Pompeii and Herculaneum The Physical environment

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Pompeii and HerculaneumThe Physical environment

• Resources
• Geographic Setting
• Natural Features

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Geographic Setting

Pompeii and Herculaneum are located in Campania,
a fertile region 200km south of Rome. The towns
are both on the coast of the Bay of Naples. Known
for its many bays and inlets including Misenum
the home of the Roman fleet. Pompeii is located
on the River Sarnus and lies inland from the
coast. Herculaneum is on a cliff face directly
overlooking the bay. Both towns have elevated
positions, being built on volcanic spurs enabling
both to catch sea breezes. Rising between both
towns is the volcano Mt Vesuvius that dominates
the sky line. Salt pans are located near
Herculaneum, as are thermal pools.
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Resources
Pompeii and Herculaneum had many
resources. Mineral Resources included the salt
pans of Herculaneum, the pumice stones used for
paving roads and mill stones in both towns and
the soil rich with potassium and potash from
previous volcanic activity. This made the soil
fertile and moisture retaining. Animal resources
included sheep and goats in particular as used in
the cloth industry and abundant sea life
especially important for the fishing village of
Herculaneum and the Garum producing town of
Pompeii. Vegetable resources included olives,
grapes, wheat, various fruits such as peaches and
figs.
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Natural Features
Pompeii and Herculaneum have two main seasons
being very mild winters and dry summers. Houses
were designed to capture the sea breezes to
ensure mild temperatures during Summer and the
properties of the volcanic soil ensured that
moisture was retained. The elevated position of
both towns ensured that these breezes could reach
the occupants of the towns. Pompeii and
Herculaneum were often used as resort towns by
the Romans who wished to visit the region for
recreational purposes.
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Florus, Epitome 1.16

• Of everything not just in Italy, but in the
  whole world, the region of Campania is the most
  beautiful. Nothing is more temperate than its
  climate indeed, its spring flowers blossom
  twice. Nothing is more fertile than its land
  consequently there is said to be a competition
  between Liber (god of fertility) and Ceres (god
  of wine). Nothing is more welcoming than its
  seaHere are the mountains that befriend the
  vine

• Florus was a Roman author living in the second
  century BC who wrote about the region of Campania
  of which Pompeii and Herculaneum were a part.
• In this description he refers to the climate,
  geography and resources of the region in a very
  complimentary fashion

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Map of the Region

• This map illustrates the dominating presence of
  the volcano Mt Vesuvius in the region.
• It illustrates the relative position of
  Herculaneum and Pompeii to the volcano.
• Herculaneums direct coastal location is
  illustrated as is Pompeii on the Sarno River.

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Painting of Bacchus and Vesuvius from Pompeii

• This fresco located in a house in Pompeii shows
  Bacchus the god of wine standing near an ancient
  depiction of Vesuvius showing its appearance in
  antiquity.
• The fresco may also be indicating that grapes for
  wine making were grown on its slopes.

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Aerial Photograph of Pompeii

• This picture illustrates the flat elevated layout
  of Pompeii surrounded by a wall.
• It also shows the inland nature of this city with
  the River Sarnus flowing on its far right hand
  side.

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Photograph of a Street in Pompeii

• This street in Pompeii indicates the use of
  pumice for paving roads and creating stepping
  stones.
• Pumice was also used for mills for grinding wheat
  and olives.

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Mosaic of sea and bird life in the House of the
Faun Pompeii

• This mosaic illustrates the fish and ducks that
  were available in the region. In the centre is a
  piece from an olive tree also indicating a
  vegetable resource of the region.

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Remains from a rubbish pit in Pompeii

• These organic remains from a rubbish pit in
  Pompeii provide information on the fruit that was
  grown as well as sea resources of the two towns.
• From top right there are grape pips, fig pips,
  fish bones and a sea anemone shell.

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Impluvium at the House of Marcus Lucretius Fronto
in Pompeii

• Impluviums were common features in grand Pompeii
  homes. They were located in the entry way with an
  open roof.
• Water would collect in the pool and the breeze
  would blow over it to create an evaporative
  cooling system.
• This indicates both the warm summers and sea
  breezes that were features of the region.

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Digital reconstruction of Herculaneum

• This digital reconstruction is also supported by
  photographs of the town where a solid wall
  separates the raised town of Herculaneum from the
  boatsheds which were located at the base of the
  cliffs on the beach front.
• Due to the eruption the water is now further from
  the town due to volcanic deposits in the
  eruption.
• This digital reconstruction, however, enables one
  to view the layout of the town as it would have
  existed in 79ad.