Chapters
Pompeii, called also Pompeia, was said to be one of the most attractive cities of ancient Rome. Its buildings were erected with harmony and beauty. However, on the 24th of October 79 CE1 a tragedy struck the city. The eruption of Vesuvius caused great damage to the city. Hopefully, the volcanic ash which covered Pompeii, let it remain without any serious deterioration and preserved the buildings and objects which allowed us to learn how did the Roman city life look like. Besides Pompeii, destroyed were also Stabiae and Herculaneum.
Pompeii was a wealthy city with numerous public buildings, sports arenas, theatres and temples. The city, covering an area of 64 ha and having nearly 20 thousand inhabitants, was an average social centre of the Roman Empire in the 1st century CE. This fact makes the city so special for scholars and archaeologists. Well-preserved ruins, objects and bodies allow learning about Romans’ lifestyle from that time.
Death surprised the city residents in the various moments that we can observe while visiting one of the brothels. They were dying by suffocation, even before the hot ash reached them.
Today, the estimated number of victims is 2000. Generally, brothels in Pompeii are rather interesting subjects. Mainly because of the really low prices for provided services which allowed even slaves to make use of them. The average price of such a moment of intimacy costs as much as half a jug of wine or two loaves of bread. Although prostitution was so common, conditions in the brothels were not comfortable – too short beds and dark rooms. Many clients did not make an effort to take out their shoes and thus left marks on the heels on the wall. Pompeii, along with Stabiae and Herculaneum is a great source of information and interesting facts about the life of an average Roman citizen.
History
Pompeii ruins are situated in the Campania region, approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Naples. The city was founded in the 7th century BCE by the Oscans. Originally it was under the influence of Greek culture, then Etruscan. At the end of the 5th century BCE Pompeii was conquered by the Samnites and from 310 BCE was under Roman rule. In 89 BCE the city joined the uprising against Rome. After being conquered by Sulla, Pompeii was divested of all its rights and became a Roman colony.
Historical Pompeii stands on a spur formed by lava. Situated at a height of 40 m a.s.l. by the river Sarnus. Before the Samnite domination, it was transformed from a small farming settlement into a city planned around the Triangular Forum. Under Samnite rule the area of 66 ha was fortified with a wall of the length of 3 kilometres. Pompeii had drainage along the street and the aqueducts supplied street fountains, thermal baths and some wealthy houses with the water. All the houses were provided with baths (impluvium) for the rainwater.
Between the 4th and 5th century BCE, the city was autonomic and had traditional Samnite offices with mediss toutiks on top. In the 3rd and 2nd century BCE the city experience a time of dynamic development, while being one of the most important harbours in the region as it serviced Nola and Nuceria. In Pompeii’s hands was also the mouth of river Samus. The city and its neighbourhood were located on fertile land where were grown olives, grains and vines. In the 2nd century BCE, the city expanded towards the north and east. Also, the central parts of the city and some representative places near the Forum were rebuilt. The number of such representations and significant buildings and their size lets Pompeii outrun Rome in this respect.