilitate the movement of those who frequented the baths located at the crossroads. Two types of traffic filled the streets: vehicles and pedestrians. The floor was paved for vehicles of polygonal blocks of green trachyte or basalt. The sidewalks were made of concrete or clay for the sections dating from 80-44 BC. AD It passed from one sidewalk to another using large stones with rounded edges that can cross the street when it was flooded by rain or overflow of water fountains. The street maintenance was up to city councilors and the sidewalks to the owners of houses where the diversity of materials sidewalks.

Street of Abundance

The Way of Abundance is the decumanus maximus (main) Pompeii. It goes from the street Stabiae the Civil Forum and the Rue de la Mer in the Navy for its route is the oldest. It links the most important nuclei of the city: the Forum, the Baths of Stabiae, amphitheater and the Palestra Grande. In its widest, it is 8.50 m.

The Way of Abundance creates an intersection with street Stabiae the crossroads of Holconius. A statue of Marcus Rufus Holconius laurel crown was placed next to one of the four pillars of the triumphal arch with four faces which crowned the crossroads. On a corner of that intersection, a fountain decorated with a basin carved from a block representing the Concorde holding a cornucopia gave its name to the street.

The Way of Abundance is divided into three sections. The first goes from the Gate of Sarno and up a slight slope to the crossroads of the Rue de Stabiae. This section dated ^III - II ^centuryBC. AD. It is 4 meters wide and is paved with blocks of basalt marked by deep furrows. The sidewalks are made of lava or tuff gray Nocera and are 60 cm high. Many blocks of curbs close thermopolia have holes on their edges for attaching the flange of the horses. The second segment runs from the junction of the lane Stabiae Theatres. It is totally closed to traffic and has a vertical rise of 80 cm high filled with stairs. This slope allows water to drain from the Forum in a sewer in the south, beyond the city limits. The third section dated VI ^centuryBC. AD. and goes to the Forum. It is lower than the Forum and a monumental staircase in gray tuff was needed to reach the place. A monumental effect was given by the propyl column and pediment , as well as the facades of large blocks of tufa composed of pilasters and cornices of the houses. The paving has been replaced in recent years from 70 AD. AD

You have to imagine this street as the most representative of the Roman Pompeii. The swarm of customers, merchants, farmers, people with diverse goods shops, workshops, and thermopolii houses are the most lively street of the city.

Public Buildings

Forum

The Forum was the center of the city center, religious on the architrave of the portico overlooking the Forum. This same inscription is repeated on the entrance of the building overlooking the road to Abundance. Translated, it gives this: "Eumachia, daughter of Lucius, public priestess (Venus) has constructed at its own expense in his behalf and on behalf of his son Marcus Fronto Numistrius the chalcidicum the cryptoporticus and portico, and has dedicated Piety and the Concorde Augustus. " The family of Pompeian Eumachii consisted of vineyard owners and brick industries.

Taking the entrance of the Forum, one enters a space called chalcidicum and serves as a vestibule. This is a space between the colonnade of the Forum and the facade of the building. It is 39.50 meters long and 12.30 m wide. This hall has side access which could be closed by a gate, forcing people to enter the Forum. The roof was gabled, pouring rain water to the west on the Forum and is in the building. The floor is paved with white marble and pedestals were backed by columns.

The facade is the fund's chalcidicum and is coated with a frieze carved on the jambs and the lintel of the entrance. The scrolls of acanthus with animals hiding there are carved in stone. This type of sculpture recalls the carved relief of the Ara Pacis in Rome. After the earthquake of 62, the marble slabs were removed and stored in small rooms behind the facade. The facade was covered with bricks pending restoration. Two exedras to apses flanked by rectangular niches beats the facade. The niches are rectangular at their base Elogia Romulus and Aeneas, whose statues were present. It is an iconographic program comparable to the Forum of Augustus in Rome. Two rectangular exedras are located at the ends of the facade. It was reached by some stairs. This forums is for sale at auction of wool if one accepts the hypothesis of a scholarship to wool. A forum dedicated to the declamation of imperial Elogia at parties is also possible. Two service rooms are located behind the facade. That the north is the custodian of housing and the south has a large earthenware pot set into a platform for receiving the urine (see fullonica of Stephanus).

Once past the faade, one enters a courtyard surrounded by a portico with Corinthian columns of marble on a possible double order of columns. This courtyard is paved in marble, 37.70 m long and 19.16 meters wide. Along the gantry is aligned with a series of pedestals of white marble and stone slightly hollowed. A tank is located in the center of the western portico, courtyard, closed by a slab with his ring again. The portico is 4 m wide. His wall was covered with a base of African marble moldings arabesques . This scene has totally disappeared now, but still described in the books of the time. In line with the entrance, between two massive locking bearing basins, there is an apse. The latter is supported by two square pillars and painted in green and red. Two columns surmounted by a tympanum preceded the apse. A statue of the Concorde was discovered in the apse, but the head was missing. She still bore traces of gilding and red paint. Two small gardens with two semicircular niches flanking the ends.

One enters the cryptoporticus by two side doors of the west facade. There is a covered porch with windows on the porch. The walls were decorated with panels painted alternately red and yellow with small subjects in the middle. The basement was painted black with a backdrop of red and yellow flowers and plants. At the center of the gallery is a square niche painted green and red on black base houses a statue dedicated by the fullers Eumachia with a pedestal bearing an inscription: Eumachia L .

In the southeast corner of a corridor , decorated with paintings in black panels separated by pilasters red missing today, led by a staircase to a door of 2.15 m on the path of Plenty, just before the fountain of the same name. The fact that it is decorated with a figure holding a cornucopia recalls the statue of the Concord Building of Eumachia and is an interesting parallel. A dressing room flanks the entrance to the right of the corridor. They found a bronze kettle and walls painted. The facade was decorated with pilasters with pediments rectangular alternating with pediments bezel. The inscription was engraved above the entablature.

All the images found in the building of Eumachia is inspired by the Augustan policy. This should take place electioneering.

Basilica

.

The church occupies the western corner of the forum. She was identified as such by graffiti visible on the plaster walls. The building, 66 m by 27 m, when the second half of II ^centuryBC. AD. as indicated trademarks in Oscan on the tiles mentioning Numerius Popidius, magistrate Samnite. The basilica houses the duumvirs presiding justice. People would gather there also for business meetings on legal issues and economic . His current appearance is the time Samnite ^the second century BC. BC forum is a triangular area sanctuary separate the sanctuary of Apollo.

In ^the second century BC. AD , local elites decide to perform the overhaul of city models according monumental Hellenistic. The facades of the street leading to the forum are rebuilt with blocks of tufa gray Nocera. The pilasters , columns and cornices are emerging in the monuments.

The entry on the forum is via a propyl -trained six-column Ionic columns between two half-angle which opens in the North. A fountain in the ^first century BC. BC is before the propyl side forum.

The Forum occupies a nearly triangular, hence its name. A portico of ninety-five columns surrounding the forum on three sides. The fourth side, south-west, has a balustrade and open to the panorama of the Gulf of Naples and the mouth of Sarno. The colonnade and stylobate the portico were restored in 62 AD. BC On the north side of the portico, there is a fountain and the base of a statue of Marcellus. A low wall along the colonnade to the east. It creates a wide corridor running from north to south. Assume that this is a track for horse races and athletic occurring during religious festivals.

A temple Doric archaic is the center of the forum. However the podium. It is oriented northwest / southeast. The temple is in poor condition and has undergone many changes during antiquity. Four revisions were made between the late sixth ^century and the ^second century BC. According to BC the remains, the earliest period of the temple is the ^sixth century BC. AD . It is a temple Doric peripteral with seven columns wide and eleven columns in length. The number of columns does not meet conventional standards probably because of the original wooden temple. The latter had four columns wide and six columns in length, but for better stability of the columns have been added. The capitals of the columns have a spine very flat, which makes up ^the sixth century BC. AD. The narthex is composed of two columns Corinthian dating from a later restoration. The east side of the cella has a rectangular base decentered. This demonstrates the existence of a second base on the opposite side. Two deities had to have their worship in this temple double cella. This would be Minerva and Hercules as antefixes discovered. In 62 AD. AD, the temple is very damaged and in 79 AD. AD, it is still not restored.

A double enclosure is rectangular in front of the facade of the temple. It probably represents Heroon or place of worship of the founder of the city. Three altars tuff adjacent to the temple and the Heroon.

After Heroon a Tholos column of seven Doric contains a well dug into the lava. An inscription in Oscan this as a building erected by the care Numerius Trebius, meddix (high public office under the Samnites ).

Northwest of the temple, a seat in a semi-circle claw lion as a foot corresponds to the choir. It was directed by Lucius and Marcus Spunius Sandilianus Herennius Epidianus the duumvirs under Augustus. A sundial was installed behind the choir.

The Macellum

The Macellum is located in the northeast corner of the Forum. It was the market where the population acquired the fish and meat. It is situated on the forum due to a double need: to have a supply center in town and having the sidelines of the forum so as not to impede the activities of the latter. Its construction dates from the second half of the ^second century BC. AD. He had at that time a bigger yard, a front and a more advanced decorating style ^I.. He also had a huge prominence to the west before being reorganized. The current plan is a redesign of the Julio-Claudian era. It completely collapsed during the earthquake of 62. It was rebuilt and decorated with frescoes of the ^IV style composed of small paintings with mythological scenes and still lifes. In 79 , its reconstruction is still incomplete. Between 62 and 79, the building is not operating.

The main facade overlooks Macellum the forum. The building is not in line with the latter. To remedy this, the shops that occupy the front are less deep from north to south. The portico of the facade hides the forum and creates with it a chalcidicum or vestibule. Assume that the shops of this facade had to be foreign exchange offices. The monumental facade is decorated with two pedestals covered with marble. They endured two statues or two columns on which rested an architrave supported on side walls. In the entrance, a niche was confined by two marble Corinthian columns. The entrance was so limited bouts of moderate size on the sides of the shrine.

There are two other entries for the Macellum. One entrance is on the north side with a niche beside which were painted snakes propitiatory. An entrance on the south-east overlooking the lane overhanging balconies.

Inside the building, opens a large courtyard. It is surrounded by a portico on four sides. The south side has eleven shops open on this court and having a floor. The shops of the west and north sides of Macellum open to the outside and are isolated from it. At the center of the court, twelve column bases are placed in dodecagon. These columns were a conical roof. A Tholos and occupied the center of the court. It housed a counter for preparing fish. A fountain stood in the center and allowed to always have water available for cleaning fish. The pavement of the Tholos was made of pebbles surrounded by a rim of marble that guided the dirty water into a shaft underneath. Bones and scales were found en masse in this conduit.

Part of the building is divided into three parts. The centerpiece is actually a sacellum , a kind of temple. It lies in the axis of the Tholos and the entrance on the forum. It has a facade with a staircase flanked by two podium. The room houses a kiosk which only the base was retained. It served as a support for the statue of an emperor whose only an arm with a hand holding a sphere remains. The two sides each have two niches. They housed the honorific statues of local personalities have adopted the imperial iconography.

The room north of sacellum houses a large room at the front divided into three by two columns placed on a plinth quadrangular. The southeast corner of the room houses a shrine in opus latericium. It was to house a cult statue as an altar covered with slabs of marble is placed in front. The room is decorated with frescoes depicting a colonnade adorned with garlands of Love at the center. This fresco has now disappeared and is known only by descriptions of the ^nineteenth century. This room was to house a college religious worship his banquets held there. To demonstrate this, a bench covered with slabs of marble is leaning against the south wall.

The room south of sacellum has two long counters "L" contiguous and dug a channel for the continuous flow of water. It is in this room that had held the sale of fish. Its facade was fitted with two columns. Paintings of the ^Fourth style still remain. One wall shows a table with personifications of Sarno and the abundance surrounded by nymphs. The wall has a central panel with Genii adults carrying girls on their shoulders. A second panel shows Penelope recognizes Odysseus overcame a still life. These murals were recently restored.

The Spa

Spa Forum

The baths were built in the forum ^first century BC. AD under the rule of Sulla and the only work after the earthquake in the year 62.

They have two sections, one reserved for men and one reserved for women both have a frigidarium (cold room), a tepidarium (warm room) and finally a caldarium and characterized by columns surrounding three sides of the building. The Baths of Stabiae consist of three parts. First, the halls of the north, those who are older, featuring a series of latrines. A second area comprises the group of private baths situated behind the north portico. The third area is located in the eastern part, it consists of changing rooms, a hall and various rooms for cold baths ( frigidarium ) for warm baths ( tepidarium ) and hot baths ( caldarium ). These baths are very marked division between the area reserved for men and one that is reserved for women.

Both are organized the same way, but the women's section is more simple and uncluttered. A swimming pool , swimming, occupies the west side of the Baths. The rooms are often decorated with stucco very sophisticated and are among the finest in Pompeian art.

It is also possible to discern the system heating and cooling parts running through a pipe network that lead to air and water at various temperatures in the interstices of the rooms.

In the third sector, public baths and amenities of a pool hall for gymnastics activities.

Suburban Baths

(...)

Theatres

The Grand Theatre

This is a wonderful building built in the ^second century BC. AD , and the scene of which was subsequently transformed. His typology refers to that of Greek theaters since its architecture adapted to the natural shape of the terrain. It was enlarged at the time of Augustus by duumvirs Holconius Rufus Marcus and Marcus Holconius Celer. At shows, he could be covered by a velarium , but he did not have a stable team as the Odeon. Its capacity could reach 5,000 seats . They played the comedies and tragedies.

A peculiarity of this theater was the background against which the stage could benefit: thus, the view extended over the splendid crown of mountains in the background of Pompeii. In the southern part of the theater, a colonnade was designed to accommodate the audience during intermission and after performances.

The elements that constitute it remains today as the bleachers below (ima cavea), for the most important characters of the city. They are covered with slabs of marble. We also see a small part of the area average cavea (cavea media) and the remnants of the typical Roman scene with niches and shrines , restored after the earthquake of 62. Three doors to allow players to move to the back, in the postscaenium used as a cloakroom. Remnants of basins found during excavation attempts below the level of the orchestra, unlike the old Greek custom, was not used for stage performances, demonstrate the use of water games , especially prevalent in the Roman world. Indeed, this theater had a capacity of several thousand spectators.

At the time of the eruption of Vesuvius , repairs of the earthquake of 62 AD were not yet completed and the bleachers, and a large part of the scene, were not rebuilt.

The Little Theater (or Odon )

Built in the ^first century BC. AD by duumvirs Caius Quinctius Valgius and Marcus Porcius, it represented one of the most harmonious and balanced architecture of this kind. He had a permanent roof , is fundamental to the sound of the building and the presence of this element, with other architectural features, identified the building as an Odeon. Several frescoes of the ^Second style that adorned the stage, now sadly missing, confirm the date of the building unit.

He could only hold up to 1500 spectators , hence the name of a small theater. It is well preserved and has a typical layout of Greek theater with a structure collected on a natural slope. He received numerous theatrical and musical events. Here in particular we played the mime performances.

The amphitheater

It is an imposing building, measuring 130 meters on 102 , imposing, capable of holding 12,000 spectators (some put the figure at 20 000), which took place in the circus games and fighting gladiators , so beloved of Pompeii who spent at these shows most of their free time. The amphitheater, built in 80 BC is the oldest of the Roman world that has been discovered so far.

The vast palestra

The large gymnasium , also known as Palestra was uncovered by Amedeo Maiuri along the Street of Abundance. Built under Augustus , it measures 142 by 107 meters. It was used both to stage the sport that market for slaves. Behind its 118 columns was also given an instruction to youth Pompeian. Unlike a gymnasium in the Greek period, the arena did not have a track racing , however, dug in the center was a pool (natatio) whose flow was also used to clean toilets nearby (foricae ).

The Palestra was heavily damaged during the earthquake of 62, particularly in the supply lines of the pool.

The barracks of the gladiators

The barracks of the gladiators is actually the quadrangle of the Grand Theatre at Pompeii . It is located behind the stage of that theater and between it and the Odeon. It was built immediately after the theater, late ^second century BC. AD. It is one of the oldest quadrangle attached to a theater in Italy. It is planned for the promenade of spectators between two shows.

Its main entrance is located to the north, taking the path of Stabiae by a wide passage behind the Odeon. Three columns ionic upright on top of a staircase with three degrees consists in the monumental entrance. Seventy-eight Doric columns make up this quadrangle.

In 62, following the earthquake and the growing interest in the gladiatorial games, the quadrangle is transformed into barracks . The monumental entrance was walled up and a guard is stationed next to a secondary entrance. The walls were covered with a veneer of opus mixtum and pilasters of a large room were lined with bricks.

North-east is the area devoted to food. A large kitchen with fireplace giant four-light, deposits and exedra preceded by four pillars, probably for dining, make up this part of the building. A wooden balcony is built on the first floor where the apartment is located in the lanista (coach). The other sides are made up of rooms for gladiators. It is in these parts that we have found weapons of parades: fifteen helmet, leggings , belts and metal shoulder pad of retiarius. The decoration of the walls is composed of ^the Fourth style frescoes. A fresco representing March and Venus in the dining room. The rooms are decorated with trophies of gladiators.

Many skeletons were discovered: eighteen dead bodies including that of a newborn in a basket. Two skeletons have been unearthed in a dungeon with vines still adhering to the bones. The skeleton of a horse richly caparisoned was also cleared. It is from the barracks that starting the procession of the gladiators and animals that would fight in the amphitheater.

Water Tower

At the entrance to the city, near the door of Vesuvius , the water tower (castellum aquae) distributed water from the aqueduct Serino (built under Augustus and feeding as Naples and Misenum ) to the public fountains, public buildings ( pool , baths , latrines , etc..) and the homes of some wealthy individuals. He stood on the highest point of the city. Inside, several grids to filter water, which then circulated throughout the city in lead pipes.

Religious centers

North of the Grand Theatre, the Gymnasium between Samnite and the Temple of Zeus Meilichos. The first building of the temple dates back to around the late second ^centuryBC. AD. It was restored after the earthquake of 62 by the care of a wealthy freedman, Numerius Popidius Ampliatus.

The temple stands in the center of a portico with four arches, with columns, based on the wall of this sacred area. The cella , wider than long, is placed on a podium high and is preceded by a narthex with four columns on the front and two sides. A staircase, opposite the building, is the main access. A small staircase leading to a secondary door is south.

On either side of the cella and the columns of the narthex outside, two niches surmounted eardrums triangular housed the statues of Anubis and Arpokrates two deities who are connected with the cult of Isis.

Augustus Hall of Fortune

This temple was discovered October 23, 1823. It is located at the corner of rue de Nola and rue the Forum. It was built in the early ^first century BC. AD on the orders of Marcus Tullius, politician of the time, the family of Cicero, as we learn from the inscription of the architrave of the sanctuary . Another entry with the name of Marcus Tullius tells us that the land on which stands the temple belongs to him . She reads on a block of stone embedded in the ground to the right temple in a small field to the south. A house, presumably hers, contact the sanctuary. The land was previously occupied by shops and a house with brick pavement crushed may be under the podium and cons south side. The building is 24.30 m long and 9.30 m wide. Its facade is oriented to the west. A first flight of stairs is interrupted in the middle by an altar. An iron railing encircling the end of this staircase. A landing permit the departure of a flight of nine steps leading to the narthex. This is on top of the podium and is decorated with 8 beautiful Corinthian columns , four on the front and 2 for each side. All brick building was covered with white marble. The cella is 7.10 m wide and 10.85 m depth. The wall still stands about 4.50 meters. A plaque was still a fragment of an inscription . A large apse occupies the back wall. The center, a kiosk , supported by two columns should be arranged for the statue of Fortune with its attributes (rowing and tongue ). The side walls each comprise two rectangular niches containing several statues of the emperor a supposed Augustus. Two statues have been discovered with the latter, a man in a toga with traces of paint for hair, face and eyes and the purple robe for the . Staut a woman as a second account, headless, which included a tunic red border and gold . In 1859, the foundation of the temple was excavated and yielded four fragments of turtle shell . In rather small proportions, it has characteristics similar to those of Capitolium the forum. It stands indeed on a high podium which is accessed by stairs, interrupted at the base by a central platform which rested the altar. The 4 side niches contain statues were honorary, two of which were discovered during excavations in the nineteenth ^century. One dedicated to Augustus , revered as "father of the party" (pater patriae) is of particular interest. On the occasion of the accession to power of each emperor, a sign in his honor was placed in this temple probably a statue. Damaged by the earthquake of 62 AD, the temple was restored in that part relating to the cella, while the porch was still on the ground at the time of the eruption. The building had been stripped of its marble slabs and perhaps that they were reused in the Temple of Vespasian, according to a recent study of the style and size of the plates. Tullia the people moved to Pompeii after Sulla. Cicero owned a villa outside the city. Marcus Tullius is actually a descendant of Marcus Tullius Cicero and a devotee of the Emperor Augustus, who gave him the title of tribune, allowing him to become a knight. To deal with the cult, Marcus Tullius funded college, whose members are called ministers of religion, which one has two insciptions two marble bases placed in the cella .

Temple of Jupiter

Located on the north side of the forum, it is dedicated to the highest deity of the ancient world - in fact it was built in honor of the Triad Capitoline , Jupiter , Juno , Minerva - and sits on top of a broad staircase.

Built of lava and stones covered with stucco , he closed this side of the square stripped of arcades. This temple , which dates back to the ^second century BC. AD , was constructed in two phases, the second projected towards the end of the century, led to the expansion of the architectural structure. The building has preserved the facade remains high columns Deformed: they also continued along the sides until the cella appears quite broad and elongated.

The colossal "head of Jupiter" found here is now at the Archaeological Museum of Naples.

The building, which was badly damaged during the earthquake of AD 62 , as seems to demonstrate the almost total absence of ornamental elements had not yet regained its former glory when the eruption Year 79. However, on each side, two arches , remained almost intact.

The location below the podium (the tomb ) is noteworthy. It was probably used favissa, that is to say discount for sacred objects, or deposit of treasure of the city (aerarium) as the temple of Saturn at Rome.

Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo is part of the district forum, while it was prior. It dates back, at least in terms of its primitive part, its foundations, the ^sixth century BC. AD , that is to say at the time Samnite. It is probably the original religious heart. Subsequently, it was extended, the party gave up on the forum was closed, then it was embellished to the ^first century AD, including the Emperor Nero.

However, later in the civil and religious life of Pompeii, the cult of the god Apollo was reconsidered in favor of the father of the gods, Jupiter , which was dedicated to the temple's most important forum. This building has architectural elements deriving italic styles and Greek and has a rectangular shape peristyle : it is surrounded by 48 columns. You can access the cella interior, high on his podium , by a long staircase. Opposite is the sacrificial area. The central part, which contains the altar of the god is surrounded by columns. Two statues embellish: they represented "Apollo dazzling" and "Diane" (the originals are on display at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples ) .

A sundial was placed on one of the columns that define the cella of the god.

Temple of Vespasian

The Temple of Vespasian was a small place of worship that has retained some of its facade and structure peristyle. The walls are adorned with false windows with a pediment - and cella elevated on a pedestal. This one, placed above a podium , was once preceded by four columns supporting a pediment deformed. Opposite is the altar in marble , decorated with bas-reliefs representing "sacrificial scenes" .

The building was still incomplete at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius. Subscribe now believe that the building was dedicated to an emperor, he is not sure whether Vespasian , as would the assumption that the building was rebuilt after the earthquake was totally new. The award of a previous temple to the genius of Augustus is still possible. Under this emperor, in fact, a profound restructuring of the forum took place.

Pompeian houses and villas

The Pompeian villa

Pompeii was the first who revealed to the modern world the precise architecture of Roman houses in their entirety by the distribution and function of various parts, raising walls, furniture and interior decoration. The model of the Pompeian house plan provided the type of suburban villa . Nevertheless, it should be noted that another form of specialized habitat, the building over several floors (usually called insula ) crammed with tenants of modest conditions is absent at Pompeii .

Urbanization spread on the surface, the houses have more than one floor, and there is that Pompeii is largely a social mix because we have not really identified poor neighborhood. The large and luxurious houses in a block adjacent to others more modest, shops, restaurants and craft shops.

Centennial Villa

This is one of the largest houses found during the excavations of Pompeii. It consists of several houses that give a rather complex. Found the centennial year the eruption of Vesuvius (hence its name), the villa provides the level of its architecture as its decorative, different styles, indices of the different eras of its construction .

We have found a statuette ("Little Satyr wearing off") which is kept at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The decoration of the villa is characterized by arches on a yellow background with a representation of several deities and floral motifs that decorate the rooms located next to the tablinum and peristyle with a series of decorative motif consisting of fish and birds. The peristyle was also decorated with a pool and fountains.

Villa of Diomedes

The villa of Diomedes is one of the masterpieces of Pompeian architecture, particularly because of the very different concept that underlies the construction of this house. Thus, while retaining some important characteristics of the typical Roman house , it occupies large areas of light and above all it stands on several floors and able to follow the terrain and structure the way home more airy and original. Located along the Street of Tombs, this home has large dimensions. The kernel is the main garden , with swimming pool. The coins are known one side of the garden and are willing to turn around the peristyle , which communicates directly with the outside. The great room with apse is characterized by its spacious appearance and the broad view that it enjoys. The gallery also offers beautiful views of the Gulf , and the terrace which once extended over the entire length of the arcade. At the entrance to the villa are the bathrooms, equipped with a small pool. A series of small stairways connecting the different floors of the house between them, stories which are offset, which gives the general architecture further movement. One of these steps leads to cryptoporticus , that is to say the underground shelter. In this house, 18 bodies were found, further evidence of the cataclysm that struck Pompeii in 79 AD The villa was restored in the light of day during the second half of XVIII ^century and considered housing Arrius Diomedes, simply because it is located in front of his tomb. The villa of Diomedes is in the "Via del Tomb".

House of Meleager

Built during the Samnite , its decoration dates from successive periods. The area reserved for receptions, characterized by a beautiful colonnade with Corinthian capitals , is remarkable. The porch , which has arcades around the perimeter of the main pool is very stylish too. This rich house, decorated pictorial completely renovated during the last years of Pompeii, is an interesting example of the ^IV style, sumptuous decoration of a wide triclinium in particular, which overlooks the northwest corner of peristyle.

Centauri House

The entrance from the street of Mercury represents the fusion of several houses in one. The cubibulum is a fine example of interior decoration. It consists of the aggregation of three previous homes.

House of Castor and Pollux

This home consists of the union of smaller houses renovated at different times. The atrium is of particular interest, with its splendid capitals colonnade Corinthian. The pictorial decoration of several room is also very pretty, with the series of paintings of mythological scenes depicting " Apollo and Daphne "," Adonis "," Silenus "and" Scilla ". The House of Castor and Pollux or Dioscuri owes its name to the representation of the " Dioscuri "which decorate the entrance and is now on display at National Museum of Naples with other paintings that decorated the other rooms.

House of Lucius Caecilius Jocundus

It belonged to a banker whose portrait is one of the finest in the Roman era, which is exposed to the Archaeological Museum of Naples. This work scuplturale valuable was in the atrium, a Hermes , and is now replaced by a copy. In 1875 , they found this house in a chest containing pamphlets and shelves wax , documents of greatest interest was that the archives of L. Caecilius Jocundus.

House of Marcus Lucretius

It belonged to a notable Pompeii which occupied the burden among other priest in March. It is an easy building whose parts are finely decorated with paintings preserved in the Museum of Naples. Decorations that have remained illusory effects architectural, and mythological scenes, representations of "Little Love "and a large painting of" Bacchus. " The area of the garden is raised relative to the rest of the house is embellished with statues , the niches and fountains.

House of the Faun

p> This is a house with impressive proportions but harmoniously balanced, and whose rooms are elegantly decorated. It is the classic type of the domus. Surely it belonged to one of the most prominent figures of the city, the nephew of Sulla who took care of the political organization of the city.

Its construction dates from the period Samnite , exceptional in its size (it measures 3.5 meters in effect. 6-ft.) but also by its expressive power: we see a crowd of soldiers, spears and horses seized at the time of Alexander , now victorious and proud of his troops, ready to inflict the final blow to the enemy on the run. This mosaic was the paving of tablinum.

Among other pieces, the two colonnades are particularly worth mentioning: the first has a colonnade of Ionic , partly decorated, too, mosaic with the subject "flora and fauna of the region of the Nile", the second , the largest, is decorated with a colonnade Doric running around the garden.

Villa of Julia Felix

This imposing property which occupies all the insula IV: it consists of the union of a Roman villa , a bath complex , granted to public use and a set of shops.

The house itself, with two entrances, is large and luxurious. Once the paintings embellished, but they were detached from the walls and are now kept at the Louvre. The garden, adorned with fountains , bridges and columns, is suggestive. In the room triclinaire , beds are made of marble. All bathrooms (frigidarium, tepidarium caldarium and also sauna) is organized according to the scheme of public baths and also has an outdoor pool. Originally closely linked to the villa, this set was subsequently designed for use by city residents in exchange for a fee lease as evidenced by an inscription found here.

The complex of shops and rooms located along the alley to the west, was, also made by the hostess to be praised . At the rear of the villa lies a vast area for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

House Vettii

Witness the very valuable painting Pompeii, this home was one of the most beautiful and interesting city. Its state of preservation allowed a few years ago, several centuries later, to appreciate the magnificence of the houses affected by the social class of Pompeii and easier to observe how the rich aristocracy tended to view local prestige and his lifestyle by matching if not surpassing in wealth decorative homes aristocratic.

The house Vettii, which belonged to Aulus Vettius Restitutus and Aulus Vettius Conviva , expressed as other economic situation that was theirs in the late ^first century AD In fact, for a large part of the pictorial decoration is a striking testimony to the painting style ^Fourth , in the period following the earthquake in the year 62 AD.

Discovery in 1894 , housing has remained virtually intact for a long time or has been painstakingly reconstructed. The garden , meanwhile, has been reconstructed from the fingerprint of roots left in the ground or objects unearthed during excavations time. Similarly, a scientist working for the recovery was found in the peristyle its original forms, merging elements architectural , sculptural and painterly.

The decoration of the atrium - up of two safes where the owners kept their valuables - a topic for the "Little Love" and " Psyche ". The roof was completely rebuilt to provide a truer picture of the time. The rooms overlooking the atrium are adorned with paintings of scenes of mythological character, some with expressive and immediate.

The great triclinium is very famous for his paintings . They almost entirely cover the walls (some was lost) and stand out against a red background; figurations large mythological scenes are inserted in sub-frames: " Perseus and Andromeda , "" Ariadne and Dionysus , "" Daphne and Apollo , "" Poseidon and Amymone. The long frieze around the walls is the "Little Loves" performing various trades, a bill very refined ("Love reaching a target, loves wearing a garland of flowers, loves selling perfume, Love in chariots, Love goldsmiths Dyers loves, loves celebrating sacred rites, during harvest Loves, loves celebrating Bacchus , loves selling wine ").

Other pieces are decorated with paintings of great value, usually belonging to the ^IV style. In a room located in the part of the house are paintings depicting " Daedalus and Pasiphae , "" Ixion tortured "and bands decorated marine flora and fauna. In another room in the same sector, paintings imitating imaginary architecture include representations of " Hercules killing the snake, "" torture of Dirce "and" the punishment of Pentheus.

The common, especially the kitchen, used to reconstruct the domestic life.

Golden House cupids

Remains particularly luxurious, it belonged to the family of Poppea Abitus , probably the family of Poppea , wife of Nero. Its conservation status can enjoy especially large painting and architecture balanced and harmonious. The relatively small size of this house, rather irregular, seem to function as a stimulus to the refinement of decor and objects, to give it a greater sense of splendor and rich elegance.

It owes its name to the decoration representing the "Little Love" located in one of the cubicles: the figures are painted a light gold leaf. The presence of large theatrical masks is a feature of this house.

The peristyle - arguably the most beautiful part of the house - is partly elevated , and has almost the form of theater: it reveals an inclination of the owner to search for new solutions and effect that does not, however, lack of elegance and sobriety. The triclinium with his paintings of mythological scenes as Thetis in the workshop of Vulcan , Briseis and Patroclus , Jason and Pelias. This space was perhaps intended to representations, as inferred on the stairs and two ports.

The decoration of certain items should be highlighted here: it generally belongs to the ^III has the style and subject of "Episodes and mythological characters. Among the attractions include the existence of a temple dedicated to the worship of the Egyptian goddess Isis - a very rare element in Roman society - and another dedicated to the Lares, also notice the remains of an obsidian mirror.

House of the Tragic Poet

It is so called because of the presence of a mosaic depicting a "master of theater." Dating back to the imperial era , it was a luxurious mansion where the presence of several rooms were decorated with a beautiful decoration. The architecture is composite but harmonious, with modest dimensions, typical of the middle class that had grown rich during the last period of Pompeian life. The presence of two shops near the home suggests that the owner, to be called Aninus was a nouveau riche , carrying on business. At the entrance stands the famous 'cave canem' (beware of the dog), one of the most recognizable images of Pompeii. The atrium , which then, with the catchment area , was decorated with scenes of the " Iliad. " It has two normal cubicles to the side, while the small stairs leading upstairs. In tablinum was found a representation of the "tragic poet" who gave his name to the house, and several other paintings as Admetus and Alceste. The series of paintings about triclinium has mythological scenes: Theseus and Ariadne , and Venus and the Loves. Other paintings on mythological decorate the walls of the cubicles. The fresco of the "Sacrifice of Iphigenia "kept at the Archaeological Museum of Naples is very beautiful. Several experts have recognized in her a copy of the famous Greek painter Timante of the ^fifth century BC. AD

House of Menander

This is one of the Pompeian houses the largest and richest , displaying a precious decoration and characterized by deposition of very complex parts. Its name derives from the portrait of Menander , but it is also known as "house of silver" because of the impressive collection of objects (a total of 115 silver coins) found in 1930 in a box placed in the underground the house, and many other gold and currencies which are currently exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Naples.

This house belonged to the family of Poppea and was built in phases. Begun in the ^third century BC. AD , it was embellished and enlarged thereafter. At the time of the eruption of Vesuvius , restoration works were still ongoing. From the entrance - characterized by two pillars adorned with Corinthian capitals - one reaches the atrium (type Tuscani), fairly well preserved and made very suggestive for its decoration of the ^IV style, a graceful little temple located in a corner and especially the wooden canopy, very pronounced in the center open to allow passage of light and to collect water more easily. The rooms to the left of the entrance contain paintings with scenes from an episode of The Iliad. After tablinum is the peristyle , elegant room and enriched by a beautiful colonnade painted. From there a series of rooms: on the right we find the area of the kitchen and baths, on the left opens the triclinium flanked by two rooms whose walls are covered with frescoes. The porticos, situated beyond the parts for the domestic housing, have fine paintings relating to the mythology and the theater (masks) can also admire the portrait of the poet Menander.

The western part of the house is occupied by the reserved area to baths: the caldarium is very beautiful with its decoration made of mosaics and paintings remained almost intact. A housing sector was reserved for the superintendent of the property, a freedman named Eros (his name is inscribed on the seal found on his body) who handled the property of the house under the title of procurator.

House of D. Octavius Quarto

The entrance opens on the traditional Tuscan atrium can skip to the peristyle , of very small dimensions, but in the center of richly decorated rooms. The room on the right seems dedicated to the worship of Isis, in particular because of obvious evocations of Egyptian style that is recognized in the garden. It has a large decorative painting executed with high technical perfection, which is one of the most significant paintings of Pompeian ^Fourth Style.

On the opposite side of the small peristyle triclinaire opens the hall, decorated with painted scenes depicting episodes from the Iliad and the Hraclide. One and one leading to a loggia with arches, long, original, shaded by an arbor and surrounded by canals that are the distinctive elements of the beautiful and extensive gardens located in low cons. Water used to fuel another long canal running through entire length of the garden flowed from the small temple with four columns that stands in the center of the arches. He was decorated as the first sculpture evoking Egyptian mythology. Hydraulic inventions through which water could flow channels periodically in the garden, simulating the flooding of the Nile , a clear reminder of Egypt.

• 
• 

House of Venus

This was the home of a wealthy family, as can be deduced from the wealth of materials used. Besides the pure representation of doves, flowers and fountains, the great mural " Venus "swimming situated on the garden wall is remarkable. The scene is an aesthetically pleasing: the goddess, in a shell, travels the waters while cupids escort him do. The scene is populated with birds and flowers. On one side represented the god " in March , bearing arms. " Other pieces are decorated with paintings including some that are beautiful on black.

The House of Venus was under repair at the time of the great cataclysm of AD 79. It was damaged by bombs in 1943. Restored since 1952, she found herself again in the area affected by the last earthquake of 1980.

Villa of the Mysteries

It lies on the far outskirts of Pompeii, outside the archaeological zone itself. It was partly discovered between 1909 and 1910 , and subsequently unearthed and restored in 1929 - 1930. Grandeur of its proportions and famous for his superb cycle of frescoes , it has aroused the enthusiasm of specialists from the discovery of his early pieces as well preserved for the complexity, the peculiarity of its architecture as for the wonderful cycle of paintings and the interpretation thereof, associated with religious cults that existed alongside the official religion. The villa was built at about ^the second century BC. AD, but it was restored and embellished to the imperial period , during which she acquired the splendor that is still his own today, although only partially devoid of furniture and precious objects that were lost after the earthquake of the year 62 AD when it was abandoned by her owner. A mural 3 meters high and 17 meters wide recounts the successive phases of the initiation of a bride to the cult dedicated to the god Bacchus.

The architectural structure

The villa has a square plan. To adapt to the terrain that has irregularities and depressions in this location and contrary to the villa of Diomedes, who resolved the problem through a complex articulation of the structure and stairs connecting the Villa of the Mysteries leaned on a made specifically so that housing can sprawls on a single level and thus take a very steady and balanced. A long gallery of arches and a series of gardens then the house connect to the surrounding environment, creating a truly enjoyable and harmonious whole. You reach the villa by a Exedra , a kind of bright veranda overlooking the outside are arranged on the sides of viridarium (terraces with garden) and arches. Follow the tablinum and the atrium , the first offer has a vision of pictorial decoration on black background, with delicate miniature ^(III style). The cubicles, that is to say the rooms, situated next to the atrium, offer splendid decorations of the ^Second Style reproducing pretty outlook. On the part located at the rear is the peristyle with sixteen Doric columns. Beyond the courtyard and begin the commons. The villa is equipped with two ovens and parts used in winemaking. Several rooms are also equipped with bathing facilities.

• 

  Mgalographie detail of the Villa of the Mysteries

• 

  Mgalographie detail of the Villa of the Mysteries

• 

  Mgalographie the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii

Villa de l'Adonis

A mural from the villa of Adonis, became famous because of the representation of a fruit eerily reminiscent of an enigmatic pineapple. Figuration of such a tropical fruit in South America would be as surprising was the discovery of tobacco and coca in the balms of Egyptian mummies. This raises the more general question of possible maritime relations between the Old World and New World in particular South America. This ancient work is now protected archaeological museum in Naples.

The shops of Pompeii

The fullonicae

Slaves of fulling, treading (trampling) linen in pools of urine (or water and sulfur) to whiten fabrics new and old. Then they spread the clothes to dry. But the life expectancy of slaves greatly decreased in these conditions.

One of the best preserved fullonicae is that of Stephanus. The fullonica of Stephanus was excavated between 1912 and 1914 by Vittorio Spinazzola. The owner's name is based on the voter registration front. This is a house ^of the second century BC. AD. which was transformed into fullonica , after 62. The decoration of the ^Second style still survives in the peristyle. A painting of the facade is an ensign in the trade. It is a fresco depicting Venus standing on a boat pulled by elephants and accompanied by an inscription extolling the quality of work of fullonica. A wooden gate closed off the entrance barred. A mold was made during excavations. Several skeletons were discovered behind the door with a with a large sum of money (1089.5 sesterces ). The latter should either be the recipe of the day is the fortune of the victim.

The entrance to the fullonica was very broad in order to facilitate the transition for customers. To the right of the entrance, a room should be reserved for trade administration and deposits cloths take it or leave it. In the vestibule , the remains of a torcular or press for ironing clothes were found.

The catchment area has been transformed into a wash basin with the addition of a parapet. As it was part of the washing area of the fund house, it is assumed that he had used to wash delicate fabrics such as linen. The roof of the atrium is flat and compluvium was replaced by a skylight. It benefits from an upstairs terrace for drying clothes. An exhibition opened on the atrium transformed where customers could wait until their clothes.

A peristyle opened and then fund it was the washing area. Three large tanks communicating with one another at different heights occupied the majority of space. Five smaller basins, three east and two west, completed the device. Fulling of cloth at the feet took place in small basins with a mixture of water and products alkali ( sodium or urine) to degrease tissues. After fulling, the cloth was softened with a clay called Fuller's earth to degrease and soften the fabric. Washing and rinsing were done in large vats. Once clean, the fabrics were left to dry on the terrace. Kitchen with hob and all utensils were made available to workers as well as latrines.

The lounge is decorated with a backdrop of ^Fourth style made after 62. These are large red signs divided into compartments architectural with a winged figure at the center. The upper part of the decor had a white background with fantastic architecture and small pictures with still lifes and cave sanctuaries.

Modeste's Bakery

The thick blanket of ash produced by the eruption of 79 AD has preserved for centuries among the many testimonials exceptionally preserved at Pompeii, a bakery , complete with its equipment: the wheels , consisting of two elements lava volcano, capable of working within one of the other counters for the kneading of bread and the oven for baking.

Everything is organized effectively, in order to coordinate the work of personnel engaged in various tasks with the criteria that are surprisingly modern. One of the wheels has been restored, thanks to the rebuilding of wooden parts, thus making possible the demonstration of its operation, which formerly carried out by force of arms of slaves or, more often by force of donkeys.

Was found in the oven eighty-one carbonized loaves, round with raised portions, similar to those that appear in various scenes of daily life painted or carved, offered to the public in baskets or shelves.

Several inscriptions we learn that the sale of bread and cakes at Pompeii was outsourced to vendors, in addition to the usual shops.

Pistor is the first name of the baker professional who was born in Pompeii in 79 AD. BC, he pointed to the Pileur wheat.

Brothels

The biggest brothel of Pompeii is located in Region VII, in the alley of the brothels. This is the only building in Pompeii exclusively vested in the prostitution. Usually, the houses of pleasures are on the first floor of the inns, taverns or in a room directly overlooking the street. The term brothel originated the cry of the wolf in heat that would resemble the call prostitutes. According to the inscriptions, the last tenants had to name Africanus and Victor.

Two entries exist on the ground floor of the building. An entry is located at No. 18 Rue du Brothel and the second overlooking an alley leading to the Forum.

These two entries show a small room where five rooms with open beds masonry. It probably placed a mattress on the masonry. The latrines are built on the west side of the room, behind a low wall. The chamber walls are covered with graffiti. Over 120 entries are legible (bragging, satisfaction, jealousy, regrets, etc.).. The interior has been remodeled probably shortly before the eruption of 79. The rendering of one of the rooms retain the imprint of a coin after 72 BC. BC The walls of the entrance hall are decorated with garlands and stylized frames on a white background. Charts erotic scenes are painted above the doors. At the center of the north wall, next to entrance No. 18, a Priapus is painted in front of a fig tree, taking his two phallus.

Upstairs is accessed via a staircase whose door opens onto the alley leading to the Forum. A window punctuates the stairs. This leads to a balcony which opened five bedrooms. Wooden beds should have been installed in these rooms. These are larger, with a backdrop of the ^IV more refined style and devoid of any erotic scene.

Prostitution was a profession infamous as well as the professions of actor and usurer. Many women wore the Greek and Oriental names, known for their exoticism. The price of an encounter was very low, averaging 2 as the equivalent of two cups of wine. These establishments are frequented by social strata and the poor slaves , hence the low price. Caligula had created a tax on prostitution equivalent to a customer per day. The prostitutes were not allowed to testify in court, or inherit. They could eventually earn the title of matron in marrying.

The thermopolium of lararium

This thermopolium owes its name to the beautiful lararium , one of the best preserved and shrines dedicated to the worship of ancestors , the cult released in most homes in the Roman world. It was a sort of little miniature temple, with small columns with Corinthian capitals, placed in a small room behind the small size of pub. Inside were two protective deities represented the commercial activity that took place here: Mercury , patron of commerce, and Dionysus , god of wine, with the Engineering or more specifically the Lares the owner. This public bar was equipped with a triple sales counter where we even found the recipe of the day, still intact in the "Fund", consisting of a jar embedded in counters, and amounting to 683 sesterces. The back room communicated with the owner's house. It was tastefully decorated, although small, decorated with a triclinium pretty fine frescoes ^of the Third Style. The latter is characterized by typical decorative elements that spanned the walls around mythological framework, which represented the Rape of Europe , the Phoenician princess whom Zeus fell in love, not hesitating to take the form of a bull to remove it.

Art in Pompeii

Graffiti

The walls of the houses of Pompeii are often covered with inscriptions like that graffiti today are very diverse in nature .

p> They deal with topics most disparate and allow us to imagine a social life taken from life and unvarnished: saucy jokes, comments about a person or an event, cartoons characters, love thoughts, judgments about a beautiful woman or the enjoyment in camera, the brothel. Some also relate to the sale and purchase of materials or livestock, or commodities accounts. Others refer to shows touting the municipal or the champions who have distinguished themselves in the struggle. Finally, there are about 3,000 voter registration in Pompeii and most relate to the last year of the city: usually, the previous entries were deleted to make room for new, painted (sometimes burned) on the walls houses.

These inscriptions ^{[h 4]} , red or black, for most of them in capital letters, were written by professional writers who also handles official communications of sentences of the court, the purchase and sale of slaves and public meetings.

The four styles of the fresco in Pompeii

Pompeii has left to posterity endearing stories, often beautiful and sometimes whimsical, the mode of existence of its inhabitants. The excavations at Pompeii have unearthed countless paintings well preserved. Most have survived intact and appear alive and kicking. The extraordinary diversity of treasures shows that art was everywhere present in Pompeii. Often, almost every wall of a house were decorated with scenes from mythology and portraits of his family who lived. Mosaic, full of color and detail showing landscapes, battle scenes and drama, were cemented in the ground.

The walls surrounding the gardens were often painted with brightly colored subjects. The themes were the popular hunting scenes, landscapes and marine countrymen. Interior parts, they, showed more varied: mythological scenes, still life, birds and other animals. What impresses most in the Pompeian painting is the illusion of reality. Animals and birds seemed to animate gardens and interiors. As the dog depicted in mosaic on the floor of a corridor (Cave Canem), it seemed so true bark against the visitor.

These paintings transformed the house into a museum Pompeian imagination. We enter, somehow, in the spiritual world of Pompeii. They were men faithful to nature, who loved well-being and good cheer.

The four styles of Pompeian painting

Pompeian fresco painting was classified into four specific decorative styles.

^I. The style appears ⁱⁿ the second century BC. AD. It is also called style inlay. The decoration of public buildings extends to private homes. It originates from the Hellenistic world with its decorations large slabs of marble. We reproduced this decoration with polychrome stucco imitating marble colors. Protrusions appear as pedestals, large panels in relief, registers higher than smaller tiles, cornices and pillars still divide the stucco wall. This style will continue to be used in conjunction with other styles.

The ^Second style or appears in 100 BC. BC and ended around 20 BC. AD There's no relief in stucco, is a fully painted style. It is an architectural style inspired by the illusionist and Hellenistic palace and theater sets. The wall shows a high podium at the forefront of which is erected two or four columns dividing wall. These columns are based on the architraves , the Arc (architecture) s and coffered ceiling. A door opens in the central part of the mural on an exterior landscape. All this decoration is painted in trompe-l'oeil. Stage sets appear like cityscapes seen from a window. In the last phase of this style, pictures in windows with figurative scenes announce the third style. Figurative scenes, mythological and mgalographies emerge as the Villa of the Mysteries. Characters move onto the podium and between columns.

^The Third style, or appears around 20 AD. BC and disappeared around 45 AD. AD is a reaction against the style of conjuring the ^II style and its solutions baroque trompe-l'oeil. The walls close and the decorations are simple. Of horizontal and vertical lines divide the solid color wall. The architectural elements are very thin and purely decorative. Miniature sets are made in bright colors on black or white. A large table in the central part of the wall. It is placed inside a shrine flanked by panels. The themes are drawn from mythology, religion or idyllic. Decorative bands with Egyptian-inspired motifs punctuate the wall. The upper level of the fresco shows a few architectures sham. A technique Impressionist appears in the painting.

^The Fourth style, style or fantasy, going from 45 to 90 AD. AD This style is back in perspective and architectural to the illusionism. It is a synthesis of the two previous styles. The taste remains with ornamental decorations exuberant, gilding and stucco reliefs. The colors are sharper and chromatic contrasts appear. The architecture is painted trompe l'oeil on a podium and the central area of the mural is divided into three sections by porticoes with floors. The themes are mythological, naturalistic, show scenes from daily life, still lifes or portraits. These scenes are painted with a technique impressionist. Mats sham appear on the walls with the center of small figurines.

Rehabilitation of Pompeian frescoes

The rehabilitation of Pompeian frescoes large is a delicate when the computer is now providing valuable assistance. It is possible to define the exact shade screen that will best restore the missing parts: a missing color is obtained by the weighted average of all those present on the mural.

Sculptures

The sculptures come down to us show a predilection to Pompeii, to the statuary of small dimensions, because it was designed for the purpose of furnishing to insert into parts or decorations for gardens, fountains, atriums , or tablinum. Large statues , that is to say those were of a function celebration were mostly located inside the Forum. The preferred material was bronze , but the little masterpieces in marble , in tuff and clay are not lacking. The "Dancing Satyr", the "drunken Silenus," the "Boar attacked" are among the works whose freshness and immediacy of an invoice accompanied by exquisite. The "Colorado" deserves special mention: it is a beautiful print of a beautiful Greek sculpture. Several fragments of statues from most of the Forum area and temples dedicated to the Capitoline Triad were also found.

• 

  Statue of Apollo

• 

  Fountain of Abundance

Mosaics

The ornamental mosaic has found wide application in the decoration of the houses of Pompeii and has undergone several phases of development. The earliest documentation shows the work with simple patterns, with tesserae coarse in their invoice and humble level materials. However, the composition of those of later periods is desired, both in terms of chromatic taste the delicacy of tiles used. During the second period, the work is characterized by the repetition of intricate, geometric patterns or repeated pictorial of the twenty-sixth, third and first phases. The paintings were often used as paving. We know of noble examples: the famous "cave canem" located at the entrance of many homes is probably the best known of the many mosaics lost. The panel depicting "The Battle of Issus," kept in the Archaeological Museum of Naples and from the house of the Faun, is however one of the most important testimonies and more boring.

• 

  Mosaic depicting birds

• 

  The famous mosaic Cave Canem (beware of dog)

• 

  Mosaic representing a cat (Felis)

Pompeii in the arts

Literature

• Pliny the Younger
• Arria Marcella, news of Theophile Gautier.
• Jettatura, news of Theophile Gautier.
• The Temple of Isis. Remember Pompeii of Gerard de Nerval.
• The Slave of Pompeii , Annie Jay
• The Last Days of Pompeii, E. Bulwer Lytton
• Secrets of Pompeii Caroline Lawrence, series "Roman Mysteries", Milan Pocket History
• The Pirates of Pompeii Caroline Lawrence, series "Roman Mysteries", Milan Pocket History
• Pompeii, Robert Harris
• Peplum, Amelie Nothomb
• Mysteries of Pompeii, Cristina Rodriguez , Masque Publishing, 2008, ( ISBN 2702434045 ).

Movies & TV

• The Last Days of Pompeii (Gli Ultima giorni di Pompei), directed by Mario Bonnard and Sergio Leone , with Steve Reeves , Fernando Rey ( 1959 )
• The Last Days of Pompeii , a film directed by Marcel L'Herbier ( 1950 )
• The last day of Pompeii , docudrama directed by Peter Nicholson (2003)
• The fall of Pompeii , 2nd episode of the fourth season of Doctor Who

Music

• Pink Floyd at Pompeii , filmed in 1971 in the ruins of the city.

Notes and references

Notes

References

Book sources

Green Guide , Italy, Michelin , Paris

Hachette Education , Paris

Ernest Breton, Pompeia, 1870

Pompeii Grnd edition, edited by Marisa Ranieri Panetta

Quid , Plon , Paris

Websites

Other books

Further Reading

Recommended Bibliography

• Robert Stephen, Everyday life in Pompeii, ed. Hachette, 1981 ( ISBN 2010043960 ).
• Robert Etienne, Pompeii, the city buried, ed. Gallimard? ( ISBN 2070530248 ).
• Salvatore Nappo, Pompeii. Guide to the Ancient City, ed. Grnd, 2005, (ISBN 270000779).
• Stefano Giuntoli, Art and History of Pompeii, ed. Bonechi, 1989.
• Robert Harris, Pompeii, ed. Pocket, 2003.

Related Articles

• Destruction of Pompeii : Herculaneum , Torre Annunziata , Oplontis , Stabiae , Pliny the Elder , Pliny the Younger ; Vesuvius.
• Lost Cities : Joya de Ceren , the Pompeii of America; Santorini.
• Ancient Rome : Art of Ancient Rome.

External Links

• (En) Video-conference on the theme "Color Pompeian" (Study on the color of the frescoes ) - Philippe Heuz intervention.
• (En) Video-conference on the theme: "Antiquity: sex, mysteries and religion" (including study of the fresco from the villa called the Mysteries - interventions Veyne Paul and Franoise Frontisi-Ducroux. According to The Mysteries of the gynoecium, Paris, Gallimard, 1998.
• (En) The discovery of Pompeii by Robert Etienne, Professor Emeritus of Ancient History at the University Montaigne-Bordeaux III.
• (En) The Villa of Mysteries or Dionysos Resort texts and images by Patricia Carles, Professor of Classics (Nancy-Metz)
• (En) (en) Website Archaeological Superintendence of Pompeii
• (In) Plans and pictures of houses in Pompeii
• (En) Loci pompeian Pompeii, public buildings, houses, mosaics, murals, crafts, trade ...
• (En) Site reproduction of old books on Pompeii
• (In) a description of each interactive stage of eruption
• (In) and Becoming in Dissolution Roman Wall-Painting (Dissolution and become the Roman wall painting) - (en) Introduction in French