A brief history of Pompeii. Pompeii. Photo. The city of those buried alive. A short report about the trip

Pompeii is studied in school textbooks, and ancient finds at excavation sites have never ceased to amaze scientists and ordinary people for centuries. modern people. The history of this city is truly worthy of close attention.

Volcano Vesuvius

Vesuvius is an active volcano in the vicinity of Naples, 1281 meters high. This is one of the most dangerous continental volcanoes in Europe, and one of the most famous, largely due to the fact that almost 2000 years ago it buried several ancient cities and nearby villages. Among them are cities such as Stabiae, Herculaneum, and the most famous of them - Pompeii, which was located closest to all other settlements to Vesuvius.

City of Pompeii

Pompeii was a typical ancient Roman city, until the tragic events of 79 AD, when within 24 hours the entire city was filled with ash and covered with hot lava of the volcano. Excavations of the city began at the end of the 16th century, when, during the creation of a well from the Sarno River and the construction of a well, fragments of the city wall, as well as several buildings underground, were discovered.

However, up to mid-18th century There have been no excavations there for centuries. Initially, scientists participating in the excavations assumed that this was the city of Stabiae, and not Pompeii. And only the excavation of an antique statue with an inscription, preserved in excellent condition, proved that this was Pompeii. The main focus of excavations was on nearby Herculaneum, and only three sites were excavated in Pompeii itself.
During the cataclysm, most of the residents fled their homes, but more than 2,000 people were buried alive under many meters of volcanic ash.

It is worth noting that thanks to this very fact, everything in the city has been preserved as it was before the eruption. It is difficult to answer the question; people did not leave, seeing a large-scale disaster. Perhaps the residents thought that this was another earthquake, which had happened several times before, or they simply did not realize the full scale of the disaster. In any case, no one will know for sure. The city has been “mothballed” to some extent, so now tourists have the opportunity to see with their own eyes the life of ancient people. There you can even observe the plaster bodies of people in their last moments of life.

Many city structures were excavated and preserved in amazing condition. In particular, the basilica, the municipal building, the temple of the Lares, the temple of Vespasian, the Macellum market, the comitia, the temple of Apollo, the temple of Jupiter, the Bolshoi and Small theaters, many statues and sculptures, as well as other structures.

Excavations are still ongoing, about 20% of the territory remains unexcavated, and the city itself is a museum under open air And

Recent excavations have shown that in the 1st millennium BC. e. there was a settlement near modern city Nola and in the 7th century BC. e. approached the mouth. A new settlement - Pompeii - was founded by the Osci in the 6th century BC. e. Their name most likely goes back to the Oscan pumpe- five, and is known from the very foundation of the city, which indicates the formation of Pompeii as a result of the merger of five settlements. The division into 5 electoral districts remained in Roman time. According to another version, the name comes from the Greek pompe(triumphal procession): according to the legend about the founding of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum by the hero Hercules, he, having defeated the giant Geryon, solemnly marched through the city.

The early history of the city is little known. Surviving sources speak of clashes between the Greeks and Etruscans. For some time Pompeii belonged to Cumae, from the end of the 6th century BC. e. were under the influence of the Etruscans and were part of a league of cities led by Capua. Moreover, in 525 BC. e. A Doric temple was built in honor of the Greek gods. After the defeat of the Etruscans in Kita, Syracuse in 474 BC. e. The Greeks regained dominance in the region. In the 20s of the 5th century BC. e. together with other cities of Campania, were conquered by the Samnites. During the Second Samnite War, the Samnites were defeated by the Roman Republic, and Pompeii around 310 BC. e. became allies of Rome.

Of the 20,000 inhabitants of Pompeii, about 2,000 people died in the buildings and on the streets. Most of the residents left the city before the disaster, but the remains of the victims are also found outside the city. Therefore, the exact number of deaths is impossible to estimate.

Among those killed by the eruption was Pliny the Elder, who, out of scientific interest and a desire to help people suffering from the eruption, tried to approach Vesuvius on a ship and found himself in one of the centers of the disaster - at Stabia.

Excavations of the city

Wall painting and fresco styles

The inside walls of Roman houses were covered with frescoes, studied mostly from the examples of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. The German scientist August Mau in 1882 proposed dividing Pompeii frescoes into 4 styles. Subsequently, with the discovery of other monuments, this classification was expanded to cover all Roman wall painting. The time frames given here are specific to Pompeii; dates may vary in Rome and other cities.

Inlay or structural (- years BC) - characterized by rustication (laying or facing walls with stones with a rough, convex front surface) and painting imitating facing with marble slabs. Arose under the influence of Hellenistic art, reproductions of Greek paintings are often found.
Architectural style (80 BC -14 AD) - columns, cornices, architectural compositions, landscapes were depicted on smooth walls, creating the illusion of volume and space receding into the distance. Human figures appear in the paintings, complex multi-figure compositions are created, often based on mythological subjects.
Egyptianized or ornamental (from 14 AD) - a transition to flat ornaments, framed by paintings, usually of pastoral themes.
Fantastic or perspective-ornamental (from 62 AD) - fantastic landscapes appear, the depicted architecture resembles theatrical scenery, ceasing to obey the laws of physics. Paintings depicting people become more dynamic.

City buildings

Forum

On either side of the staircase there were two triumphal arches. The western one was probably dedicated to Germanicus, while the eastern one was dismantled. Near the northern end of the temple there is an arch dedicated to Tiberius, in its niches facing the forum there were statues of Nero and Drusus.

Temple of Apollo

Along with the Doric temple in the triangular forum, this is the oldest temple of Pompeii. Some architectural details allow us to date it to BC. e. Presumably in the 2nd century BC. e. it was rebuilt, but nevertheless retained characteristic feature Greek architecture: a colonnade along the entire perimeter of the temple.

The temple faces the main entrance to the basilica and is surrounded by a portico painted with scenes from the Iliad. The temple itself is surrounded by 28 Corinthian columns, 2 of which are fully preserved. The floor is made using the same technique as the floor of the Temple of Jupiter. There is an altar in front of the stairs. A bronze statue of Apollo and a bust of Diana have also been preserved (the originals are in the Naples Museum, and there are copies in Pompeii). To the left of the altar, an Ionic column for a sundial was erected in the time of Augustus.

Temple of Fortuna Augustus and Arch of Caligula

It is located at the end of the Forum street, running from the Arch of Tiberius to the northwest. A small temple with a facade of 4 Corinthian columns was built at the expense of the duumvir Marcus Tullius on his own land. Inside the temple there are several niches for statues of Augustus, members of his family and, possibly, Tullius himself.

Behind the temple, the Forum street continues as the Mercury street. At its beginning there is a triumphal arch of Caligula (ruled in -41 AD), made of brick and lined with travertine (the remains of the cladding are preserved only at the base). Found near the arch equestrian statue the emperor was probably on it.

Other buildings

To the southwest of the Temple of Jupiter there were public latrines, warehouses for the grain trade (now archaeological finds are stored in them) and a weighing room - a storage place for the standards of Roman units of measurement, against which those used by traders in the forum were checked.

Complex of public buildings in the theater area

Triangular Forum

A triangular square surrounded by a colonnade of 95 Ionic columns. In the northern corner there was a propylaea with 6 Ionic columns, in the east it connected with the Samnite palaestra, the Great Theater and, along a long staircase, with the Quadriportico.

On the square there is a Greek temple from the 6th century BC. e. (so-called Doric Temple), dedicated to Hercules, the mythical founder of the city. The temple measured 21 by 28 m, was built of tuff, and a narrow staircase led to it from the south side. Behind the temple there was a sundial. It is surrounded on all sides by a colonnade: 7 columns on the short side and 11 on the long side.

Samnite palaestra

According to the dedicatory inscription, it was built by the duumvir Vivius Vinicius in the second half of the 2nd century BC. uh.. C three sides it was surrounded by a portico, on the south side there was a pedestal where award ceremonies were held, and utility rooms were built on the west side. Due to its small size, by the Augustan era it could no longer accommodate everyone, after which the Great Palaestra was built.

Temple of Isis

In the center of the courtyard, surrounded by a portico with Corinthian columns, on a high plinth stood a temple from the end of the 2nd century BC. e., restored after the earthquake of 62 on behalf of the 6-year-old Popidius Celsinius by his father Popidius Ampliatus, who hoped in this way to promote the future political career of his son.

The façade of the temple is decorated with a portico 4 columns wide and 2 deep. On the sides there were niches with statues of Anubis and Harpocrates. There was also a container with water from the Nile in the temple.

Temple of Jupiter Meilichius

It was built back in the III-II century BC. e. and dedicated to Zeus, but was rebuilt and transferred to the cult of Jupiter in the 80s BC. e. Identical in shape to the Temple of Isis, but with a deeper inner sanctuary. Made of tuff, lined with marble.

According to another hypothesis, based on some finds on the territory of the temple, it was dedicated to Asclepius.

Quadriportic

The quadriportico (a square with a portico) served as a place where theater audiences gathered before the start of the performance and during intermissions. After the earthquake of 62, which destroyed the gladiator barracks in the northern part of the city, a quadriportico was adapted as a barracks. Weapons were found here, now stored in National Museum Naples.

Bolshoi Theater

The Bolshoi Theater, which became the cultural center of the city, was built in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. e., using a natural slope to place seats for spectators. Under Augustus, the theater was expanded by the architect Marcus Artorius at the expense of Marcus Olkonius Rufus and Marcus Olkonius Celer by creating a superstructure above ground level supporting the upper rows of seats. As a result, it became capable of accommodating up to 5,000 spectators. It could have been covered with a canopy: the rings for it have survived to this day.

The bottom few rows ( ima cavea) were intended for noble citizens. Two balconies above the side entrances, also built by Marcus Artorius, are for priestesses and organizers of performances. The stage was decorated with columns, cornices and statues dating from after 62 AD.

Maly Theater

Amphitheater and Great Palaestra

Central Baths

Founded immediately after the earthquake of 62 AD. e., however, by 79 the pool had not been completed, and the portico of the palaestra had not even been started. The pipes through which water was supplied already existed, but the stoves were never built. They had a full set of halls, but only in one copy (without division into male and female sections).

Suburban thermal baths

They were located 100 meters outside the Sea Gate on an artificial terrace. Because of their position, they were found and plundered already in antiquity. Their interesting feature is the large windows overlooking the sea. The pools are decorated with frescoes depicting waterfalls and mountain caves, as well as mosaics. However, the baths are best known for the 16 erotic frescoes in the fourth style (including the only known Roman depiction of lesbian sex) found in the early 1990s in the apodyteria. Their presence gave rise to the hypothesis that a lupanarium functioned in the building on the second floor, which, however, is rejected by archaeologists who studied the baths and most historians.

Lupanarium

In addition to the lupanarium, there were at least 25 single rooms in the city intended for prostitution, often located above wine shops. The cost of this type of service in Pompeii was 2-8 asses. The staff was represented mainly by slaves of Greek or Oriental origin.

Industrial buildings

Providing food

In Pompeii, 34 bakeries were discovered that fully satisfied the needs of the townspeople and exported their products to neighboring settlements. Most famous Bakery Popidia Prisca And bakery on Stabius street, in which 5 hand mills have been preserved. There are two types of millstones: one fixed cone-shaped ( meta), another in uniform hourglass without bottom and lid ( catillus), which was put on top of him. Grain was poured into the cavity of the upper chute, and it was driven by slaves or oxen. The millstones are made from volcanic rocks. Many bakeries did not have counters to sell bread, either supplying it in bulk, delivering it door to door, or selling it on the street by hand.

Also in Pompeii, fish sauce "garum" was produced, which large quantities went for sale to other cities. A whole workshop for its preparation was excavated, in which amphoras for transporting the product were preserved. The technology was as follows: fish, boned and ground, was kept in salt (sea) water for several weeks. Often herbs, spices, and wine were added to it. They seasoned a wide variety of dishes with it.

In Pompeii, a system of thermopolis was developed (there were 89 establishments in total), which supplied people with hot food and allowed them to refuse to prepare it at home (many houses in Pompeii did not have a kitchen).

Crafts

One of the most important crafts in the city was the production of woolen fabrics. 13 wool processing workshops, 7 spinning and weaving workshops, 9 dyeing workshops were found. The most important production stage there was wool felting, which was carried out in Ancient Rome fullons ( fullones). The peculiarities of the technology allowed them to also wash the clothes of the townspeople.

The most widely known is Pompeian fulling shop Stefania- a residential building rebuilt into a workshop. The fullons felted and washed the wool from animal sweat and dirt in egg-shaped vats, of which Stefanius had three. Dirty clothes were also cleaned there. Soda or urine that had been left for 1-2 weeks was used as a detergent, which saponified the fat in the fabric. A container for collecting urine, for example, stood in the Eumachia building in the Forum. Throwing wool or very dirty cloth into the vat, the fullon trampled it with his feet ( saltus fullonicus- dance of the fullons, as Seneca called this process).

Then the wool and fabric had to be thoroughly rinsed in large containers, of which Stefanius also had three. Relatively clean and delicate items in his fulling shop were washed in the former impluvium of his Tuscan atrium. In addition, in the fulling shop there were containers for bleaching and dyeing things. Ironing of clothes was also carried out here; there was even a special press for tunics.

In another fulling mill (there are 18 of them in Pompeii), located on Mercurius Street, frescoes were found that shed light on the whole process fullons.

Residential buildings

The originals of most works of ancient Roman art (frescoes, mosaics) are exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. There are copies in the houses themselves.

House of the Tragic Poet

It is a typical Roman house of the 2nd century BC. e. and is famous for its mosaic floors and frescoes depicting scenes from Greek mythology. Located opposite the Forum Baths. Named after the mosaic laid out in the floor of a rehearsal of a tragic performance. At the entrance to the house there is a mosaic with the image of a dog and the inscription “Cave Canem” (“Beware of the dog”). On the sides of the entrance there were retail premises.

The walls of the atrium were decorated with images of Zeus and Hera, scenes from the Iliad. The frescoes were moved to the Archaeological Museum of Naples.

House of the Surgeon

One of the oldest Pompeian residential buildings, built in the 4th-3rd centuries BC. e. It received its name due to the fact that numerous surgical instruments were found in it. The facade is made of limestone blocks, the internal walls are made using opus africanum(vertical structures made of alternating vertical and horizontal blocks placed on top of each other, between which the wall was lined with smaller stones or bricks). Frescoes in the first and fourth styles have been preserved.

House of the Faun

The rich house, occupying the space between four streets - insulu (40 by 110 m), with an area of 3000 m² - is the most luxurious house in Pompeii. Presumably, it was built for Publius Sulla, the nephew of the conqueror of the city, whom he placed at the head of Pompeii.

On the threshold of the main entrance to the house there is a mosaic inscription “HAVE” (hello), from here one could go into the Etruscan (Tuscan) atrium, which has preserved to this day an impluvium (a shallow pool for collecting rainwater) with a rich geometric inlay of multi-colored marble and a figurine of a dancing Faun, who gave the house its name. The second entrance was located to the east and led to a second, tetrastyle (with a roof supported by 4 columns), atrium, apparently intended for guests.

House of the Vettii

A small but richly decorated house that belonged to the freedmen merchants Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus. The wall painting was made after 62 in the fourth style. Through the entrance and vestibule, where there is a famous fresco of Priapus, one enters the atrium, the walls of which are decorated with friezes of cupids and psyches. The two wings of the atrium are decorated with medallions with the heads of Medusa and Silenus (right) and a fresco with fighting roosters (left). Another entrance leads here from the street through outbuildings.

To the right is a second small atrium with a lararium (separate sanctuary). The peristyle, rectangular in plan, is perpendicular to the direction of the main entrance. It is decorated with Doric columns and wall paintings. The peristyle was completely restored, even the flower beds were recreated using the remaining traces. The triclinium opens into the peristyle, the walls of which are painted with cupids imitating human activities. Scenes of trade, chariot racing, metalworking, weaving, grape harvesting, and festivals are visible. There are also a large number of frescoes illustrating episodes of myths and images of gods. In the hall to the left of the peristyle is young Hercules strangling snakes.

House of Gilded Cupids

Graffiti on the wall of the house names its owner as Poppaea Abito, a relative of Poppaea, Nero's second wife.

The peristyle was probably used for theatrical performances: one of the colonnades is raised like a stage. Medallions and masks were hung between the columns. The peristyle garden is filled with busts and bas-reliefs; in its northern part there is a lararium, in the southern part there is a sanctuary of Isis. The tablinium and triclinium are decorated with frescoes based on Greek myths. Discs with cupids on gold leaves are inserted into the wall of one of the rooms.

House of Menander

House of Moralist and House of Pinaria Ceriale

Moralist's House is located near the house of Lorey Tiburtina. So named because of the inscriptions in the summer triclinium (white on black):

Keep your feet clean and do not dirty your linens and beds,
Respect women and avoid obscene speech,
Refrain from anger and fighting.

Finally, the conclusion: “Otherwise, go back to your home.”

Located next door house of Pinaria Zeriale, owned by a jeweler. During its excavations, more than a hundred precious stones were found.

House of Julia Felix

It occupies one of the largest insulas in the city, but only a third of it is built up, 2/3 are gardens. Part of the house with bathhouses was rented out.

House of the Garden of Hercules (House of the Perfumer)

It was a relatively small house. The entrance led to a corridor flanked by two cubicles and ending in an atrium. Behind the atrium there were several more rooms and a huge garden, laid out in the 1st century BC. e. There are 5 similar houses on the site. In the garden there was a lararium with a statue of Hercules, from which the whole house took its name.

It was excavated in 1954, but only as a result of research by employees of the University of Maryland it was discovered that the garden was intended for growing plants from which perfumes and fragrant oils were produced. Perhaps flower garlands were also made here. As a result of these studies, the house received a second name - the Perfumer's House.

City fortifications

The walls of Pompeii are 3220 m long and have 7 gates (the existence of an eighth is controversial). Built along its entire perimeter already in the 6th-5th centuries BC. e. (at that time most of the fortified area had not yet been built up, but was occupied by gardens and vegetable gardens) made of limestone and tuff, filled with earth inside. Under Samnite rule, a mound was made on the inside, allowing the defenders to climb to the top of the walls and providing them with additional strength. In the 3rd century BC. e. this embankment is reinforced with stone. 12 towers on the most vulnerable northern and eastern sides were added in the 2nd and early 1st centuries BC. uh..

The Herculan (or Salt) Gate was completely rebuilt during the Augustan era, having lost protective functions and becoming more like a three-span triumphal arch. Between them and the Vesuvian Gate, damage caused by Sulla's siege weapons is visible on the city wall.

Traveling around Italy, we could not help but visit this city of “buried alive”. The interest in visiting the city of Pompeii and taking photos of Pompeii was mainly to see with my own eyes the life of those times, to find out what people did in those distant centuries, when there were no televisions, no discos, no computers and electricity. In Pompeii, life stopped suddenly and only here everything was preserved in its original form.

This is precisely why the history of Pompeii arouses such interest among tourists and travelers. To see Vesuvius with your own eyes and wander through the ancient streets - in my opinion, this is the height of all desires.
Judging by the excavations, the city of Pompeii in those days was a rich and populated city. It had temples, rich large houses, baths, wells and even an arena for gladiator fights. The city flourished. The guides claim that they have not yet excavated everything here; much more remains under a thick layer of ash. Pompeii is a clear example of the fact that this is how you live, live, prosper, and one “beautiful” day a catastrophe occurs and everything freezes. Time stops and records, like a camera, the measured flow of life, so that later, centuries later, it can be revealed to descendants in the form of streets of charred skeletons. In Pompeii, some residents died with bags of gold on their shoulders. Apparently they hoped to escape from the raging volcano, taking with them all the most valuable things.

And life in the city of Pompeii was stormy and eventful. This is evidenced by the many taverns and brothels that were discovered during excavations. Judging by these excavations in the city of Pompeii, people lived for their own pleasure, so to speak, “to the fullest,” without denying themselves anything. Their relaxed morals are evidenced by members of all sizes and configurations carved directly into the pavement and the walls of houses decorated with frescoes on an erotic theme: “The Kama Sutra” is resting. By the way, in Pompeii you can buy a separate excursion to the Gallery of erotic frescoes and drawings. True, historians claim that the image of a penis in ancient Italy had a slightly different meaning. The penis in Pompeii, so to speak, was worshiped. It was a kind of talisman against the evil eye or, for example, a talisman for good luck, and a carved penis on the roadway meant the direction of movement along the street. Sort of road sign"straight arrow" on a blue background. It's no surprise that the most popular souvenir from Pompeii is the male penis.

Road sign.

After the volcanic eruption in Pompeii, everything and everyone died from ash and hot lava. But the erotic frescoes in brothels, of which there were a great many in the city, were well preserved. As they say, manuscripts don’t burn. One can imagine in what spirit children were raised in those centuries, if from birth they were surrounded by drunkenness, debauchery and bacchanalia.
Pompeii is considered the birthplace of paid toilets. This is where I was born catchphrase“Money doesn’t smell” when Emperor Vespasian introduced fees for using outdoor toilets. And the toilets were noble, with marble walls and gold-encrusted toilets. In those days, toilets were also a place for business meetings and negotiations. They discussed important issues and resolved business corporate issues. The volcanic eruption in Pompeii instantly stopped this luxurious and carefree life.

And now, centuries later, tourists wander the excavated streets of Pompeii, a city buried alive, and look with curiosity at well-preserved clay pots, temple columns and all kinds of household utensils of those times, which in August 79 were almost instantly covered with hot ash. Suddenness is here main enemy humanity.

Everyone entering Pompeii was forced to urinate in this cave, and the urine was then used for industrial purposes.

In the summer in Pompeii it is very hot due to the hot stones. Two thousand years ago it was also hot, so on the city streets there were many fountains with cold drinking water coming into them from the mountains. In those distant times, water flowed into these sources through lead pipes. Nowadays, in the heat, you can always quench your thirst from these fountains. The water is really very tasty. Many tourists take it with them on the road.
As I already said, Pompeii was a very rich city. This is evidenced by rich temples, such as the Temple of Venus, the Temple of Apollo, built here in the 6th century BC. and the Temple of Jupiter. (2nd century BC). We saw enough of the ruins when we were traveling around Greece, but these Pompeian ruins are special. They have survived to this day in their original form, not like the Greek remake. There were two theaters in Pompeii. One is for the entertainment of rich citizens - the Odeon, the second, an amphitheater, for commoners. The ancient Roman slogan "Bread and Circuses" worked full program. In addition, the land of volcanic origin made it possible to harvest crops in these parts three times a year without any additional effort. Even a stick stuck in the ground sprouted. Until now, citrus fruits are grown here in incredible sizes and in incredible quantities, so fertile is the land at the foot of the volcano.

After excavations in Pompeii, the dwellings of the Pompeians with all their household utensils were well preserved. But the frozen bodies of residents and animals are especially impressive. To prevent them from falling apart, these mummies are now covered in wax.

The facial expressions and gestures of people remained the same as they were at the moment of the volcanic eruption in Pompeii. A lot of things were found in Pompeii during excavations, there is no point in listing everything, numerous guidebooks and reference books have been written about this and there is no point in listing it all. It’s better to just look at a photo of Pompeii and try to imagine the life of the townspeople of those distant times.

This sign indicated the street name and house number. Residents of the city could use such signs to find their way.

The houses of wealthy Pompeians were decorated with figurines.

People once lived here, but it was all covered with ash. Frescoes have been preserved on the walls.

Street in Pompeii, paved with paving stones.

Pompeii bins.

Some tips before visiting Pompei.
The city streets are paved with paving stones; heels will be very uncomfortable; prepare suitable shoes in advance. At the entrance to the excavations you can buy a guide map; it will be very convenient to navigate among the ruins. Five hours is enough to walk around and see everything in detail. An excursion to the archaeological complex of Pompeii costs 12 euros per person. Entrance to the city of Pompeii itself is also paid, but I don’t remember the cost now.
These days, scientists are constantly warning local residents about the possibility of another sudden eruption. In this regard, it is prohibited to build houses higher than three floors. But the fertile lands and the massive presence of tourists, whose money flows like a river into the city’s treasury and into the hands of the townspeople, dull the feeling of fear.

Luxurious mansions near the foot of Mount Vesuvius. And they are not afraid of any earthquakes.

Rich villas and mansions continue to proliferate at the foot of the volcano in Pompeii, despite warnings from seismologists. And an eruption and earthquake can happen here at any minute. And who knows, maybe in another few thousand years our descendants will come here after excavations and be surprised at our way of life, trying to read the inscription on a chewing gum wrapper.

Well, everyone knows this picture from childhood.

"Vesuvius opened its mouth - smoke poured out in a cloud, flames
Widely developed as a battle flag.
The earth is agitated - from the shaky columns
Idols fall! A people driven by fear
Under the stone rain, under the inflamed ashes,
In crowds, old and young, fleeing from the city."
A.S. Pushkin

Pompeii is one of the oldest cities in Italy, located at the foot of Vesuvius in Campania - a fertile region of the Apennine Peninsula with loose volcanic soil and a mild climate.

Ancient Campaign (from the book of Mau)

It is not known exactly when Pompeii was founded, but we know that archeology dates the fragments of the Temple of Apollo - one of the oldest buildings in the city - to the end of the 7th century. BC Another ancient building of Pompeii - the Doric temple - dates back to the beginning of the 6th century. BC and probably served as the cultural center of the Greek emporium. But the Oscans can be considered the true founders of the city (the oldest inscriptions of Pompeii were made in the Oscan language). The venerable age of Pompeii is also confirmed by the results of excavations by Amedeo Maiuri and Stefano de Caro: archaeologists date the early city walls and the remains of gates found in the 6th region to the middle of the 6th century BC. - main building material this time there was tuff.

In the VI century. BC e. Pompeii was one of the cities of the union of Etruscan cities formed in Campania, led by Capua. However, the sources telling about this period do not say anything specific about the town - Pompeii does not stand out in any way from the rest of the Campanian cities. Etruscan period ends in the middle of the 5th century. BC - primacy in the region passes to the Samnites. The history of the change of peoples in Campania is given by Strabo in his “Geography” (V.4.8.): “Immediately adjacent to Naples is the Hercules fortress, lying on a cape jutting out into the sea, and so open to the blow of the southwest wind that this makes the settlement surprisingly healthy This city and the next one, Pompeii, past which the Sarn River flows, were once ruled by the Osci, then by the Tyrrhenians and Pelasgians, and then by the Samnites. However, the latter were driven out of this area."

As a result of the Samnite wars of the late IV-early III centuries. BC e. prosperous Campanian cities turn into Roman allies and are deprived of the right to independent foreign policy, which, however, has little effect on their economy. The first written mention of the city dates back to this time - Titus Livius in his “History of Rome from the Foundation of the City” (IX, 38, 2) under 311 BC. talks about the “landing” of Roman sailors: “At the same time, Publius Cornelius, to whom the Senate entrusted the coastal regions, led the Roman fleet to Campania, and the shipmen, landing at Pompeii, set off to ravage the Nuceria possessions.” The Romanization of Pompeii begins, but more than two centuries must pass before its final completion. The chronicles of these centuries did not preserve any mention of the city, and the next time Pompeii appeared in Roman history was in the 1st century. BC

In 89 BC, during the Allied War, Lucius Cornelius Sulla led the siege of Pompeii, but was forced to retreat - the city managed to hold out. During this turbulent time, the city wall was additionally fortified with 12 towers. True, this did not save Pompeii; later Sulla managed to break the resistance of the inhabitants, and then place about 2 thousand veterans of his army who had served in the city as colonists. Pompeii received the status of a Roman colony with the new name Coloniae Corneliae Veneriae Pompeianorum.

Traces of Sulla's battering guns on a section of the city wall of Pompeii

Rome's dominant position in the Mediterranean contributed to the development of maritime trade and the emergence of new markets in the East. The invention of cheap, locally made concrete and the widespread use of slave labor led to a boom in construction. The empire paid special attention to civil architecture: water pipelines and bridges, baths and amphitheatres, villas and multi-storey residential buildings were built. The creation of excellent roads throughout Italy contributes to the development of overland trade and interregional connections. Cities are being intensively built up with shops, markets and other premises for exchange and trade.

In the 1st century BC e. Pompeii is turning into a well-maintained cultural center. An amphitheater for 20 thousand spectators, an Odeon, and numerous private buildings are being built, and streets are being paved. The city is actively decorated with sculptures, mosaics, and frescoes created at a high artistic level.

February 5, 62 AD The first bell of the impending catastrophe sounded - a powerful earthquake occurred in Campania with an epicenter in the vicinity of Pompeii. The city was destroyed, and Nuceria, Herculaneum and other nearby towns were also badly damaged. Naturally, for such a seismically active zone as Campania, earthquakes are not uncommon, as Seneca notes in his treatise “Naturales Quaestiones” (VI, I, 2): “... it is true that Campania has never been free from the threat of such disasters, but they happened so many times without causing any harm that the fear of them passed..." However, this time the power of the elements surpassed the scale known to the generation - the Pompeians even captured its consequences in art: the lararium in the house of the Pompeian banker Lucius Caecilius Jucunda depicts a whole series of buildings of the city during an earthquake.

Bas-relief from the house of Jucunda

The next 15 years of Pompeii were filled with feverish construction activity - city residents restored what was destroyed by the earthquake and even laid new buildings. One of the largest buildings in Pompeii after the earthquake - the Central Baths - was never completed by 79 AD. In many houses, archaeologists found traces of reconstruction, cosmetic repairs, renovation of paintings and mosaics. Everything indicated that the inhabitants of Pompeii, despite the cruel blow of nature, did not take Vesuvius into account in their future plans for life.

Mild tremors of the 70s. AD The townspeople took it very seriously - the cracks in the walls served as the reason for another renovation of the interiors of houses and other restoration work in the city. Many indications of another construction boom have been found: valuables in rich houses are stacked in locked utility rooms, tools, amphorae with lime, and pots of paints are laid out in rooms ready for decoration. Everything indicates that the earthquake preceding the eruption did not cause panic among the Pompeians, and they prepared for the usual restoration of what was damaged by the elements.

But on August 24, the history of the city is suddenly interrupted - the hitherto dormant Vesuvius wakes up and brings down all sorts of products of volcanic activity onto the surrounding area. Tremors, flakes of ash, stones falling from the sky - all this took the inhabitants of Pompeii by surprise. People tried to take refuge in houses, but died from suffocation or under the rubble. Death overtook some in public places - in theaters, markets, forums, churches, some - on the streets of the city, some - already outside the city limits. However, the vast majority of residents still managed to leave the city.

Bryullov K.P. Last day of Pompeii. 1833

The eruption of Vesuvius lasted all day. Pompeii was covered with a multi-meter layer of ash and lapilli. The nearby towns of Stabia and Octavianum suffered the same fate. Herculaneum, located on the other side of the volcano, died a little later - on the next day it was destroyed by a powerful pyroclastic wave, and the rain that began after the eruption washed away the ashes from the slopes of Vesuvius, and the destroyed city was flooded with mud flows - mudflows and lahars.

Dust and ash hung in the sky like a black veil for three days. An investigative commission that arrived at Vesuvius found that the towns were irretrievably lost. For some time, the surviving people wandered through the ruins, trying to find their property, but soon they too left the dead city.

They forgot about Pompeii until the 16th century, until in 1592-1600, when digging underground tunnels to divert water from the Sarno River to the villa of Count Tuttavilla under the leadership of the Italian architect Domenico Fontana, several inscriptions were found, as well as fragments of colored wall paintings, which, however, were unknown to anyone It didn’t occur to me to connect it with Pompeii, although one of the inscriptions contained two perfectly preserved words “decurio pompeis” (which was interpreted as the name of the owner of the “found villa” - Pompey, but in fact it was a mention of one of the city positions).

Fountain tunnel to drain water from the Sarno River

The assumption about the identity of Civita and ancient Pompeii was first made by the German antiquarian Holsteinius, who visited the town in 1637, but was perceived negatively by the public. Another inscription with the name of the city, found in 1689, sparked discussions in scientific world. The architect Pichetti again suggested that the site was somehow connected with Pompey, while the historian Bianchini stated that the inscription directly points to the location ancient city Pompeii.

One of the Pompeii inscriptions in Oscan language

In 1748, the head of the excavations in Herculaneum, Joaquin de Alcubierre, as a military engineer who controlled the work and maintenance of all royal military facilities, received a message about the discovery of some ancient objects in the town of La Civita near the city of Torre Annunziata, where the royal gunpowder factories were located. Assuming that the Stabiae buried by Vesuvius were also located there, Alcubierre transferred several workers from Herculaneum to Civita. In technical terms, working here turned out to be easier - the layer of volcanic material is three times smaller and not as hard as in Herculaneum.

However, three months of work in Pompeii did not satisfy Alcubierre with the number of things found, and the excavations were curtailed for a while, and the workers returned to Herculaneum. From the Stabii, in documents of those years prepared by Alcubierre himself, a plan for a section of the amphitheater has been preserved.

They returned to Pompeii again in 1750. Alcubierre's newly appointed assistant, Karl Weber, undertook to explore the city villa of Julia Felix, already known since 1748. Over the next 7 years (in 1757, Julia's property was filled up after the removal of things suitable for the king), Weber was able to draw up a detailed plan of the entire complex, indicating the exact locations of all finds, linking this plan with inventory lists. Even later - probably in 1759 or 1760 - he also prepared axonometric documentation of the Villa Julia Felix. All this time, Pompeii was conventionally considered Stabiae (despite the work in the real Stabiae and Gragnano).

Only 15 years after the start of regular excavations - on August 18, 1763 - the border pillar of Pompeii was discovered (more details in the chapter on excavations of 1748-1798), which made it possible to accurately determine the object of interest of archaeologists.

Thanks to its sudden and rapid destruction, Pompeii is the best preserved ancient city. Since the entire furnishings of the houses remained untouched under a layer of solidified lava, Pompeii became an important and valuable source of information about the life, way of life, urban structure, culture and art of the Roman Empire in the 1st century. n. e.

To date, 3/5 of the city has been opened (they decided to leave the rest to future generations): defensive walls, gates, necropolises, blocks of residential buildings with mosaics, frescoes and sculptures in excellent preservation, two forums, an amphitheater and two theaters, temples and much more. The Pompeii lighting project is being implemented.

Fragment of a three-dimensional map of the ruins of Pompeii. National Archaeological Museum of Naples

Reasonable attempts are now being made to push the date of the eruption forward by 2 months - to October 79 AD.

The date itself in Pliny's letters, indicated as nonum kal. Septembres, was translated as August 24, but now the translation tradition can be revised in favor of non(as) Novembr(es) or nonum kal (endas) Decembres, which moves the eruption date to the end of October, the beginning of November, or even the end of December.

In favor of the “autumn version,” archaeologists give the following arguments:
- ripe fruits, including grapes, found during excavations;
- warm clothes on some victims and braziers in the premises;
- jugs full of wine in a rural villa in Boscoreale;
- a silver coin from the House of the Golden Bracelet (where the title of Titus was minted with the indication "imperator XV", which could not have happened before the beginning of September).

Pompeii is an ancient Roman city in southern Italy near Naples. As you know, Pompeii was buried under a multi-meter layer of ash during the eruption in 79. Nowadays, the city is a huge open-air museum, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997.

The city was founded by the Osci in the 6th century. The name of the city comes from the Oscan pumpe - five, since the city was formed by the merger of five smaller settlements. In Roman times, the division into five electoral districts remained. Another version of the origin of the name is Greek, from the word pompe - triumphal procession.

According to this legend, the city was founded by Hercules, who, after defeating Geryon, solemnly walked through these places. IN different times the city was owned by the Greeks, Etruscans and Samnites. In 310 BC. Pompeii became an ally of the Roman Republic as an autonomous, self-governing city.

In 90-88 BC. the city takes part in the revolt against Rome.

In 89 BC. Consul Sula took the city, limited its autonomy and made it a colony of Rome. The city occupied an important place on the trade route between and Southern Italy. Many noble Romans had villas on the territory of Pompeii. A high-profile event was the massacre between the inhabitants of Pompeii and Nuceria in 59 during the gladiatorial games. An ordinary fight between fans turned into a bloodbath. As a result, games were banned in Pompeii for 3 years.

Tickets
Entrance ticket to the archaeological complex of Pompeii costs 15 euros. For visitors under 18 years of age, admission is free, but you must show a document confirming your age.
We recommend buying tickets in advance online only at official ticket offices ticketone.it
See registration on the website.

How to get from Naples on your own
You can get to Pompeii on your own from Naples, by bus or rented car. We recommend options with public transport(in the south of Italy it goes depending on the mood and not regularly), only for the most experienced travelers with time to spare and a great desire to save money. Let's look at all the methods in detail:
By rented car
If you are traveling through small towns in Italy on your own, then you can come to Pompeii by personal transport - Of the independent options, it is the most convenient. Parking near the archaeological zone will cost approximately 5 euros per hour. We recommend reading about the features of car rental in Italy and choosing the best option on our website
You will need:

By train
In Naples, Napoli Porta Nolana and Napoli P. Garibaldi stations have direct trains Circumvesuviana (literally translated “Around Vesuvius”) - of the options, public transport is the only one we can recommend. Here is a link to the schedule. You need to get off at Pompei Scravi Villa dei Misteri station– it is located almost next to the ticket office. The drive is approximately 30 minutes.
Tickets can be purchased in advance online at the ticket office ots.eavsrl.it/web/public/ots/ticket/index
Choose the Napoli-Sorrento line and ticket to Villa Misteri, date and number of passengers. Click Avanti. Please note that the site is also available in English, the switch on the right is the British flag.
Electric trains depart in the morning from 09:06 and 11:36.
To visit Pompeii you need to allocate at least 2 hours. You can also take this line to . From Pompeii back to Naples the train leaves at 17:18, a round-trip ticket costs 11 euros, there are no discounts for children.
Trenitalia companies depart from Naples Central Station towards Pompei station approximately every 30 minutes. The ticket costs 2.80 euros one way. If the train arrives on schedule and there are no stops, the travel time will be 38 minutes. Be prepared for frequent stops, proximity to gypsies and various beggars.
The station is located about 3 kilometers from the entrance to the archaeological park, so it makes sense to wait for bus 004 (possibly N50) and take it 3 stops.
Google advises looking at the schedule on the website of the official carrier http://www.fsbusitaliacampania.it, but, for example, in the schedule of bus 4 I don’t see the Mazzini stop. Apparently it’s easier to ask the locals upon arrival, they should help. We will be grateful if someone shares their adventure experience in the comments.
By bus
According to information from Google, direct buses N5000 and N5020 from SITAsud go to the archaeological complex relatively regularly from Naples - I do not recommend this option, since there is no real schedule or prices on the carrier’s website. To complete the picture, let's consider this method.
The Via Ferraris Galileo bus stop in Naples is located about a kilometer from Napoli Centrale station.
Bus tickets should cost 10 euros and can be purchased at:
BAR ETTORE, PIAZZA GARIBALDI 95
Inside Napoli Centrale station look for EDICOLA NUMBER ONE HUDSON NEWS
ARPANET, corso Arnaldo Lucci, 163
BIGLIETTERIA NAPOLI CAPOLINEA, PIAZZALE IMMACOLATELLA VECCHIA 1
BAR DEL PORTO, VIA C OLIVARES ANG. VIA CAMPO D'ISOLA 26
BAR TIRAMISU’, Napoli – Corso Lucci

What to see
Here are the attractions of Pompeii that are recommended to be visited during the tour:
Temple of Apollo - one of the oldest temples of the ancient city is dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. The first mention of the shrine dates back to the eighth century BC, which is also confirmed by archaeological excavations. Now we can only imagine and speculate, but most likely on the site of the current ruins there was first an altar, and only a hundred or two hundred years later (they were in no hurry to build before) the main building was built. Today, of the majestic colonnade containing 28 columns, only two have survived. Also, two millennia later, in the internal niches of the temple we can observe frescoes with scenes from the Trojan War.
Refugee Garden
Great Palaestra
Temple of Jupiter
Amphitheater
Street of Plenty
Thermal Baths
Venus's house in the shell
Thermopolis
Bolshoi and Maly Theater
Gladiator Barracks Triangular Forum
Lupanarium
Forum
Eumachia building
Temple of Vespasian
Market
House of the Faun
House of the Small Fountain
Basilica

Visiting architectural monuments with a good guide will allow you to temporarily immerse yourself in the ancient world and touch its secrets.

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