Pompeii is what a country. The death of Pompeii - little-known facts about the tragedy of the ancient city. What are the ancient walls “silent” about?

Mysterious Pompeii, ancient settlement, keeping the breath of Ancient Rome today is a museum under open air. 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" ancient language Oskov 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 thing architectural structure 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

On site today legendary city only remnants of its former grandeur can be seen. 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” - precisely with the help of a woman’s wolf-like howl prostitute 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). Interior decoration The houses did not differ in aesthetics, but externally they were very richly decorated, painted with frescoes or decorated with mosaic ornaments.

  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, Maly Theater, Grand Theatre, 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.

Check ticket prices, find out about excursion schedules, and also get acquainted with other background information you can talk about Pompeii on the official website of the attraction - www.pompeiisites.org

On August 24, 79, Vesuvius erupted. It was so strong that it completely destroyed three cities. Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae simply disappeared from the face of the Earth. Many residents died in severe torture, and their houses were buried under a multi-meter layer of stones and volcanic ash.

It is believed that the story of the death of Pompeii is well known. Archaeological excavations are constantly underway there. Eyewitness accounts have also been preserved. The same Pliny described everything in great detail. However, much about this tragedy remains unclear, and new facts are constantly emerging:

The inhabitants of Pompeii knew that there might be an eruption

The harbinger of the tragedy was a powerful earthquake that occurred in 62. There were practically no undamaged buildings left in the city at that time, some were completely destroyed. And the day before the eruption of 79 there was a series of tremors. Of course, the inhabitants of Pompeii did not understand that this was connected with the volcano. But they believed: the earth was shaking due to the heavy tread of the giants, who warned that people were in danger of death.

Shortly before the eruption, the water temperature in the Bay of Naples increased sharply, and in some places reached the boiling point. All streams and wells on the slopes of Vesuvius have dried up. From the depths of the mountain, eerie sounds began to be heard, reminiscent of a drawn-out groan. That's interesting the roar of the earth, which in last years heard all over the planet, also foretells the death of thousands of people?

Most of the residents managed to leave the city

About a tenth of the population died on the streets of Pompeii - about 2 thousand people. The rest may have managed to escape. This means that the disaster did not take people by surprise. This is clear from Pliny's letters. True, the remains of the dead were found outside the city, so no one knows the exact number of dead. According to some reports, the total number of victims of the eruption in Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia is 16 thousand people.

People fled to the harbor, hoping to leave the dangerous territory by sea. During excavations on the coast, many remains were discovered. Apparently, the ships were unable or did not have time to accept everyone. And those who remained hoped to sit out in remote cellars or closed rooms. Then, however, they tried to get out, but it was too late.

How Pompeii really died

Some believe that people burned alive in streams of hot lava, and the city was engulfed in flames. In fact, everything was not like that. Vesuvius practically did not erupt lava at that time. And if fires did break out anywhere, it was only by accident. This is known from the letters of Pliny.

First, a gray-black column of smoke and ash rose from the crater. Then the volcano began to eject larger debris. The hot cloud reached 33 kilometers in height. The energy of Vesuvius was many times greater than that released during the atomic explosion over Hiroshima. People rushed through the streets in panic, but quickly became exhausted, fell and covered their heads with their hands in despair.

Destructive hydrothermal pyroclastic flows poured into the city. Their temperatures reached 700 °C. They brought fear and death. Hot water mixed with ash, and the resulting mass stuck to everything that was in its path. A rockfall began. All this lasted 18-20 hours. The volcano erupted a huge amount of stones and slag.

It was difficult to breathe, a heavy black veil hung in the air. People fought for their lives, tried to escape from imminent death, and find safe areas. Then they fell exhausted, and were quickly covered with ash. They suffocated and died in cruel agony. Distorted faces, mouths open in a silent scream, convulsively clenched hands, cramped fingers... This is how most of the townspeople died.

As a result, the city was buried under volcanic rocks. The bottom layer consists of stones and small pieces of plasma. Its average thickness is 7 meters. Then there is a two-meter layer of ash. The total is about 9 meters, but in some places the thickness of the rubble was much greater.

The creepy photos are not corpses, but just plaster casts

Most of Pompeii's inhabitants are buried in the upper layers of volcanic ash. They lay there for almost 2 thousand years, but, at first glance, they were well preserved. In the photographs, which are abundant on the Internet, you can see not only the position of the bodies at the moment of death, but even the expression of horror and agony on the faces of the unfortunate people.

But in fact, these are only casts that archaeologists make. The first to come up with this idea was a certain Giuseppe Fiorelli, who led the excavations. Back in 1870, he discovered that voids had formed at the sites where people died. After all, the ash mixed with water that poured onto the city during the eruption densely stuck around the dead. The mass dried and hardened, preserving the exact imprints of bodies, folds of clothing, facial features and even the smallest wrinkles.

By filling them with plaster, the scientist received accurate and very realistic casts. This is how he managed to reproduce people’s poses and obtain their death masks. But the bodies themselves have long since turned to dust. And it’s still creepy... This is not for you photo of chupacabra, which look more like ordinary fakes. Everything is real here.

The death of Pompeii is a punishment for moral degradation

So, at least, some historians and philosophers thought. Indeed, when archaeologists excavated the city, they found many frescoes with unambiguous content. And there were more lupanariums (in other words, brothels) and separate rooms for meetings with prostitutes than, for example, bakeries. No wonder the inhabitants of Pompeii were considered the most dissolute in the Roman Empire.

Vesuvius is still dangerous, the tragedy may repeat itself

After 79, several more eruptions occurred. And each time it was a terrible tragedy. So, in 1631, approximately 4 thousand people became victims of the volcano. In 1805, an eruption killed about 26 thousand people and destroyed most of Naples. In 1944, 27 people died and lava flows destroyed the cities of Massa and San Sebastiano. You can read more about the volcano, and about the death of Pompeii -. By the way, there are documentary videos:

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 Pompeii residents was thought to be asphyxiation 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).

Remains pet dog, found at 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 twisted 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 so they doomed her to 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 products 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 local residents was healthy, with plenty 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” 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 one blush and modern people, after all 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 them to be buried anew.

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, future ruler 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 up in secret office. 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. 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.

A visit to which will help you immerse yourself in history. Pompeii is one of the most significant places in Italy, a preserved ancient city that leaves an unforgettable impression. You can get to the ancient city of Pompeii by going to the south of the country. Near Naples is the beautifully preserved ancient city of Pompeii. Every day thousands of tourists from all over the world visit dead city. See and immerse yourself in tragic story antiquity will be provided by the preserved ancient city.

Why you need to plunge into the world of antiquity in Pompeii and how they can surprise you can be read in this article.

There are several legends that tell the story of the ancient city of Pompeii. One of them says that the ancient city of Pompeii appeared in the Apennines thanks to very fertile lands; the proximity of the volcano did not bother the first settlers. The Auzones were the first to settle in Pompeii and began to cultivate the generous lands; later, in the 6th century BC, the Oscan tribe also settled here. The ancient city connected five settlements on its territory. Artistic creations in the form of wall paintings, mosaics, sculptures - all this was displayed on houses, public buildings,.

There is a more romantic story that says that Hercules defeated Geryon and founded Pompeii in honor of his triumphant battle.

The ancient city of Pompeii during its heyday

In the 6th century BC. lived in the city best years, the main attractions date back to this time, which can still be seen today. The ancient city of Pompeii was surrounded by a fortress wall, and an ancient sanctuary was erected in it. The ancient city was ruled by the Samnites (the peoples of Italy during antiquity), later Pompeii became a colony and lost its status as a free city. Families of patricians moved to Pompeii and built beautiful villas here; they were very attracted by the land, generous with sun and warmth, as well as a very comfortable climate. These bottoms in Pompeii were erected:

1. Villa of Mysteries. This building is interesting because of the design of the walls, on which Dionysian rituals were painted; such graphic designs were previously used in the design of tapestries.
2. Appian Way. Between Rome and the south of Italy, during the heyday of the ancient city of Pompeii, a road appeared connecting the center and south of the country.
3. Forum. An incredibly powerful building measuring 157x38 m, which during the time of Pompeii could accommodate up to 20 thousand spectators.
4. An amphitheater for various shows, competitions and baiting of wild animals. There were two of them in Pompeii. One accommodated 5, the second – 1.5 thousand.

This period of Pompeii's existence was marked by special attention to the external design of the city, a huge number of statues, frescoes, and mosaics. The decorations of Pompeii have an aesthetic component; craft trends developed in the ancient city.

For a long time, a century and a half after people settled in this fertile land, the volcano showed no signs of life. Small eruptions did not cause any trouble to Pompeii. And in 62 AD. In early February, a volcanic eruption brought the first serious destruction to the city. The city has not yet had time to recover, as in 79 BC. Once again the life of Pompeii depended on the eruption of Vesuvius. The lava burned the entire area around Pompeii and destroyed the city.

The ancient city of Pompeii is reborn from the ashes after a thousand years. The volcano subsided and the inhabitants again began to populate the fertile lands; the new settlers did not know about the tragedy that occurred many centuries ago. What attracted new residents to these lands? Bright sun, fertile land and wonderful climate. During excavation work, people began to find the remains of fortress walls, structures, fragments of frescoes and inscriptions. Already in 1748, excavations began. Initially, archaeologists assumed that the burned city was Stabiae. When the border pillar was found in 1763, it became clear to everyone that the structures of ancient Pompeii had been found.

When visiting Pompeii today you can see almost the entire ancient city. A quarter of Pompeii is currently closed to visitors; excavations are still underway.

During a tour of the ancient city of Pompeii, you will be taken to the arena, you will see a private gymnastics school - palaestra, theaters, baths (baths of the ancient city), partially preserved ancient houses.

Tourists in Pompeii are taken to a rustic lupanarium (brothel) famous for its famous frescoes depicting themes of frivolity.

Near the ruins of the Herculanean Gate you will see the Villa of the Mysteries with amazing frescoes preserved.

Also worth visiting is the Villa Diomedes. During excavations at Pompeii, 20 people who died during the volcanic eruption were discovered in this place.

The artistic design of buildings in Pompeii surprises with its attention to different aspects of life and the level of implementation. Pictures depicting birds and animals, fish, placed in the premises of the city once replaced wallpaper and tapestries for residents. Now the originals are in a museum in Naples, and in Pompeii the life of the ancient city has been recreated by the hands of museum workers.

Worth watching carefully, for example, “The Pompeian Cat”, “Plato’s Academy”, “Alexandra’s Mosaic”, “The Comedians”.

Touch the beauty and be surprised by the desire of the ancients to surround themselves with art in Pompeii.

Book your tickets to visit the ancient city of Pompeii in advance using this link.

How to get to the ancient city of Pompeii

It all depends on your desire; you can go to Pompeii spontaneously while in Italy, or you can think through the details of the trip before you find yourself in the country.

OUR ADVICE. If you're planning to visit the Colosseum and other attractions in Rome, consider the Rome City Pass, which can save you time and money. The price of the card includes skip-the-line tickets to the main attractions of Rome, transfer from the airport and back, a trip to tourist bus and discounts on visiting many museums and others interesting places Rome. detailed information.

The ancient city of Pompeii is easily accessible from Naples or Rome. If the main means of transportation is the train, then the entire route from Rome will take you 1-2 hours. Travel time depends on your planned departure time. Once you arrive in Naples, you need to follow the following plan.

Presumably, the founders of Pompeii were Osci, one of the peoples Ancient Italy. Already the ancients expressed different opinions about the origin of the name Pompeii. Some traced it to the triumphal procession (pomp) of Hercules after the victory over Geryon. Others refer to the Osk word for “five” (pumpe). According to this version, Pompeii was formed as a union of five communities.

According to one who wrote in the 1st century AD. e. The city was founded by the geographer Strabo. Later, the Etruscans seized control of it, and then, after victories over the Etruscans, the Greeks. Later, the city was taken from the Greeks by the Samnites, a people related to the Oscans. This happened in the 5th century BC. e. Archeology records the decline of urban life in this century. Perhaps Pompeii was abandoned for some time.

In the 4th century BC. e. Pompeii became part of the Samnite Federation. The city served as a port for the Samnite cities located higher up the Sarno River. In the 4th century BC. e. A series of wars took place between the Roman Republic and the Samnites. During them, in 310 BC. e. Roman troops landed near Pompeii. The Romans devastated the lands of Nuceria, neighboring Pompeii. Later, residents of the rural area of ​​Pompeii attacked the legionnaires returning with the loot, took the loot and drove them onto the ships.

Source: wikipedia.com

The Romans defeated and subjugated the Samnites and their allies. From now on, Pompeii, along with other Campanian cities, became part of the Roman-Italian Confederation. Self-government was maintained in the city. Pompeii was supposed to be allies of Rome and also provide auxiliary troops.

During the Samnite era, Pompeii was governed by a city council. Among the issues under his jurisdiction were, in particular, construction. Direct supervision of construction work and its payment was carried out by the quaistur (Latin version - quaestor), the official responsible for the city treasury. The supreme power in the city belonged to an official with the title “meddissa tuvtiksa”, which is translated as “city ruler”.

The annexation to Rome gave impetus to the development of the city in the 3rd century BC. e. At the end of the century, the population of Pompeii grew. In the 2nd century BC. e. new public buildings appeared - temples, theaters, baths. Luxurious mansions appear. Among them is the famous “House of Faun”, on the wall of which there is a fresco depicting the battle of the Macedonians and Persians at Issus.

Paradoxically, the development of Pompeii was stimulated by the war between Rome and Hannibal. After crossing the Alps and defeating Roman troops, the Carthaginian commander invaded Campania. Capua, the strongest city in the region, went over to his side. Nuceria remained loyal to Rome and was destroyed by Hannibal for this. During the war, the Romans took Capua and punished their unfaithful ally.

Pompeii itself was not taken by the Carthaginians and became a refuge for refugees from other Campanian cities. This explains the growth of urban construction at the end of the 3rd century BC. e.

The elite of the Campanian city received their share of wealth from Rome's expansion into the Mediterranean in the 2nd century BC. e. There is evidence of contacts between Pompeii merchants and eastern markets. In particular, with the island of Delos. Pompeii itself contains oriental spices. The frescoes in the House of the Faun speak of the artistic taste and interest of its owner in history.

Allied War: Pompeii vs. Sulla

In 91 BC. e. a number of Italian communities (including Pompeii) rebelled against Rome. This conflict went down in history as the Allied War. The allies who rebelled against Rome sought equal status with the Romans in the state. After three years of war, the Romans defeated the rebellious allies. But after that they gave them the rights of Roman citizenship.

In 89 BC. e. During the war, Pompeii was besieged by the Roman commander Lucius Cornelius Sulla. In a series of battles near the city, Sulla defeated the Campanian commander Cluentius, who was trying to lift the siege of Pompeii. The city surrendered soon after the defeat and death of Cluentius.

Pompeii was not destroyed and received Roman citizenship. Ten years later, Sulla, who defeated his opponents and became dictator, founded a colony of his veterans in the city. From now on, Pompeii received the status of a Roman colony, and the old Oscan magistrates were replaced by new Roman ones. Office work in the city is transferred to Latin. And in the last century of the city, the number of records in Oscan has been decreasing.

City of Roman times: Pompeii under the Empire

During the imperial era, Pompeii was a modest provincial town. The famous garum sauce and wine were produced here. In part, the inhabitants of the colony tried to copy the buildings of Rome itself. In the city there was a forum on which stood the temples of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. In the wall niches of one of the buildings there were statues of the founders of Rome - Aeneas and Romulus. Beneath them were inscriptions detailing their deeds. The same inscriptions telling about Aeneas and Romulus were also in the Roman forum.

Italian cities were associated with Rome and the imperial house. In particular, Marcellus, nephew and one of the possible heirs of Augustus, held the semi-official position of patron of Pompeii.

Source: wikipedia.com

In 59 AD e. Pompeii became notorious for the massacre within the city walls. It was during gladiator fights, but the battle began between the townspeople of Pompeii and Nuceria. Residents of the cities began to bully each other, then took up stones, and then swords and daggers. The Pompeians won the brawl.

Information about the massacre reached Emperor Nero, who ordered the Senate to conduct an investigation. As a result, the Senate banned Pompeii from holding gladiatorial games for 10 years, and their organizer Livineus Regulus went into exile.

Interestingly, Livineus Regulus had been stripped of his senatorial title several years earlier. That is, a disgraced representative of the ruling class could find refuge in Pompeii and become a benefactor of the townspeople.

Pompeii was located 240 kilometers from Rome. Residents of the capital could reach the Campanian city within a week. Therefore, many noble and wealthy Romans built their villas in the vicinity of Pompeii. In particular, back in the era of the Republic, Cicero acquired such a villa.

Source: wikipedia.com

The highest officials in Pompeii were its two elected rulers, the duumvirs. They assembled the city council and presided over it. To become a duumvir, a careerist from Pompeii had to pass through the post of aedile, which opened the way for its holder to the city council. City council members held this title for life. The aediles were responsible for urban improvement - supplying bread, maintaining streets and baths, and organizing spectacles.

In civil cases with a small amount of claim, the duumvirs were chairmen. Criminal cases and more complex civil cases were tried in Rome. The duumvirs were also responsible for the city treasury.

Source: wikipedia.com

Once every five years, the elected duumvirs were called quinquennals (five-year students). They updated the lists of the city council - adding new people, crossing out the dead and those who lost the right to membership in the council for crimes. They also compiled lists of city citizens.

Council members accepted reports from officials and exercised supreme oversight of city affairs. A freedman who became rich did not have the right to hold positions and enter the council, but he could achieve this for his son. The inscription preserves the curious case of a certain Celsinus, who became a decurion (member of the council) at the age of 6 for rebuilding the temple of Isis, damaged by an earthquake.

In Pompeii and other Roman cities, the positions of duumvir and quinquinnal opened doors to the urban elite, but required wealth from the applicant. Duumvir Pompey contributed 10,000 sesterces upon taking office.

During the performance of his office, citizen Pompey held festivities at his own expense. For example, Aulus Clodius Flaccus was duumvir three times. During his first master's degree, he organized games in honor of Apollo at the forum, which included a bullfight, musical competitions and a performance by the artist Pylades (apparently a local celebrity). The second time, in addition to games on the forum, he organized baiting of animals and gladiator fights in the amphitheater. The third time was the most modest - a performance by artists and musicians. Another quinquinnal in his inscription emphasized that he held gladiatorial fights without spending public funds.

Passions boiled over the elections of officials, comparable to the elections of consuls in Republican Rome. The walls of the city preserved records calling for voting for one or another of the citizens of Pompeii who wanted to become a duumvir or aedile. It is interesting that the agitation mainly concerned the position of aedile.

About 12 thousand people lived in Pompeii, and about 24 thousand in the rural area. Half of them were slaves. Most of the remainder were women and children. Thus, the electorate during the elections was about 2,500 city residents and 5,000 in the rural district.

The inscriptions were painted over and new ones were written over them. The propaganda inscription could have been addressed to a specific citizen of Pompeii. A city resident could carve an inscription on the wall of his house to show his position.

An example of a caricature on a wall in Pompeii. (wikipedia.com)

They campaigned for candidates and professional associations. For example, carpenters, cab drivers, bakers or jewelers. Members of the Youth Union, which included young people from noble families, proposed their candidates to the townspeople.

Sometimes poems were written in favor of candidates or their professional and moral qualities were emphasized in prose. And sometimes they called on a respected citizen to vote for a candidate, because “choose Sabinus as aedile, and he will choose you.”

There were original posts supporting candidates that probably should have discredited them. These are words of encouragement written on behalf of pickpockets, runaway slaves, drunkards or slackers.

Elections in Pompeii resembled those in other cities of the Roman world. The civil community was divided into curiae, each of which chose its own candidate.

Elections were held in March, and magistrates took up their duties in July. Pompeians could become duumvirs again, but not for two years in a row.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius: death of the city

About 80 years before the eruption, Vesuvius was visited by the geographer Strabo. The scientist wrote that almost to the very top the volcano is covered with flowering fields. Only the ashen peak itself reminded that this place once spewed fire.

Vulcan announced his awakening in 63 AD. e. earthquake. It destroyed several cities in Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples. Some of them have not been restored in 16 years.

Evidence of the disaster was left by her contemporary Pliny the Younger, who then lived in coastal Misenum (about 30 kilometers from Pompeii). Misenum was the base of the Roman fleet, and one of the ships was commanded by Pliny’s uncle, Pliny the Elder.

On August 24, people saw a cloud rising above the volcano. Pliny the Elder took his ship towards Pompeii. His nephew wrote that the scientist was driven by the desire to save people from the city and scientific curiosity. Pliny the Elder ordered to record all the changes that occur in the cloud.

An earthquake began at night, and the next day people did not see the sun. At first there was twilight, then darkness fell, and ash began to fall from the sky. When it dissipated, it turned out that there were no neighboring cities, and the Sarno Valley was covered with ash. First, the city was covered with pieces of pumice, then with ashes.

Most of the residents fled the city on the first day. Those who decided to stay and sit out the disaster in their homes, and those who decided to escape too late, died. Their feet got stuck in the pumice, and then they were finished off by a rain of ash and water. Some Pompeians ran to the harbor, but either there were no ships or they were already disabled by ash and stones.