Ancient Pompeii. Reconstruction of Pompeii, a city buried alive. "Ancient Roman Rublevka" was founded by Hercules

Ancient city of Pompeii was formed back in the 6th century BC. If it were not for the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which burned the entire city to the ground, covering it with a huge layer of volcanic ash, Pompeii would still exist not far from Naples. Now these are ruins that UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage Site.

The name Pompeii arose after the unification of five independent cities (pumpe - five). This is a more plausible version. There is a legend according to which Hercules defeated the giant Geryon in a tough battle, and after that he solemnly walked around the city, celebrating the victory. From the ancient Greek language pumpe is a solemn, triumphal procession.

In those days, people believed in God, and believed that the gods controlled earthly cataclysms. Despite the fact that on February 5, 62 AD. e. A strong earthquake occurred, which could possibly have been the impetus for a volcanic eruption, people still continued to live in the city, worshiping the gods, and believing that no misfortune would happen to them. Still, the volcano erupted. It happened August 24, 79 AD Not only the city of Pompeii suffered, but also nearby cities - Herculaneum, Stabiae. The eruption was so strong that the ash even reached neighboring countries - Egypt and Syria. About 20 thousand people lived in the city. Some managed to escape even before the disaster began, but many died. The exact number of victims is unknown, but the remains of bodies were found far outside the city.

The city remained under a layer of ash for many centuries until in 1592 by Dominico Fontana(a famous architect of that time) did not stumble upon the city wall while laying a canal from the Sarno River. No one gave this wall much importance, and only about 100 years later in the ruins of Pompeii they found a tablet with the inscription “Pompeii” carved on it. Even after this incident, no one could have imagined that this was an ancient city that had disappeared from the face of the earth. They concluded that this was the old villa of Pompey the Great.

And so in 1748 the extraction of the ancient city began. Led the excavations Alcubierre, who was sure that this was the city of Stabia. Directly in Pompeii itself, only three excavations were carried out in different places. Alcubierre was a barbarian, and he sent all finds that, in his opinion, were of interest to the Naples Museum, and simply destroyed others. Many scientists protested, and the excavations stopped.

In 1760, new excavations began, led by F. Vega. They continued until 1804. Vega and his subordinates spent 44 years retrieving works of art. All finds were restored again and removed very carefully. At this time, tourists had already begun to come here, so many monuments were not immediately transferred to museums, but were left on display for visitors to the city of Pompeii, which had already become a museum.

In 1863, excavations continued. This time they were led Giuseppe Fiorelli. It was he who discovered a huge number of voids under layers of ash. These are nothing more than the bodies of the city's inhabitants. By filling these voids with plaster, scientists completely reproduced casts of human bodies, right down to facial expressions.

Pompeii today.

With each subsequent explosion, deadly hot gases, ash and actual rain of rock fragments burst out, followed by pyroclastic flows, more lethal than lava due to their high temperature and speed. When it was all over, Pompeii and its inhabitants were buried under 6 meters of volcanic debris and ash.

A city dweller who died in a dream.

After being buried in petrified ash for over 1,900 years, the victims of Pompeii have been unearthed using modern technology. So scientists were finally able to see a civilization that died almost 2 millennia ago, and was literally “frozen in time.”

The townspeople were burned alive.

Until recently, the main cause of death for the inhabitants of Pompeii was considered to be suffocation caused by deadly volcanic gases and ash. But a recent study by volcanologist Giuseppe Mastrolorenzo and his colleagues found that hundreds of deaths occurred during the fourth pyroclastic explosion, which reached Pompeii first. Scientists determined that there was much less ash in the deadly stream than previously thought - about 3 centimeters. However, the temperature was at least 300 degrees Celsius, so people died instantly.

3/4 of the townspeople froze in the positions they were in at the time of death.

The poses of the people show how they died: some were trapped inside buildings, while others tried to shield family members. When these unfortunate victims were excavated by modern scientists, they used plaster casting technology (in one case, resin casting) to preserve the petrified human figures. The soft tissues of the victims have long since decomposed; inside each such petrified figure there is a skeleton. Therefore, these are not statues or replicas, but real corpses that have been encased in plaster to prevent them from being destroyed.

Of the approximately 2,000 dead bodies found, only 86 of these plaster casts of human figures were made. The conditions for creating such a figure are rare, which explains why they were not made from all the remains found. Excavations are still carried out in Pompeii today. But plaster damages the fragile remains of corpses, so archaeologists are no longer producing new “sculptures with skeletons inside.” Moreover, not only the poses of the victims at the time of death were preserved, but also the expressions on their faces, which show agony.

Frozen in agony.

One of the victims raised her hands above her head in a protective gesture - a desperate, reflexive attempt to stave off her impending doom. The face froze in an endless scream, showing perfectly preserved teeth in the mouth. With outstretched hands, mother and her child face death. One man sits with his face in his hands, as if resigned to what is about to happen. Others try to crawl away in a futile attempt to escape their inevitable fate. A number of fossilized remains were found curled up in the fetal position or hugging their loved ones.

No one knows how he will spend his last minutes, faced with such a terrible prospect. However, in the case of one person, archaeologists had a number of questions. His petrified remains lie on his back, with his legs spread, and the man pressed his hands to his lower abdomen. So while most of the excavated victims clearly display terror and anticipation of their final moments, one victim may have chosen to act very differently.

The Fugitive Garden is where the largest group of victims was found.

Of the approximately 2,000 inhabitants of Pompeii believed to have died in the disaster, archaeologists have recovered only about 1,150 bodies. This means that most of the city's 20,000 population managed to escape when the volcanic activity began. The largest number of victims who died in one place was found in the "Garden of the Fugitives." Thirteen people sought refuge there and died. The remains of nine people were found in the House of Mysteries (it is believed that the roof of the building collapsed and buried these people). Two more victims were found in the thermal baths and in the fish market, and several more were found in the Olitorium (market).

The remains of a pet dog found in the Olitorium market.

The remains of several animals have been found in Pompeii. Since it was a prosperous city, many residents had pets, mostly dogs. Most wealthy residents also owned horses and farm animals. In addition, wild animals roamed the vicinity of the city, which also could not escape and were doomed.

Remains of a pig at the Olitorium market.

In the Olitorium market, the remains of a pig were discovered, as well as a small dog (presumably someone's pet), which was lying on its back, its paws so curled as if the animal was in terrible pain in its last moments. It is assumed that the owners tied the poor dog in the atrium, and he managed to survive the first phase of the eruption, climbing on the ash and pumice as it covered the house... but the chain did not allow him to go further, and the fourth eruption killed the dog.

Remains of a horse on Pompeii Street.

The owners may have left the dog to guard their valuables, hoping to return when the eruption ended. But by doing this they doomed her to a terrible death. Archaeologists recently discovered several horses in the stables of one of the Pompeii villas. It appears that at least three horses were killed, two of which were harnessed and possibly prepared for hasty evacuation. However, they did not have time to do this.

The bread retained its shape and texture.

Fully preserved ancient bread was discovered under a thick layer of dust and ash. Although there is actually nothing exotic about it, it is worth talking about. It was a perfectly preserved round loaf, divided into eight pieces, and marked with the baker's stamp (bread bakeries in that era usually stamped the bread they made so that you could immediately find out who made any loaf). This bread retained its shape and texture for 2 millennia under a 9-meter layer of ash and earth.

Following this discovery, scientists from the University of Cincinnati conducted a study that shed light on what the inhabitants of ancient Pompeii ate and drank. Researchers analyzed organic remains from kitchens and toilets (yes, that's right, ancient fossilized feces).

Public toilet.

They were able to determine that the Pompeian diet consisted mainly of grains, lentils, olives, eggs, nuts, fish and meat. The diet of higher-ranking citizens also included imported foods such as exotic spices, shellfish, sea urchins, flamingos, and even giraffes.

Study co-author Stephen Ellis, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, said: "This is believed to be the only giraffe bone ever recovered from an archaeological dig in Roman Italy." Finally, the Pompeians were fond of garum, a fermented fish sauce made from the innards of fish (the salted fish was left to ferment (or rot) for two months in the sun). Some contemporaries compare garum to Thai fish sauce. But in ancient Pompeii it was considered something like ketchup.

The inhabitants of Pompeii had healthy teeth.

A recent scan revealed that the people of Pompeii had surprisingly healthy pearly white teeth. Although in 79 AD. e. there was no proper dental care, the people of Pompeii had much better dental health than the average European. Researchers point out that the teeth of the Pompeians were in many ways even better than those of people today. This is due to the fact that the diet of the locals was healthy, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and low in sugars. In addition, the city's air and drinking water had high levels of fluoride due to its proximity to the volcano.

The “two maidens” actually turned out to be men.

This iconic pair of fossilized remains from Pompeii was previously thought to be two women who embraced in the face of impending death. When archaeologists found them, they called them “Two Maidens.” However, in early 2017, researchers discovered that the hugging individuals were men, and quite possibly lovers.

CT scans and DNA results from bones and teeth confirmed that they were definitely male and not related. One was 18-20 years old, and the other was over 20. One laid his head on the other's chest, as if seeking comfort or refuge. Of course, it can no longer be said that they were gay, but the DNA results and the position in which they were found led scientists to believe that there may have been an emotional connection between them.

Oh, already these desires.

The sexual habits of the inhabitants of Pompeii would make modern people blush, because ancient Rome and Pompeii were considered hedonistic cultures without complexes. Pompeii was first discovered in the late 16th century by workers digging a canal to divert the course of the Sarno River. They reported their discovery to the Italian architect Domenico Fontana, who was so amazed by the explicit frescoes and other sexual objects that he ordered everything to be buried again.

Too scandalous scenes.

The items found were considered too scandalous and offensive for the era. As a result, the artifacts remained buried until the 18th century. And even after repeated targeted excavations began, most of the “treasures of Pompeii” were hidden. In 1819, Francis I, the future ruler of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, was so shocked by the apparently erotic nature of the objects brought to him from Pompeii that he ordered them to be locked in a secret cabinet. Access to artifacts was limited only to the most mature gentlemen with a lack of excessive morality.

Well, very explicit scenes.

Most of these artifacts were not made available to the public until 2000. The Pompeians decorated furniture, oil lamps, and even musical pendants with phallic symbols. Erotic scenes were depicted in mosaics and frescoes on the walls of houses. Erotica was everywhere. The most famous object is a detailed sculpture of the god Pan committing adultery with a goat. This item belonged to Lucius Pontiff, father-in-law of Julius Caesar.

Brothels are the most popular establishments in Pompeii.

Brothels were also very popular in ancient Pompeii, of which there were 35 in the city at the time of the eruption. Prices for services were written on the walls of the establishment. And what services can be obtained inside were also painted on the walls of the brothels, and in great detail. But contrary to the images on the walls, sex workers appeared to lead grim lives. The rooms had stone beds and no windows, as well as any amenities.

Prison for slaves.

Despite numerous excavations of Pompeii, the dark history of slavery in this place is not fully understood. Scientists learned everything that is known from paintings, frescoes and mosaics found during excavations. However, it is clear that slavery was common in Pompeii. Whether servants, concubines, or sex workers, slaves were ubiquitous in Pompeian society. As in other societies, slaves were property and owners could do with them as they pleased.

Slaves had various duties, one of the most curious of which was the collection and use of urine as a cleaning agent. They soaked their masters' dirty clothes in bathtubs filled with collected urine and water, after which they climbed into the bathtub and trampled the clothes under their feet, much like crushing grapes. And the saddest picture of slavery found during excavations is a slave prison. When Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii, the chained slave was unable to escape. He was found lying face down with shackles still around his ankles.

The unluckiest guy in Pompeii.

One has only to imagine the chaos of falling fire, ash and thick smoke. The earth trembles and cracks underfoot. The buildings around are collapsing. Hot lava rushes towards you like an avalanche, devouring everything in its path. And now it’s worth imagining that you managed to get out of this horror, and there is only one thought in your head: “Yes! I was able to escape." And then suddenly a falling stone blows his head off.

Yes... it was clearly a bad day for the "unluckiest guy in Pompeii". Nobody knows his name. What is known is that his skeletal remains were found under a huge boulder 2000 years after his death. Archaeologists were able to suggest that he fled the city, but was unable to dodge a huge boulder. The poor man's head was never found.

Artifacts of Pompeii.

Pompeii (Latin Pompeji, Italian Pompei, Neap. Pompei; Greek Πομπηία) is an ancient Roman city near Naples, in the Campania region, buried under a layer of volcanic ash as a result of the eruption of Vesuvius on August 24, 79.

Now it is an open-air museum. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Story

Recent excavations have shown that in the 1st millennium BC. e. There was a settlement near the modern city of Nola 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, indicating the formation of Pompeii as a result of the merger of five settlements. The division into 5 electoral districts remained in Roman times. 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 union 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, they 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.

Death of the city

The harbinger of the eruption was a strong earthquake that occurred on February 5, 62 AD. e. and described, in particular, in the Annals of Tacitus. The disaster caused great damage to the city; almost all buildings were damaged to one degree or another. Most of the buildings were repaired, but some remained damaged until the destruction of the city in 79.

The eruption of Vesuvius began on the afternoon of August 24, 79 and lasted about a day, as evidenced by some surviving manuscripts of Pliny the Younger's Letters. It led to the destruction of three cities - Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae and several small villages and villas. During the excavations, it became clear that everything in the cities was preserved as it was before the eruption. Streets, fully furnished houses, and the remains of people and animals that did not have time to escape were found under a multi-meter layer of ash. The force of the eruption was such that the ash from it even reached and.

Of the 20,000 inhabitants of Pompeii about 2000 Human. 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 out of 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

The architect Domenico Fontana, laying a canal from the Sarno River in 1592, discovered part of the city wall. In 1689, during the construction of a well, the ruins of an ancient building were found containing an inscription with the word “Pompeii”. Then, however, it was believed that this was the villa of Pompey the Great.

Excavations began only in 1748 under the leadership of R. J. Alcubierre, who was sure that the city he had found was Stabiae. The main work at that time was carried out in Herculaneum; only three unconnected sites were excavated in Pompeii. Alcubierre was only interested in finds of artistic value, which he sent to the royal museum in Portici. Other finds were destroyed. This practice was stopped after protest from a number of scientists.

Under the manager F. le Vega in 1760-1804, the excavations acquired a different character. The buildings under study were no longer filled with excavated soil; it began to be transported outside the city. Opened monuments were restored, and finds that were not sent to the museum were left in place for public viewing. A plan of excursion routes was developed. In 1763, with the discovery of an inscription on the pedestal of the statue, it became clear that the city buried under the ashes was not Stabiae, but Pompeii. Excavations were especially active in 1808-1814 under Murat. Caroline Bonaparte played an important role in them.

Since 1863, excavations have been led by Giuseppe Fiorelli. In 1870, he discovered that voids had formed in place of the bodies of people and animals buried under a layer of volcanic ash. By filling these voids with plaster, it was possible to reconstruct the dying poses of the victims of the eruption. Under him, excavations became systematic for the first time.

Since 1961, and especially after the 1980 earthquake, the city has been carrying out almost nothing but restoration work. Currently about 20-25% The territory of Pompeii has not been excavated.

Mysterious Pompeii, an ancient settlement that preserves the breath of Ancient Rome, today is an open-air museum. An extinct city, today it is coming back to life thanks to the efforts of archaeologists, albeit as a museum exhibit.

Pages of history

Until the eruption of Vesuvius swept away the city from the face of the earth, Pompeii was very highly developed and high-tech for its time settlement.

Pompeii is not quite a Roman city, as is commonly believed. It was founded in the 8th century BC. Oschi tribe - one of the ancient peoples of Italy. The name "Pompeii" from the ancient Oscan language can be translated as "five", the reason for this name lies in the fact that Pompei were founded on the site of five ancient Oscan settlements.

True, there is another version, more likely related to mythology: supposedly in these parts Hercules defeated a powerful opponent and organized a solemn procession in the city on this occasion (Pompe - this is how “Pompeii” is translated from the ancient Greek language).

In Italy it was at that time many Greek colonies, so a little later the Osskis adopted Greek culture and architecture. The latter is especially clearly visible: the first buildings were chaotic, the order of buildings was not respected, and later, under Hellenic influence, urban architecture acquired clearer outlines - strict rows of streets and rows of houses. Moreover, the Oskos did not even suspect that they were building their houses directly on solidified lava...

After numerous battles The Romans gained power over the city.

Pompeii has a very convenient location economically: at the foot of Vesuvius, on the Sarno River. This location allowed the city's residents to use the river for shipping and trade. Residents were engaged in the production of oils, wool and wines, which also contributed to trade and prosperity of the city. And the Appian Way, which passed through the city, was important for the economy and trade.

Gradually Pompei came under the rule of Rome and became a recreation center for noble Roman patricians. The city grew and developed...

Do you dream of visiting Florence, one of the most romantic cities in Italy? Then you should look at the main architectural structure of the city - Palazzo Vecchio. Detailed information .

Tragedy of the city

The first “alarm bell” rang in 62 AD, when the major earthquake. Many houses and temples were destroyed. But the city residents managed to restore everything in a short time and life again flowed along its usual course.

The peak occurred on 24 August 79. On this day, a strong eruption of the Vesuvius volcano occurred, subsequently the city was buried for centuries under a multi-meter layer of ash.

The day before, flakes of ash began to fall on the city, and there was so much of it that they had to constantly shake it off their clothes. The volcano was considered dormant for a long time, so at first none of the residents paid attention to the cloud of smoke and fire escaping from the vent.

Stones began to fall from the sky, and the ashes settled on the houses in such a thick layer that the roofs began to collapse, burying the people remaining in the premises.

More astute townspeople left Pompeii immediately after the first rainfall, and fled to nearby villages. The eruption lasted for about a day. The city was completely destroyed.

It was discovered by accident in the 17th century during the construction of a water pipeline. The honor of discovery belongs to the Italian architect Domenico Fontana, who, while excavating, came across the remains of a wall and well-preserved frescoes near the river. Moreover for a long time they could not imagine that these pitiful remains were the ruins of the mighty Pompeii.

And only when a sign board was found(border pillar), it became clear that here the once majestic ancient Roman city was buried under layers of earth.

Full-fledged excavations began a century later, in the 17th century, and continue to this day, as well as scientific research.

For more information about the Pompeii tragedy and excavations, watch the video:

Sights and interesting places

Today, on the site of the legendary city, you can see only remnants of its former greatness. You can find the Pompei excavation site near Naples. Open-air museum city attracts many tourists every year.

Pompeii is not only a mass of interesting sights in Italy, but also unique witness to history. Due to the fact that the city was almost instantly covered with ash, all surviving buildings, frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and objects are very well preserved. So, what can you see today in the place where Pompeii is located?

• Forum.

  This building can be called the heart of the ancient Roman city, its social and economic center. At first, on the site of the Forum there was only a trading area, then the market was significantly expanded, and residents began to gather at the market not only for shopping, but also for discussing city events.
  



• Lupanarium.

  “A hot place” in the city, where townspeople came in search of carnal pleasures. The name itself is translated from Italian as “she-wolf” - it was with the help of a wolf-like howl that women of easy virtue attracted their clients. The priestesses of love of that time were quite easy to recognize - hair collected and raised at the back of the head, and a wide red belt on their clothes.

  All rooms for love dates were painted with erotic frescoes. Today some of these frescoes can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Naples. By the way, this was not the only brothel in the city (there were about 30 of them in total), but Lupanarium was the most famous.
  



• Amphitheater.

  A large-scale structure on two levels was intended for gladiatorial fights and various spectacles. Only the outer walls and seats were preserved, but the steps were completely destroyed - they were made of wood and simply did not survive the eruption.
  



• Residential buildings.

  All buildings and residential buildings are very well preserved, almost in their original form (if, of course, you make an allowance for the past tense). The interior decoration of the houses did not differ in aesthetics, but externally they were very richly decorated, painted with frescoes or decorated with mosaic patterns.

  There were almost no windows in the houses (unlike the palaces and houses of rich nobles); they were replaced by narrow openings. There were no street signs either; the name of its owner was simply written on each house (some of these signs are kept in the Archaeological Museum). On the territory of each house there was a stone pool to collect rainwater (such water was considered sacred).
  



• Frescoes found during excavations.

  They contain historical scenes and scenes of Roman entertainment. Almost all of them were transferred to the Naples Museum, and in the restored city you can only see skillfully made copies.
  

• In addition, you can also see Temple of Jupiter, Small Theater, Bolshoi Theater, Stabian Baths, triumphal arches and other surviving buildings of Pompeii.

During excavations it was found a lot of gold jewelry, ceramics. The ceramics were generally well preserved, although the designs and patterns on the pots and jugs were damaged by fire and time.

Several bakeries found – huge stoves, kitchen utensils and other equipment, as well as the so-called thermopolia - taverns. Rarely did any house in Pompeii have kitchens with ovens, so food was delivered from such thermopolia.

Opening hours, ticket prices

• During high season(from the beginning of April to the end of October) you can get to Pompei from 8.30 am, and the closing time is 7 pm (the ticket office closes at 5.30 pm, an hour and a half before closing).
• Low season(this time is from November to March) Pompeii can be seen from 8.30 (9.00) in the morning until 17.00 (the ticket office closes at 15.30).
• Ticket price – 13 euros. They can be purchased at the box office.

There, at the ticket office, you can pick up a guide map, otherwise it’s easy to get lost in all the intricacies of the ancient streets.

• An excursion to Pompeii can be combined with a visit to other ancient cities - Herculaneum, Boscoreale, Villa Stadia and others. In this case the ticket will cost at 22 euros (with discount).
• Groups of schoolchildren and students can visit Pompeii by appointment. None There are no restrictions on the number of groups here.

You can check ticket prices, find out about the schedule of excursions, and also get acquainted with other background information about Pompeii on the official website of the attraction - www.pompeiisites.org

In 79, the awakening volcano Vesuvius instantly covered the city with a cloud of ash, under the weight of which the roofs of buildings collapsed. The city was destroyed in the blink of an eye, turning into stone for many centuries. Almost two millennia later, the city was discovered and gradually began to be dug up, revealing the typical life of an ancient Roman city.

Two cities bear the name. The first is a very lively small town, the second is the same famous Pompeii, destroyed in a matter of hours by the eruption of the formidable Vesuvius. The living city of Pompeii has existed for only 150 years. It grew up during the beginning of the excavations of Pompeii, becoming, in fact, a hotel city for millions of tourists who came to see the dead city.

Unlike the lesser known city, Pompeii is home to crowds of tourists, especially before lunch. So be prepared to encounter long queues to enter. In addition, Pompeii is much larger than Herculaneum, so it will take a long time to walk here. In the summer heat, don't forget comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat and water, as there is very little shade.

Pompeii weather:

Getting to Pompeii:

• Train timetable Naples - Pompeii(direction )
• Train timetable Pompeii - Naples(direction )
• Train timetable Naples - Pompeii(direction Poggiomarino)
• Train timetable Pompeii - Naples(direction Poggiomarino)

Buses to Pompeii:

Trains to Pompeii: approx. 50 minutes on the way

Practical information:

Ticket to Pompeii:

• Entrance to the archaeological area of ​​Pompeii: 11 €, preferential - 5.5 €
• Combo ticket(5 archaeological zones: Pompeii, (Ercolano), Oplontis, Stabia and Boscoreale) - 20 € , discounted 10 €.
• EU citizens under 18 years old - free.
• The entrance to Pompeii is covered

Entrance to the ruins: Porta Marina Superiore - Piazza Anfiteatro - Viale delle Ginestre (Piazza Esedra)

Working hours:

• from November 1 to March 31: from 8:30 to 17:00 (last entry at 15:30)
• from April 1 to October 31: from 8:30 to 19:30 (last entry at 18:00)

History of Pompeii

Unlike most cities in southern Italy, Pompeii was not founded by the Greeks - the first inhabitants of these places were Italic tribes. It is believed that in the 9th-8th centuries BC. They built a city on solidified lava, not knowing either the origin of this “foundation” or the reason for the exceptional fertility of the lands of the Sarno Valley fertilized with volcanic ash - at that time Vesuvius “slept”. During the era of Magna Graecia, the inhabitants of Pompeii had close relations with the nearby Greek colonies and they adopted religion, culture and way of life from their neighbors.

Two centuries later, the Greeks were replaced by the Samnites, and in the last years of the 4th century BC. The era of Roman rule began. Pompeii became part of the Roman state, maintaining relative autonomy. Under Roman protectorate, the city grew rapidly, its population increased sevenfold over two centuries. At the same time, the Pompeii were not particularly flexible: if the Italian tribes united and rebelled, the inhabitants of Pompeii, as a rule, joined them. In 74 BC. Spartacus took refuge with seventy rebels on the top of Vesuvius, and then, twisting ropes from vines, descended and defeated the Roman pursuers.

Trade, navigation, and crafts (especially the production and dyeing of fabrics) successfully developed in the city. Roman aristocrats built luxurious villas in Pompeii, but more in the neighboring one. Spacious dwellings were erected by local merchants and entrepreneurs who became rich. The inscriptions preserved on the walls of the houses indicate that the townspeople led an active social and political life.

It would seem that nothing foreshadowed the tragedy, but in 63 “the first bell rang” - a powerful earthquake occurred with its epicenter near Pompeii. Many public buildings collapsed, the water supply system was severely damaged, and city residents were buried under the collapsed houses.

Emperor Nero wanted to ban living in Pompeii, but the stubborn Pompeii defended the right not to leave their homeland and began to restore the city. The dire warning of an impending disaster was not taken into account. And 17 years later, on August 24, 79, a second disaster struck the inhabitants of Pompeii: a volcanic eruption destroyed Pompeii and the small settlements around it in a matter of hours.

As a result of lengthy archaeological excavations, an open-air museum arose on the site of the lost city.

Petrified figures of people in the dead city of Pompeii

Sights of Pompeii

At the entrance (at the tourist office) be sure to pick up a map of the excavations. It's easy to get lost in Pompeii.

Porta Marina Gate

The inspection starts from Porta Marina gate. City street via Marina paved with stone slabs, in which the carts pushed deep ruts. To properly organize traffic, city residents installed special stones with guides for wheels. On these same stones, during the rain, it was possible to cross from one sidewalk, lined with lava slabs and raised 20 cm above the roadway, to another, without getting your feet wet.

Antiquarium

Just outside the gate on the right side via Marina is located Antiquarium(lat. antiquarium - “repository of antiquities”), where some finds from excavations and plaster castings of the bodies of dead townspeople are collected.

Forum

Via Marina leads to a complex of buildings forum. Usually the forum was located in the center of the ancient city, but in Pompeii it was greatly shifted to the southwest, since it was not easy to find a large, flat area on the frozen surface of the lava flow. The forum was surrounded on all sides by buildings with porticoes; between the columns there were statues of famous people of that time, from which pedestals with inscriptions have been preserved. adjoined the forum from the west Temple of Apollo(Tempio di Apollo, VI century BC, rebuilt in the 1st century). Those who decorated the temple have been preserved statues Apollo and Diana (the originals are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Naples).

Temple of Jupiter

To the north of the temple of Apollo was the main sanctuary of Pompeii - Temple of Jupiter(Tempio di Giove, II century BC). It was destroyed by the earthquake of 63, and by the time of the next disaster they had not yet managed to restore it. In addition, on the forum there were Lar temple(Tempio dei Lari) And Temple of Vespasian(Tempio di Vepasiano), city administration buildings and the Comitium, where elections were held, a market, food warehouses, the Chamber of Weights and Measures and public toilets.

Stone triumphal arches in honor of the emperors Drusus and Tiberius they were once lined with marble.

Thermae of the Forum

To the north-west of the Temple of Apollo there are forum baths(Terme del Foro). After the earthquake of 63, they were the only ones that continued to function properly. The baths built under the dictator Sulla had women's and men's sections, each of them consisted of an apodyterium (locker room) and halls: frigidarium (with cold water), tepidarium (with warm water) and caldarium (with hot water). Here you can see the water supply and heating systems and admire fragments of decorative paintings that decorated the vaults and walls.

The northern façade of the baths overlooks the main ancient axis of Pompeii ( decumanus) - via Terme- via della Fortuna- via di Nola. On the nearby streets, buildings typical of a Roman city have been preserved: from profitable “apartment” houses of the poor (insul) to luxurious private mansions, sometimes occupying an entire block, with peristyles, fountains and richly decorated rooms.

House of the Tragic Poet

Opposite the term is up to m tragic poet(Casa Del Poeta Tragico) with the famous mosaic floor, which depicts a rehearsal of the play. In front of the entrance there is a mosaic image of a dog with a caption Cave canim ("Be aware of dogs!").

House of the Faun

A little further east on via della Fortuna costs up to m faun(Casa del Fauno), named after the small bronze figurine of the Dancing Faun, which decorated one of the peristyles of this aristocratic villa. The famous mosaic “ Battle of Alexander the Great with Darius"(kept in the Archaeological Museum of Naples).

House of the Vettii

Having passed from via Terme to the north along perpendicular to it via di Mercuriotwo quarters, you can explore houseApollo(Casa del Apollo), a folding c via Termeon at the first intersection to the east on Vicolo di Mercurio - up to m Vettiev(Casa dei Vettii). This is a most valuable monument of Pompeian painting (there are three different “Pompeian” painting styles) and a “museum of everyday life” of wealthy citizens. At the end of the excavations, the building needed only minor restoration, after which it appeared in its original form. The paintings on mythological themes are perfectly preserved (“ Ariadne and Dionysus», « Hercules strangling snakes") and a frieze with graceful miniatures " Cupids busy at work».

The image of Priapus located at the entrance with scales in his hand, on one bowl - a bag of gold, and on the other - a huge phallus, makes a stunning impression on an unprepared person. The life-loving Pompeians treated this organ with respect. It was believed that the image of the male reproductive organ could ward off evil spirits. Some researchers explain the purpose of small images of phalluses carved on Pompeian pavements with sacred purposes, but there is a version that these are just pointers to the nearest brothel (lupanarium), to which Vettiev leads west from the house vicolo Storto.

Lupanarium

Lupanarium(Lupanare) stands at the intersection with via della Fortuna. A well-preserved brothel from the inside looks rather gloomy and looks more like a prison dungeon than an entertainment establishment - tiny dark rooms, narrow, short stone beds and small frescoes. It is believed that the paintings on the walls not only created the right mood for visitors, but also served as instructions - with their help, foreign sailors who did not speak Latin explained themselves to prostitutes. Despite their unpresentable appearance from the point of view of a modern person, ancient brothels were popular among representatives of different classes of the empire.

Triangular Forum

From lupanarium, keeping the general direction south, along vicolo Storto, via degli Augustali, via dei Teatri you can go to Triangular Forum(Foro Triangolare). Many shops and workshops, taverns and drinking establishments have been preserved (dishes and coins thrown in a hurry by the last visitors remained on the tables in the taverns, images of dishes offered in the establishment are often painted on the walls), mills and bakeries. The standard of the latter can be bakery Modesta(Forno di Modesta), one of the largest in the city. In it, archaeologists discovered millstones, a sales counter and petrified bread. The triangular forum was built back in the Samnite era.

towered on it Doric temple(Tempio Dorico, VI century BC), dedicated to Hercules. Along the north-eastern side of the square there were Samnite palaestra(Palestra Samnitiana), Grand Theatre(Teatro Grande) And gladiator barracks(Caserma dei Gladiatori). The palaestra served as a place for sports activities for aristocrats before a similar large structure was built on the outskirts. The Great Theater for 5,000 spectators (2nd century BC, rebuilt under Augustus), made according to the Greek model, stood on the hillside. The majestic mountain range on the horizon served as a natural backdrop. Nearby there is a gladiator barracks with canteens, closets where the fighters lived, and a rectangular courtyard for training.

East of the Bolshoi was located Maly Theater, or Odeon(Teatro Piccolo o Odeon). Next to him stood a small Temple of Zeus Melichios, which, after the destruction of the large sanctuary in the Forum Square, served as the main place of worship of Zeus, and nearby - an elegant Temple of Isis(Tempio di Iside), considered one of the best examples of ancient architecture. Not long before the disaster, the temple was rebuilt and thanks to this, it was perfectly preserved.

Amphitheater

Walking from the Maly Theater to the east, you can first look around m Cryptoportica(Casa dei Criptoportico), where plaster casts of people who died during the eruption are exhibited, and then get to Great Palaestra(Grande Palestra), built in the 1st century. Next to her is a huge amphitheater(Anfiteatro), which could accommodate at least 12,000 spectators. The building, in the arena of which performances were staged and gladiator fights took place, was built in 80 BC. and may have served as a model for later amphitheaters in Rome. The palaestra and amphitheater are located on the eastern edge of the excavation area.

Villa of Mysteries

TO Villa of Mysteries(Villa dei Misteri) from the railway station you can walk along viale della Villa dei Misteri, following it to the north-west. There are magnificent wall paintings preserved here, made in the spirit of the cult of Dionysus, telling about marriage (possibly the mistress of the house). It is known that the cult, prohibited in Rome by decree of the Senate, was preserved in the province, and the paintings of the Villa of the Mysteries give the key to the mysteries of the Dionysian rites. The figures are painted in full height on a characteristic red “Pompeian” background.

Pompeii: Villa of the Mysteries - paintings in Dionysian style on a characteristic red background

Pompeii Map