Physical Environment.
Pompeii and Herculaneum were located on the coast of the Bay of Naples, in a region known as Campania, south of Rome. The coastal location provided opportunities for trade, use of resources from the sea, and temperate sea breezes. Unfortunately for the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the entire Bay of Naples is dominated by an active volcano - Mount Vesuvius.
Both towns were in close proximity to Mt Vesuvius - Pompeii to the south and Herculaneum to the west. Pompeii was built on a volcanic spur, 25-40m above sea level, overlooking the mouth of the Sarno River. This location provided rich, fertile soil. The slopes of Mt Vesuvius were ideal for agriculture, particulary for growning grapes. The plains were easily farmed. The river Sarno provided water, and an inland port for the town of Pompeii. Agricultural conditions were excellent - much of the Bay of Naples is rocky - and as a result, the area was a leader in providing agricultural goods. Industry was strong. A successful agricultural sector led to the establishment of many industries from every day goods and services, to the production of luxury goods. Manufacturing industries were depended upon the natural resources of the area, and boosted the local economy significantly. Herculaneum was built on a steeply sloping spur which ended in a cliff, bounded on both sides by deep ravines. Its views and moderating maritime influence made it an ideal resort town. There are a number of sources that provide information about the geography and resources of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the Bay of Naples generally. These sources range from frescoes and paintings, to written accounts, as well as archaeological evidence of plants and livestock. The sewer systems at Herculaneum have also provided a wealth of evidence of food and resources within the area. |
Location of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Bay of Naples Proximity to Mount Vesuvius Rich and fertile soil - volcanic soil is excellent for growing crops. Pompeii and Herculaneum had strong wine industries Crops included: wheat, barley, chickpeas, dates, figs, olives, grapes, cabbage, broadbeans. Livestock: sheep, goats. Industry included the manufacture of: olive oil, wine, garum (fish sauce), garments and fabric, wool, salt Other industries included: food and beverage cooking and supply, fishing Sources - written texts, mosaics, objects, sewers. |
Sources - the physical environment: the geographical setting, natural features and resources of Pompeii and Herculaneum
Bacchus and Mount Vesuvius Fresco Painting From the House of the Centenary (Reg IX, Ins 8, 6) at Pompeii.
The House of the Centennial is situated on the Via di Nola. The house derives its name from being excavated in 1879, eighteen hundred years after the Vesuvian eruption. The house is also referred to as the House of A. Rustii Veri and Tiberius Claudi Veri.
The fresco was situated on the wall to the left of the lararium. It was removed shortly after being excavated and can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum in Naples.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/regio-ix/reg-ix-ins-8/house-of-the-centennial
The House of the Centennial is situated on the Via di Nola. The house derives its name from being excavated in 1879, eighteen hundred years after the Vesuvian eruption. The house is also referred to as the House of A. Rustii Veri and Tiberius Claudi Veri.
The fresco was situated on the wall to the left of the lararium. It was removed shortly after being excavated and can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum in Naples.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/regio-ix/reg-ix-ins-8/house-of-the-centennial
Fish Mosaic from the House of Faun (Reg VI, Ins 12, 2, 5, 7) at Pompeii
The House of Faun is one of the biggest and most expensive houses in Pompeii. It is situated on the north side of the Via della Fortuna and is named after the statue of a dancing faun found there.
The fish mosaic shows the range of sea life used by the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum for food and industry. The mosaic was removed and can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum in Naples.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/regio-vi/reg-vi-ins-12/house-of-the-faun
The House of Faun is one of the biggest and most expensive houses in Pompeii. It is situated on the north side of the Via della Fortuna and is named after the statue of a dancing faun found there.
The fish mosaic shows the range of sea life used by the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum for food and industry. The mosaic was removed and can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum in Naples.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/regio-vi/reg-vi-ins-12/house-of-the-faun
A grain mill from a Pistrinum (Ins oII, 8) in Herculaneum
The mill stones were expertly made from hard basalt lava which came from local quarries as far away as Umbria. The mills consist of two pieces: a conical block (meta) cemented onto a raised base, and a hollow waisted cylinder (cattilus), which fitted over it. Poles were inserted in the sides of the outer cone and turned by a person or a donkey. Grain was poured in from the top and was ground between the two stone surfaces.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/herculaneum-1/insula-oii/pistrinum
The mill stones were expertly made from hard basalt lava which came from local quarries as far away as Umbria. The mills consist of two pieces: a conical block (meta) cemented onto a raised base, and a hollow waisted cylinder (cattilus), which fitted over it. Poles were inserted in the sides of the outer cone and turned by a person or a donkey. Grain was poured in from the top and was ground between the two stone surfaces.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/herculaneum-1/insula-oii/pistrinum
Garum Workshop (Reg I, Ins 12, 8) in Pompeii
Garum was made by crushing then fermenting the intestines of fish, including eel, tuna, anchovies and mackerel. It was produced off site in bulk, stored in workshops like this and then placed into smaller containers for sale to customers.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/regio-i/reg-i-ins-12/garum-workshop
Garum was made by crushing then fermenting the intestines of fish, including eel, tuna, anchovies and mackerel. It was produced off site in bulk, stored in workshops like this and then placed into smaller containers for sale to customers.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/regio-i/reg-i-ins-12/garum-workshop
Next comes Campania, a region blessed by fortune. From this bay onwards you find vine-growing hills and a noble tipple of wine famed throughout the world. Over this area the gods of wine and grain fought their hardest, or so tradition tells us… These shores are watered by warm springs; they are famed beyond any other for their shellfish and their fine fish. Nowhere do olives produce more oil – the production strives to match the demands of human pleasure.
Pliny the Elder, Natural History Bk III 60
Pliny the Elder, Natural History Bk III 60
Next after Neapolis comes the Heracleian Fortress, with a promontory which runs out into the sea and so admirably catches the breezes of the southwest wind that it makes the settlement a healthful place to live in... Pompaia, on the River Sarnus — a river which both takes the cargoes inland and sends them out to sea — is the port-town of Nola, Nuceria, and Acherrae... Above these places lies Mt. Vesuvius, which, save for its summit, has dwellings all round, on farm-lands that are absolutely beautiful. As for the summit, a considerable part of it is flat, but all of it is unfruitful, and looks ash-coloured, and it shows pore-like cavities in masses of rock that are soot-coloured on the surface, these masses of rock looking as though they had been eaten out by fire; and hence one might infer that in earlier times this district was on fire and had craters of fire, and then, because the fuel gave out, was quenched. Perhaps, too, this is the cause of the fruitfulness of the country all round the mountain; just as at Catana, it is said, that part of the country which had been covered with ash-dust from the hot ashes carried up into the air by the fire of Aetna made the land suited to the vine; for it contains the substance that fattens both the soil which is burnt out and that which produces the fruits; so then, when it acquired plenty of fat, it was suited to burning out, as is the case with all sulphur-like substances, and then when it had been evaporated and quenched and reduced to ash-dust, it passed into a state of fruitfulness.
Strabo Geography Book V, 4
Strabo Geography Book V, 4
There is a naturally occurring powder that produces remarkable results. It is found near Baiae, in the territories of the municipalities that surround Mt. Vesuvius. When mixed with lime and gravel it produces a strong building material, especially useful for piers built out into the sea, as the mixture hardens even under water.
Vitruvius On Architecture 2.6.1 2
Vitruvius On Architecture 2.6.1 2
Plans and Streetscapes
The towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum are arranged in a grid systems of streets where main roads (decumani) were crossed by minor roads (cardini) creating blocks (insulae). These main roads were continuations of roads running in and out of town from other towns and areas. Both towns had walls for fortification with towers at regular intervals and to enter these towns you had to enter through gates. The walls at Pompeii were more extravagent than those at Herculaneum.
Fiorelli (1860) devised a numbering system for Pompeii to identify houses more easily as opposed to dubious names that are based on what is inside the house, for example the House of the Faun. He divided the town into nine regions [REG]. This was the first number, noted by Roman numerals. The second number idetifies the insulate and the third number identfies the specific building. As Herculaneum is largely unexcavated, it is small and does not use region numbers, just insulae and building numbers. Pompeii: The major roads of Pompeii are the Via di Nola, Via Stabiana and the Via dell ’Abbondanza. Within Pompeii there are seven major gates that the roads pass through to enter into the town: The Herculaneum Gate, Vesuvian Gate, Cupuan Gate, Nolan Gate, Sarnus Gate, Stabian Gate and Marine Gate. Names were based on where the roads leading from the gates led to. Originally these gates were used as a system of defense for the town. The roads were constructed using volcanic stone, raised in the middle to encourage water to flow to the sides. Gutters ran along the roads. A raised footpath ran along the sides of major roads and the buildings were constructed to begin at the edge of the path. Most roads were similar in size to conform to the standard width of axles of wheeled vehicles. Most roads are thought to only travel in one direction. Some roads were narrow and blocked from use by vehicles with public fountains. Public drinking fountains were part of the streetscape. They provided fresh free water for every person living in both Pompeii and Herculaneum. Many of the drinking fountains were elaborately decorated with carved stone mythical creatures. Water spurted from the mouths of these creatures. The fountains also aided in keeping the streets clean as the bubbling water pushed waste into the gutter and down the roads. Stepping stones were placed in the middle of the street for pedestrians to use to cross. The forum complex was the largest cluster of public space and the major roads ran to this part of Pompeii. The forum contained temples and religious buildings, political buildings and market spaces. Herculaneum: Herculaneum is largely unexcavated. Given that a modern town is situated over the ancient site, only four blocks have been exposed by archaeologists and excavators. Other areas of Herculaneum are accessable by tunnel, though largey the town is left in situ. Houses are larger in Herculaneum than they are in Pompeii, perhaps due to added wealth generated from being a port town. Many Roman Senators, including Marcus Nonius Balbus, had holiday homes here. Some modern archaeologists, including Wallace-Hadrill, speculate that Herculaneum was often used as a seaside resort. More double story houses have been found here compared to Pompeii. This could be due to the views, wealth of the citizens, difference in terrain and the desire to catch and utilise ocean breazes. Common Features: The insulae within Pompeii and Herculaneum have been found to not have commercial regions or urban zones. Within both towns each insula was individual and could contain a mixture of private villas, homes, shops, crafts premises, service industry premises, entertainment premises, food manufacture, farming land, orchards, temples and baths. Due to the variety of industries that could occupy an insula there does not seem to be class distinctions in the location of buildings. The function of buildings has also been shown to change over time.
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Grid system - decumani (main roads), cardini (minor roads) and blocks (insulae).
Roads Walls and fortifications. Fiorelli - numbering system to identify houses Main roads - Via di Nola, Via Stabiana, Via dell 'Abbondanza Seven major gates - Herculaneum, Vesuvian, Cupuan, Nolan, Sarnus, Stabian and Marine Gate. Roads Gutters and water flow Traffic - wheeled vechicles. Public fountains Public fountains Elaborate decoration - mythical creatures Clean streets Stepping stones. The forum - temples, religious buildings, political buildings, market spaces. Limited amount of excavation in Herculaneum. Larger houses. Holiday / seaside resort. Wealthy population Mixed uses of insulae - private villas, homes, shops, crafts, workshops, service industry, entertainment, food manufacture, rarming land, orchards, temples and baths. Lack of class distinction Changing use of buildings over time This file contains maps and detailed information on Streetscapes and Plans of Pompeii and Herculaneum. |
Sources - Plans and Streetscapes of Pompeii and Herculaneum
"a confused jumble of shops, workshops, crafts, residential and horticultural plots and houses across the whole city with no real attempt at commerical segregation or concentration beyond the tendency of shops to line the main roads and horticulture to cluster on the margins" Amery and Curran
Map of Pompeii showing:
* Public Buildings
* Inns, bars, etc
* Workshops
* Private Houses
* Shops
* Temples
Map provides an index of buildings.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/map-of-pompeii
* Public Buildings
* Inns, bars, etc
* Workshops
* Private Houses
* Shops
* Temples
Map provides an index of buildings.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/map-of-pompeii
Map of Herculaneum
Because of the manner of its burial and the fact that it lies beneath a populated area, the exact size of Herculaneum is still unknown, but it appears to extend over an area roughly 320m by 350m. The section excavated to date is in the southwest corner of Herculaneum and covers about a quarter of the city.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/herculaneum-1/map-of-herculaneum
Because of the manner of its burial and the fact that it lies beneath a populated area, the exact size of Herculaneum is still unknown, but it appears to extend over an area roughly 320m by 350m. The section excavated to date is in the southwest corner of Herculaneum and covers about a quarter of the city.
https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/herculaneum-1/map-of-herculaneum
Streetscape A
This is a view of one of the minor streets in Pompeii. The buildings on the right are the backs of houses. This street is paved with well-laid lava stones and has raised footpaths on each side edged with cut blocks of stone. •The absence of wheel ruts suggests this street was closed to wheeled vehicles. Note the modern surface of the footpaths.
This is a view of one of the minor streets in Pompeii. The buildings on the right are the backs of houses. This street is paved with well-laid lava stones and has raised footpaths on each side edged with cut blocks of stone. •The absence of wheel ruts suggests this street was closed to wheeled vehicles. Note the modern surface of the footpaths.
Streetscape B
This is a view of one of the busier streets of Pompeii showing deep wheel ruts in the lava paving stones. Note the strategically placed stepping-stones, which enabled people to avoid waste water and sewage which ran down the street.Compared to Streetscape A, this image shows many more doorways opening onto the street. The number of each house is clearly displayed
This is a view of one of the busier streets of Pompeii showing deep wheel ruts in the lava paving stones. Note the strategically placed stepping-stones, which enabled people to avoid waste water and sewage which ran down the street.Compared to Streetscape A, this image shows many more doorways opening onto the street. The number of each house is clearly displayed
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Pompeii: The Last Day
Watch the BBC production Pompeii: The Last Day and fill in the worksheet in your course reader. A Slide share is included below that summaries the relevant information to support this section of the HSC syllabus. |