2. THE NATURE OF SOURCES AND EVIDENCE

"Assess the usefulness and reliability of epigraphic evidence located on Pompeii's ampitheatre"

Grafitti from the Ampitheatre in Pompeii is reliable as it is a primary source, although the imformation that the epigraphic evidence may provide could be biased. The messages seem to be ranging from notes of self proclamation to blackmail or curses to those who don't vote for a particular person.

Quotes such as "M Claudius was here" simply show that there was a person by that name in Pompeii. "The worshippers of Isis ask you to elect C N Helvius as aedile" is an example of an interest group supporting a candidate for office. Although the latter quote may be useful to a historian studying politics and government process, the first one would not. "I had a most satisfying night of embraces in this [C Valerius Venustus's] bed" is an example of epigraphic evidence that is not all that useful but for a historian studying the societies values for sexuality or public announcement to the like.

The question of reliability comes into the accuracy of the translation. How do we know that the graffiti was really there? How do we know that this representation is true? The publisher could have easily changed or misrepresented the meaning of this epigraphic evidence.

With this in mind, the only conclusion to be made (if the translation is correct) the source is reliable and can be useful for historians studying various aspects of life in Pompeii - although some messages leave a lot to desired/interpreted.

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"Outline the available evidence for everyday life in Pompeii"

Historians can paint a picture of what everyday life was like in Pompeii, thanks to a wide array of evidence/primary sources available to them. The baths, ampitheatre, forum and homes provide great insight as to what citizens of Pompeii did each day.

In Pompeii people regularly bathed in public. The public baths were frequented by citizens to socialise as well as to clean themselves. We know this because of the structures that were the baths -they had hot and cold baths and often a palaestra, gymnasium, garden and restaurants for the Pompeiians to use.

It is known that people did most of their socialising and spent most of their time outside of their home as they were often small and cramped. There were many places to dine and wine and fish was the most common food as Pompeii was a coastal town. Vineyards and farms also made wine, fruit and vegetables in plenty supply.

The Ampitheatre and theatre were places for Pompeiians to enjoy gladitorial contests, and dramatic entertainment. The ampitheatre could seat approximately 20,000 people. Staged exhibitioned killings provided an enjoyable passtime for many of Pompeii's citizens.

The amount of evidence available for everyday life in Pompeii is huge. Structural evidence provides a solid example to what/how (likely) the majority of the town was associated with/conducted their lives.

This source paint a picture of the fashion of pre 72AD Campanians. It implies that a female could read and write as indicated by the wife holding a writing tablet. Also it tells historians athe creative tools used in the era of Pompeii and Herculaneum. As well as being artistic, the painting reflects the image of two Pompeiian people. It tells a historian the type of material (possibly) used for clothing, whether or not a man shaved facial hair etc... It is evident that he is wearing a collared shirt, which would imply that collared shirts have been in production for at least 2000 years. The source is a primary source as it was painted in the time that Pompeii thrived. A portrait may be a very useful source to a historian or archaeologist and can be classed as reliable - providing a carbon dating process supports the authenticity.

URBAN LANDSCAPE/PLANNING


Pompeii was a walled city with 8 gates and watch towers. It was a bustling city center. Roads were planned in a grid-like pattern, separating insulae. Each insulae contained 1-12 dwellings. There are wheel ruts still now which shows the town was a major commercial center.

Herculaneum was only 22 hectares and the streets were less filled with traffic as evident by the simple design. The infrastructure shows a level of complexity: with storm drains & an underground sewer.

Both towns had public toilets although private ones were available to the rich only. Both cities were built on a prehistoric lava flow. The streets themselves varied in width from 2.5-4.5m. They were made with lava rock. Pavement was raised 30cm as was stepping stones so that people could cross the road with out getting dirty or wet. Ingenuity however placed them far enough apart that carts could still travel.

decumanus: was used to denote streets that ran west to east

cardo: for streets running north to south

• Evidence of intense farming has been found everywhere – even small garden plots around the city walls
• Many small workshops have been found suggesting that the processing of agricultural products was also common
• Significant trading centre – (being a Port town) and a resort style area for wealthy Romans (good climate and magnificent sea views) – according to Strabo
• Herculaneum’s primary industry was fishing
• After the eruption, the area of Pompeii was always known as Civitas or The City


http://www.mariamilani.com/rome_maps/map_pompeii.jpg

1 Geographical context

THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Pompeii and Herculaneum are two cities found in the fertile region of Campania, in Southern Italy.

Towering over them both is Mt Vesuvius. The volcano erupted in 79AD, covering and preserving the two ancient cities with it's pyroclastic flow.

Campania is a coastal region. It's coastline was actually extended several kilometres due to the eruption.


Campania's soil is fertile because of the nutrients provided by the volcanic minerals present around Mt Vesuvius. It is often referred to as "Campania Felix" (productive Campania). Boasting many natural resources, in their former glory Pompeii and Herculaneum both had a thriving agricultural industry.

Vines, cabbages, onions, olives and fruit including peaches, pears, figs, apricots, lemons and plums were grown and traded among citizens and the many traders that came into the port towns.

A textile industry was also prevalent primarily using wool from sheep.

In terms of climate, Pompeii and Herculaneum would have experienced hot, dry summers (May-September) and mild, moist winters (October-April).

Pompeii, 70 hectares in area and approximately 30 metres above sea level, is a river town, overlooking the Sarno.

Herculaneum was built on a platau of Vesuvius and it's edges would have backed onto a cliff. As a city it had it's limitations for building, but the view of the sea and mountains surrounding it made it a popular resort town (as NAPLES is now - built on top of buried Herculaneum).

"STRABO said that nowhere could a period of residence and leisure (otium) be more agreeable"

"Pompeii and Herculaneum are two of the most endagered cultural sites, but not everything can be saved for the future. Since conservation can only be carried out at considerable cost and compromise, a resource management plan must be put into effect which will balance the competing interests of tourism, the local economy, scholarly research and the obligation to hand down a unique cultural legacy to future generations." - P. Bradley, Cities of Vesuvius, p193

"This is Vesuvius, shaded yesterday with green vines, here had its far farmed grapes filled the dripping vats. Thses ridges Bacchus loved more than the hills of Nyssa, on this mount of late the satyrs set afoot their dances. This was the haunt of Venus, more pleasant to her than Lacedaemon; this place (Herculaneum) was made glorius by the name of Hercules." - Martial, Epigrams, IV, 44

PLINY THE ELDER used terms such as "pleasant scenery", "life-sustaining", "climate so mild", "abundance" and "sunny hills" to describe Campania in the 1st Century AD -"one of the loveliest places on Earth".

http://tdh46.typepad.com/mondosapore/images/2007/12/14/sunny_italy_campania_style.jpg

http://www.travelplan.it/img/campania.jpg

the geographical setting and natural features
• 20km SE of Naples
• Western Coast of Italian peninsula
• Today – because of Mt Vesuvius’ eruption (AD 79) it lies 2km inland from the coast
• East of Pompeii is the Apennine Mountains
• Mt Vesuvius is to the North
• Pompeii lies at the mouth of the Sarno (Samus) River (which is to the South) – IMPORTANT FOR INDUSTRIES
• Florus described the river among other things as “the finest thing in the world”.
• Pompeii covers 66 hectares of land
• Pompeii was completely covered and hermetically sealed by a 7m layer of volcanic ash, lapilli (rock fragments) and pumice (heavy rock) from Vesuvius in AD79
• Other cities nearby were also buried –
• Herculaneum was covered by heavy rock fill – not just ash and pumice as in Pompeii. Due to its proximity to Vesuvius – it was buried again in 1631 by hard solidified mud (about 18m). Because of this it has been much more difficult to excavate.

resources
• Fertile soil – Vesuvius offers a fertile plain of phosphorus and potash – crop yield was 6x that of the rest of Italy
• Primary agricultural products of Pompeii were Olive oil and wine
Grapes were most abundant around Vesuvius
• Many other products were common also:
o Fish sauce (garum)
o Sheep products
o Millstones
o Perfume
o Cloth and dye industry

Welcome :-)

This blog is designed to aid in the study of the Ancient History HSC Cities of Vesuvius Module.
Please make use of it as much as you can, but remember - NO PLAGARISING!