Pompeii is an ancient city located in southeastern Italy, on the plains of the River Sarno not far from the Bay of Naples. It was founded in the 7th century BCE and was a prosperous city, bustling with life until it was destroyed and buried under a layer of ash and rock caused by an eruption of the nearby Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. As such, Pompeii is the most famous archaeological site in the world and is an endless source of fascination and study for archaeologists, historians, and tourists alike.
Pompeii was a vibrant port town known for its vineyards, fertile agricultural lands, villas, and its distinctive roman architecture. It was a hub for trade between the East and West, and was well known for its network of public baths, churches, and other public areas. Prior to their destruction, many of the houses and public buildings were plastered and painted with ornate mosaics and decorations, with the most luxurious residences being those of the upper-class citizens. The city was home to the Temple of Apollo and a private theatre, both of which were destroyed in the eruption.
Archaeological excavations at Pompeii have revealed that the city was an important center of politics and education. Pompeii was a part of the Roman Republic, and had a variety of government institutions and offices. This included a Forum, where citizens voted on public policies, and a basilica, which was a common meeting place for legal and business matters. The city also had a number of schools, including a school of rhetoric, and the famous Forum Library, which was a public library open to both patricians and plebeians.
This ancient city was also an important center of commerce. An impressive array of stalls, shops, and boutiques lined the streets selling everything from oil lamps, pottery, and household wares, to food, fabrics, and other luxury items. The city was known for its wine production, as well as the famous potteries which produced the distinctive red- and black-glazed terracotta vessels that are now so well-known. The city was also a popular destination for leisure activities, from organised gladiatorial games and public baths, to lavish banquets and extravagant parties.
Pompeii was also home to a vibrant religious life. Temples were built in honour of gods such as Apollo, Ceres, and Jupiter, while other religious structures included the so-called ‘House of the Faun’, and the Grand Temple of Isis. Religion was such an integral part of daily life in Pompeii that when religious festivals took place, such as for Neptune, the city came to a standstill.
The destruction of Pompeii has left an indelible mark on the psyche of Western civilization. The city serves as a reminder of the fragility and ephemerality of life and of the mortality that awaits us all. Even today, the image of Mount Vesuvius erupting and burying the city beneath the ashes serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive powers of nature and the impermanence of all human endeavor.
Business and Trade
Located in one of the most important freight and travel harbours in the Mediterranean, business and trade was an important part of everyday life in Pompeii. Generating a wealth of local agricultural, fish, and quarry products, the city was renowned for its lively markets, with merchants from all over the Mediterranean selling their wares. An impressive array of stalls and shops selling an array of goods from the ordinary to the exotic lined the streets, and the agora (main plaza) was the busiest part of Pompeii for trade.
Of particular note at Pompeii was the producer and market based system. In this model, producers and slave labourers carried out the production, with merchants then taking the goods to the markets. This provided a flourishing environment for commerce, with large quantities of goods changing hands for large profits. Consequently, merchants and traders played a central role in the boom and bust of the city’s economy.
Archaeological digs have highlighted the existence of various merchant guilds that controlled various trades. Members of the guilds were exempted from the tribute tax – a local tax imposed on all citizens – while they also regulated prices and mediated disputes among the traders. Guilds were extremely powerful in Pompeii, with the most prominent ones having their own hall or headquarters in the city.
With the city being home to so many wealthy residents, luxury goods were also a mainstay of the economy. Tailors, jewellers, leather workers, glass workers, fabric dyers, musicians, and shopkeepers all sold their luxury items, which were often in high demand and could generate significant profits. This enabled them to live in luxury mansions that set Pompeii apart from the rest of the Roman Empire.
Leisure and Entertainment
Pompeii was an entertainment hub, with a variety of leisure activities that served as a source of pleasure for its citizens. The city provided a rich and vibrant cultural and religious experience for its citizens, with annual festivals and religious ceremonies taking place to honour the gods. The city was home to the famous amphitheatre, where a large variety of gladiatorial and other forms of entertainment were provided.
The theatre and amphitheatre were the main entertainment centres in Pompeii. The theatre was used for a variety of theatrical performances, while the amphitheatre hosted gladiatorial contests and wild animal fights. At the amphitheatre, citizens were able to watch the fights while feasting and drinking, as well as buying souvenirs and souvenir items. A wide variety of luxury items were also on sale at the theatre, including jewellery and expensive attire.
Public baths played an important role in leisure life in Pompeii, where citizens gathered to take part in physical activities, such as the palaestra, as well as engaging in vigorous debates. The public baths were also the ideal place to socialise, as drinking hotspots. In the wealthier homes, private baths would also have been available, providing a luxuruous experience for the owner.
Theatrical performances, mime shows, and chariot races were also popular forms of entertainment. Of particular note was the event organised by Julius Caesar in 75BC, in which eleven chariots were introduced to the public. Although chariot racing was a popular sport, the introduction of this particular event was remarkable, in that it was the first and only race in which chariots of different colours were used.
Architecture and Art
Pompeii was renowned for its architectural splendour, with a variety of buildings, streets, shrines, and homes showcasing a fine example of sophisticated Roman architecture. Homes were decorated with ornate mosaics, sculptures, and painted frescos depicting scenes from mythology and everyday life.
The public buildings were particularly notable, with the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Ceres, and the Forum the most beautiful of the structures. Other buildings of note included the famous Grand Hotel and other luxury homes, as well as public baths, stores and inns.
Pompeii was also known for its fine art, with sculptures, mosaics, and paintings decorating the walls and fronts of buildings. In the wealthier households, these works of art were of a very high quality and were usually commissioned from painters and sculptors who were active in the areas around Pompeii. Highlights from the city include the Alexander Mosaic, which depicts Alexander the Great in battle and dates to the 1st century BCE, and the famous frescoes discovered in the House of the Vettii, which depict mythological scenes such as the rape of Europa.
Economy
For hundreds of years, Pompeii was an important port for goods and goods of all kinds. It was located on the trading route from the East to Rome and was a bustling hub of activity with traders from across the Mediterranean coming to barter and buy wares. In the 6th century BCE, the city became a Roman colony and flourished as a trading city, with goods such as grain, wine, pottery, and textiles being exported to the rest of Europe.
Agriculture was an important part of the economy and the main crop grown in the area was wheat. Evidence suggests that the city was home to several large-scale wheat farms, while there is also evidence of smaller plots and farms set up by individual households. Additionally, it is likely that the city was supplied with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts from the surrounding areas.
The city was bustling with life before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79CE. Archaeological evidence suggests that the economy was booming, with public building projects in full swing. This time was marked by an upsurge in luxury goods, with merchants selling jewellery, clothing, and ornaments from their stalls and boutiques. Other trades in the city included metal work and the manufacture of antiques.
Despite the destruction of the city, its economy lived on, with the Romans rebuilding the city and restoring the industry in the area. It is likely that fishing and quarrying were amongst the main trades in the area, generating a considerable wealth for the citizens.
Infrastructure
Pompeii was well connected in its day, benefiting from an efficient road network. The city was connected by five major roads, including the Via Popilia, the Via di Nola, the Via di Stabia, the Via di Herculaneum, and the Via dei Sepolcri. These intersected at pivotal points throughout the city, with smaller streets and alleyways connecting the main roads.
The complex network of streets was also home to a plethora of monuments, shrines, and public buildings, as well as the homes of the wealthy. Streets and squares would be lined with shops, boutiques, and stalls selling goods, with the main plaza, or agora, acting as the business centre of the city.
The city was heavily populated, with housing for the wealthy taking up much of the space, as well as a number of public buildings such as the Forum, temples and baths. Aqueducts were built to bring water to the city, while Pompeii had two harbors and two lighthouses which provided a vital service when it came to trading and communication.
Pompeii was a testament to the ingenuity of the Roman Empire, with its wealth and infrastructure showcasing the power of this great civilization. Despite its destruction, the city is a reminder of the impressive legacy of the Roman Empire and how its legacy still resonates today.
