1. Geographical Context
1.1 The physical environment: the geographical setting, natural features and resources of Pompeii and Herculaneum
General:
- Region of Campania in Southern Italy - Strabo- "wine bowl" - Florus; ‘nowhere is the climate gentler...nowhere is the soil richer’ - Linked to Rome by land and sea routes |
Pompeii:
- At the mouth of the Sarno River (Pompeii was the major river port) - Close to the Bay of Naples (not a coastal town) - On a small natural hill - Surrounded by mountains on three sides. |
Herculaneum:
- On the Bay of Naples. - On a slightly sloping, small volcanic plateau which fell sheer to the sea. - Sisenna; sided by two ravines cut by watercourses. - Had two inlets. |
Resources
- Wine, olives, olive oil, grain, fish, wheat and barley.
- Area around Vesuvius was very fertile due to the volcanic soil; this made it ideal for agriculture. - Bay was abundant with sea life; breeding ground for fish. Fishing was major industry for P+H.
- Pompeii had network of roads to other towns; trading was big part of commercial activity.
- Wine, olives, olive oil, grain, fish, wheat and barley.
- Area around Vesuvius was very fertile due to the volcanic soil; this made it ideal for agriculture. - Bay was abundant with sea life; breeding ground for fish. Fishing was major industry for P+H.
- Pompeii had network of roads to other towns; trading was big part of commercial activity.
1.2 Plans and Streetscapes of Pompeii and Herculaneum
Pompeii
- Small by Roman standards --> 66 hectares
- The grid pattern was not as precisely applied in Pompeii
- Walls --> Surrounded by defensive walls (12 towers, 8 gateways) à demolished with colonisation for housing
- Gates --> Herculaneum, Vesuvian, Stabian, Capula, Nola, Nuceria, Marina, Sarno
- Streets and Roads
- Decumani (North --> South) Cardines (East --> West). Met at right angles.
- Raised footpaths on the side of roads.
- Stepping blocks --> Determined wheeled traffic routes
--> Allowed pedestrians to cross over sewage
Herculaneum
- Greek town layout --> narrow straight streets to divide the town into insulae.
- Walls --> Herculaneum has a sea wall with large vaulted chambers for boats as a defence.
- Gates --> City gates were positioned at the end of main thoroughfares.
- Streets and Roads -->
- More efficient draining and sewerage systems
- Ranged from 2.5 to 7 metres wide, not conforming to the law in some cases.
- Some streets were for pedestrians only, such as the main street used as its Forum.
- Aediles = Magistrates responsible for maintenance of streets
Common
- Degrees of Greek influence
- Via = main road from the city gate e.g. Via dell’Abbondanza --> principle road (decumani)
- Crossroads were often places for shrines and water fountains (nymphaea)
- Streets were required to be, by law, 5 metres wide at a minimum
- Small by Roman standards --> 66 hectares
- The grid pattern was not as precisely applied in Pompeii
- Walls --> Surrounded by defensive walls (12 towers, 8 gateways) à demolished with colonisation for housing
- Gates --> Herculaneum, Vesuvian, Stabian, Capula, Nola, Nuceria, Marina, Sarno
- Streets and Roads
- Decumani (North --> South) Cardines (East --> West). Met at right angles.
- Raised footpaths on the side of roads.
- Stepping blocks --> Determined wheeled traffic routes
--> Allowed pedestrians to cross over sewage
Herculaneum
- Greek town layout --> narrow straight streets to divide the town into insulae.
- Walls --> Herculaneum has a sea wall with large vaulted chambers for boats as a defence.
- Gates --> City gates were positioned at the end of main thoroughfares.
- Streets and Roads -->
- More efficient draining and sewerage systems
- Ranged from 2.5 to 7 metres wide, not conforming to the law in some cases.
- Some streets were for pedestrians only, such as the main street used as its Forum.
- Aediles = Magistrates responsible for maintenance of streets
Common
- Degrees of Greek influence
- Via = main road from the city gate e.g. Via dell’Abbondanza --> principle road (decumani)
- Crossroads were often places for shrines and water fountains (nymphaea)
- Streets were required to be, by law, 5 metres wide at a minimum