The City of Pompeii: Tragedy, discovery, and timeless history

Pompeii is a dilapidated ancient Roman city located 23 km southeast of Naples, at the southeastern foot of Mount Vesuvius. It is currently an open-air museum, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is one of the main attractions of Italy and one of the oldest cities in the world.

The locals have been trading for several centuries, going to the amphitheater and baking bread. Life went on as usual until the powerful eruption of Mount Vesuvius began in 79 AD. The city was showered with volcanic debris, and the next day, it was followed by clouds of incandescent gases. The buildings collapsed. The population was crushed or suffocated, and the city remained buried under a layer of ash and volcanic glass.

Where is Pompeii located?

The ruins of the ancient Roman city are located near Naples, in the Campania region. The easiest way to get there is by train on the Circumvesuviana railway company, which is something like a commuter train. The station is located under the central station of Naples. The journey time is about 30 minutes; you need to get out after seeing the name of the Pompeii station outside the window. A 40-minute bus ride away. In Naples, it runs from the stop at CircumVesuviana Square. In Pompeii, he stops at the railway station.

It is difficult to confuse where the museum is located: almost all people arriving at the platform go in this direction. Another option is to get there by car; you need the A3 highway. Nearby is another ancient city, Herculaneum, which suffered from the same eruption of Vesuvius. It is known a little less, but some tourists combine visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The history of Pompeii

At first, these places were inhabited by Italian tribes. Around the 8th—7th century BC, they were replaced by the Greeks, who founded Naples and, probably, Pompeii. For a time, there was a strong influence of the Etruscans, who partially inhabited Campania. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. Then the Greeks were replaced by the Samnites, an ancient Italian people.

The first mention of Pompeii dates back to 310 BC, when, during the Second Samnite War, a Roman fleet landed in the port of Pompeii and launched an unsuccessful attack on the neighboring city of Nuceria. At the end of this war, the region became part of the Roman Confederation, but Pompeii joined the Italians in revolt against Rome. As a punishment for this, a Roman colony was founded in the city under the Roman politician and military commander Publius Sulla. Latin became the official language, and soon the influence of the Romans became noticeable in all spheres of life.

Life in the city suited even refined tastes. For example, the orator, philosopher, and scientist Cicero had three villas here. Pompeii was well-maintained: the sidewalks were raised above the pavement, and the houses of wealthy citizens had courtyards.

The city traded with other regions of Italy, and crafts and arts were practiced here. Pompeii had two theaters and an amphitheater for gladiatorial fights, where, according to some sources, Spartacus also fought. There were public baths, taverns, shops, and brothels.

The Fall of Pompeii

The first disaster occurred in 62 A.D., when an earthquake caused great damage to Pompeii: many buildings collapsed, and water supply systems were damaged. Many residents died. The destruction was so severe that Emperor Nero wanted to close the city, but the residents refused. However, a second disaster soon overtook them.

It is believed that it all began on the night of August 24, 79 A.D., but archaeologists are no longer sure of this date. During the excavations, they found an inscription on the wall of the house, which indirectly indicates that what happened happened in the second half of October, and maybe in November. This was indirectly indicated by some other, earlier finds.

But whatever the date, ash first fell from Vesuvius, and at noon the volcano began to erupt: fragments of ash and volcanic debris quickly covered the city to a height of more than 3 m. Buildings collapsed under their own weight, and people and animals died right where they were caught by the elements. The streets were literally strewn with bodies.

The next morning was no less terrible. Vesuvius spewed out a stream of red-hot lava and poisonous gas, and the latter moved towards Pompeii. Those who managed to escape from the stones and ashes suffocated.

Pompeii now

In 1592, the Italian architect Domenico Fontana discovered part of the city wall. But the excavations of the ancient Roman city began only in 1748. It was facilitated by the fact that locals often found ancient things. However, at that time, it was believed that these were the excavations of the Stabii, the rich villas of the Roman aristocracy. The inscriptions with the name of the city did not help either: archaeologists associated them with the commander Gnaeus Pompey. It was not until 1763 that one of the discovered inscriptions identified the place as the city of Pompeii. Later, three more were discovered, and there was no doubt.

Now there is a museum on the site of the once majestic city, where you can see the ruins of streets and houses. So, the premises of bakeries have been excavated here, in one of which burnt bread has been preserved. A laundry was found in the western part of the city. Bright frescoes have been preserved on the walls of the houses, which show the life of the townspeople. You can imagine what the baths and the brothel looked like.

In Pompeii, you can see the forum — a public, religious, shopping, and business center. There is also the Temple of Apollo, the most ancient temple of Pompeii. It was surrounded by 28 columns, two of which were covered with ashes and have survived to this day. The Pompeii Amphitheater is also one of the most ancient. It could accommodate up to 20,000 people. There was also a square in the city, which was intended for sporting events and gymnastic exercises.