Cities of Vesuvius

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Cities of Vesuvius

• The Nature of Sources

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Physical Environment

• Pompeii is located in Campania.
• The River Sarno flows through the area from east
  to west into the bay.
• The area is very fertile
• aided by volcanic soil!
• Vesuvius has erupted more
• than 70 times since AD79.

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Resources

• Due to the fertile soil farmers grew crops such
  as barley, wheat, vegetables, grapevines and
  wine, olives.
• Fish life was abundant.
• Many animals were raised such as goals, and
  sheep.
• They were also able to mix cement and make their
  own pots.

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Discoveries

• Both towns were discovered by accident.
• Pompeii when workmen were digging a canal
  uncovered wall paintings.
• Herculaneum - during the digging of a well
  workmen found marble fragments belonging to the
  Theatre.
• Early excavations were basically treasure hunting!

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Giuseppe Fiorelli

• Was the Superintendent of Pompeii and Herculaneum
  in the 1860s.
• Made the plaster casts
• Made a grid of the city to locate finds
• Made archaeologists keep a day book of the site.
• Most significant contributions to the development
  of the site.

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Giuseppe Fiorelli
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Nature of Sources

• Written Evidence
• Graffito
• Inscriptions
• Letters
• Tombstones
• Scrolls of Papyri

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What does this Graffito tell us?

• Entertainment
• Role of Slaves
• Rooms for rent
• Gladiators were heartthrobs
• Competition with Nuceria
• Political slogans
• Various guilds

• Hunts were on
• Insults
• Love messages
• Philosophy
• Religion and politics

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Nature of Sources

• Archaeological Evidence
• Buildings private and public
• Household equipment
• Pictures and mosaics
• Cooking and medical equipment
• Jewellery and glassware
• Human remains

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