In 79 AD the eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried one of the Roman Empires splendid cities. Evidence shows that Pompeii was founded around the 6th century BC but was more likely around the 9-8th century BC. The city was under Etruscans rule for almost fifty years (until 474 BC) when it came back under Greek influence. It saw remarkable growth during the 5th century under the Samnites. Rome found interest in southern Italy not long after and with three long and bitter wars, the last of which was fought in the years between 298 and 290 BC, took control. Pompeii continued to grow because of its fetile hinterland and maritime traffic. Its economy was one of the best in Italy and maybe during the era. The city saw its first disaster in about 62 AD, when a violent earthquake devastated the city. The recovery process was slow and for some areas, never finished before the eruption of Vesuvius on the 24th August in 79 AD.

Entrance
      The Porta Maria is the main entrance and takes its name from its seaward facing position. It was never the preferred access of the Pompeians because it opened onto a stretch of very steep and un-even terrain. The gate consists of two archways: one on the right was used for the transit of beast of burden and the other for pedestrians.

      The Forum was the centre of the city, providing a religious nucleus and a political axis. It was also the economic heart, the place where bargaining and commercial transactions took place. This forum took over from the more central Triangular Forum when the population increased.

Porta Maria	Outside Porta Maria looking North	Forum

Entertainment
      The Amphitheatre was capable of holding up to 12,000 spectators. It hosted all the circus shows and the gladiator games so dear to the Pompeians, who devoted most of their spare time to these performances. Its construction dates back to 80 BC which means it could be one of the oldest buildings in existence. It was equipped with a velarium, a cover which could be stretched over the complex in case of rain. Mount Vesuvius can be seen in the background.

      The Large Gymnasium was established in the 1st century AD. It consists of a colonnade of quadrangular shape for gymnastic specialities and also contained a pool.

      The Large Theatre, constructed in the 2nd century BC, conforms to the Greek threatres. It could be covered and was able to hold up to 5,000 spectators. Comedies and tragedies were acted here. It had a colonnade set aside to accommodate spectators during intermission and at the end of the performance.

Amphitheatre	Large Gymnasium	Large Theatre

Houses
      The House of Loreius Tibutinus is distinguished by its garden consisting of an open gallery and a pergola embellished by water water channels and fountains. It also had a temple with pictorial decorations and sculptures. Many of the pictures still can be seen today (Episode for the Illiad).

pergola - a structure consisting of parallel colonnades supporting an open roof

      Mosaics were widely used in the decoration of the houses, usually as flooring. The older mosaics were simple but those of later workmanship used color and were more complex.

House of Loreius Tibutinus	House of Loreius Tibutinus	Mosaic

Temples
      Roman temples had a main nucleus, provided by a cella, where the statue of the god was housed enclosed in a larger structure. There are several types of temples including prostyle (front opens onto a colonnade), amphistyle (columns at front and back), peripteral (ring of coloums around perimeter), and dipteral (perimeter surrounded by a douple colonnade).

      The Temple of Vespasian consisted of a cella raised on a pedestal. There is also an altar in marble decorated with "sacrificial scenes".

Temple	Temple	Temple of Vespasian

      The mill is equipped with all the tools necessary for grinding grain, kneading of dough and therefore the preparation of bread. The grindstones were made up of a fixed base and a revolving upper part. The grain was poured inside and ground by turning the upper part of the mill, either by human strength or with mules.

      The Necropolises occupy a vast area outside the perimeter of the city walls. The bodies found provide a dramatic proof of the tragedy which struck Pompeii with the eruption of Vesuvius.

Mill	Necropolises	Body

      Pompeii was made up of three major roads. All the roads were in good condition for their time. Some of the walkways along the roads were connected by blocks of stones placed at the intersections. These made it convenient for pedstrians to pass without stepping in the mud and water.

Santini, Loretta, Pompeii, Plurigraf, Italy, 1998.