cities of vesuvius - Pompeii and Herculaneum-

stages of occupation of Pompeii and her Herculaneum -
POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM-

THE OSCANS

Strabo , the geographer writing in the 1st century ad - suggests the Oscans , were the founders of Pompeii origin of Herculaneum -lost in legends associated with Heracles - Strabo also believed the Oscans were its founders

THE GREEKS AND ETRUSCANS

the greeks and etruscans during the 7th century - expanded their influence to other places around the coast and in Campania as a whole- they where appreciative of the strategic location of oscan settlement of Pompeii

THE STAGNATES

under the samnites pompeii expanded , it took on an urban configuration - new fortifications - stabian baths, other public buildings- gymnasium where constructed during the Samnite period - gave the Pompeians’ a taste for Hellenic culture in 343 BC the romans entered Campania - relentless expansion through italian peninsula brought conflict with Samnites - the romans sacked the neighbouring country side including pompeii and herculaneum and stye became part of the roman confederation- they where then granted the status of sock italici ( italian allies ) which entailed full rights of local self-government as the bay of naples came the centre of ship-building for infant roman navy - most likely that pompeii and herculaneum benefited from the increase in business. in 2nd century bc healthy samnites built lagers handsome houses - house of faun

THE ROMANS

roman law was introduceed introduced and the new municipal administration was composed mostly of new settlers latin rather than oscan was imposed as the official language as new wealth poured into pompeii it was embellished with lavish new and refurbished houses and public buildings - the odeon of covered theatre was built and the amphitheatre was built in 70 contrary bc the change in status was marked by the transformation of the temple of jupiter into he temple of the capitoline triad and restructured on the model of the capitalism in rome. through influence of the romans , herculaneum became one of the most fashionable centres for wealthy romans on the bay of naples

THE IMPERIAL AGE

after jules caesar’s assassination in 44bc- pompeii flourished its luxury industries expanded, agricultural outputt from surrounding lads - freedmen began to accumulate wealth and participate in public affairs
Pompeii became a form of propaganda to promote the gold age of augustus (27 bc- ad 14) and the cult temperor both Pompeii and Herculaneum dedicated public buildings to Agustus - temples of venus and apollo to whom Augustus was particularly devoted were restored Agustus commissioned aqueducts to bring fresh water from mountains - providing running water to public fountains as we'll as private homes

The earthquake of AD 62-

according to Tacitus, AD 62 was the year in which an earthquake ‘ largely demolished the populouss Campanian town of Pompeii’ - Seneca philosopher also believed wrote a contemporary account of earth quake pompeii was probably epicentree - other areas -herculaneum and nuceria where affected - according to seneca - wide clefs in the groundd stalled up flocks of sheep -in towns , houses , public buildings and statues sawyed and collapseed - there is evidence the situation was chaotic as people hurled themselvess headlong outside , abandoned their household possessions

The eruption of vesuvius in AD 79-

seventeen years later after earthquake at about 1pm 24 august AD 79 , vesuvius split apart with a thundering roar - everyday life stopped in its tracks as a towering column of ash and pumice rose about 30km into the air - followed by a series of going avalanches of superheated gasses, ash and rock- with in 24 hours both cities - pompeii and herculaneum had disappeared - the vanished city of Pompeuu became known simply as civitas ( settlement )

location of main points on pompeii-

amphitheatre- in the eastern side of pompeii palaestra -