Pompeii: the history of the death of the city and interesting facts. Another lie of official historians or not the last day of Pompeii Which volcano destroyed Pompeii

Pompeii is an ancient Roman city in southern Italy near Naples. As you know, Pompeii was buried under a multi-meter layer of ash during the eruption in 79. Nowadays, the city is a huge open-air museum, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997.

The city was founded by the Osci in the 6th century. The name of the city comes from the Oscan pumpe - five, since the city was formed by the merger of five smaller settlements. In Roman times, the division into five electoral districts remained. Another version of the origin of the name is Greek, from the word pompe - triumphal procession.

According to this legend, the city was founded by Hercules, who, after defeating Geryon, solemnly walked through these places. At different times the city was ruled by the Greeks, Etruscans and Samnites. In 310 BC. Pompeii became an ally of the Roman Republic as an autonomous, self-governing city.

In 90-88 BC. the city takes part in the revolt against Rome.

In 89 BC. Consul Sula took the city, limited its autonomy and made it a colony of Rome. The city occupied an important place on the trade route between and Southern Italy. Many noble Romans had villas on the territory of Pompeii. A high-profile event was the massacre between the inhabitants of Pompeii and Nuceria in 59 during the gladiatorial games. An ordinary fight between fans turned into a bloodbath. As a result, games were banned in Pompeii for 3 years.

Tickets

Entrance ticket to the archaeological complex of Pompeii costs 15 euros. For visitors under 18 years of age, admission is free, but you must show a document confirming your age.

• We recommend purchasing tickets in advance online only at official ticket offices ticketone.it
  See registration on the website.

How to get from Naples on your own

You can get to Pompeii on your own from Naples, by bus or rented car. We recommend options with public transport (in the south of Italy it travels according to mood and not regularly), only to the most experienced travelers with time to spare and a great desire to save money. Let's look at all the methods in detail:

By rented car

If you are traveling through small towns in Italy on your own, then you can come to Pompeii by personal transport - Of the independent options, it is the most convenient. Parking near the archaeological zone will cost approximately 5 euros per hour. We recommend reading about the features of car rental in Italy and choosing the best option on our website

• You will need:

By train

In Naples, Napoli Porta Nolana and Napoli P. Garibaldi stations have direct trains Circumvesuviana (literally translated “Around Vesuvius”) - of the options, public transport is the only one we can recommend. Here is a link to the schedule. You need to get off at Pompei Scravi Villa dei Misteri station– it is located almost next to the ticket office. The drive is approximately 30 minutes.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online at the ticket office ots.eavsrl.it/web/public/ots/ticket/index

Choose the Napoli-Sorrento line and ticket to Villa Misteri, date and number of passengers. Click Avanti. Please note that the site is also available in English, the switch on the right is the British flag.

Electric trains depart in the morning from 09:06 and 11:36.

To visit Pompeii you need to allocate at least 2 hours. You can also take this line to. From Pompeii back to Naples the train leaves at 17:18, a round-trip ticket costs 11 euros, there are no discounts for children.

Trenitalia companies depart from Naples Central Station towards Pompei station approximately every 30 minutes. The ticket costs 2.80 euros one way. If the train arrives on schedule and there are no stops, the travel time will be 38 minutes. Be prepared for frequent stops, proximity to gypsies and various beggars.

The station is located about 3 kilometers from the entrance to the archaeological park, so it makes sense to wait for bus 004 (possibly N50) and take it 3 stops.

Google advises looking at the schedule on the website of the official carrier http://www.fsbusitaliacampania.it, but, for example, in the schedule of bus 4 I don’t see the Mazzini stop. Apparently it’s easier to ask the locals upon arrival, they should help. We will be grateful if someone shares their adventure experience in the comments.

By bus

According to information from Google, direct buses N5000 and N5020 from SITAsud go to the archaeological complex relatively regularly from Naples - I do not recommend this option, since there is no real schedule or prices on the carrier’s website. To complete the picture, let's consider this method.

The Via Ferraris Galileo bus stop in Naples is located about a kilometer from Napoli Centrale station.

Bus tickets should cost 10 euros and can be purchased at:

• BAR ETTORE, PIAZZA GARIBALDI 95
• Inside Napoli Centrale station look for EDICOLA NUMBER ONE HUDSON NEWS
• ARPANET, corso Arnaldo Lucci, 163
• BIGLIETTERIA NAPOLI CAPOLINEA, PIAZZALE IMMACOLATELLA VECCHIA 1
• BAR DEL PORTO, VIA C OLIVARES ANG. VIA CAMPO D'ISOLA 26
• BAR TIRAMISU’, Napoli – Corso Lucci

What to see

Here are the attractions of Pompeii that are recommended to be visited during the tour:

1. Temple of Apollo - one of the oldest temples in the ancient city, dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. The first mentions of the shrine date back to the eighth century BC, which is also confirmed by archaeological excavations. Now we can only imagine and speculate, but most likely on the site of the current ruins there was first an altar, and only a hundred or two hundred years later (they were in no hurry to build before) the main building was built. Today, only two of the majestic colonnade containing 28 columns have survived. Also, two millennia later, in the internal niches of the temple we can observe frescoes with scenes from the Trojan War.
2. Refugee Garden
3. Great Palaestra
4. Temple of Jupiter
5. Amphitheater
6. Street of Plenty
7. Thermal Baths
8. Venus's house in the shell
9. Thermopolia
10. Bolshoi and Maly Theater
11. Gladiator Barracks Triangular Forum
12. Lupanarium
13. Forum
14. Eumachia building
15. Temple of Vespasian
16. Market
17. House of the Faun
18. House of the Small Fountain
19. Basilica

Visiting architectural monuments with a good guide will allow you to temporarily immerse yourself in the ancient world and touch its secrets.

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Throughout the history of its existence, humanity has experienced many disasters. But the most tragic of them is the death of Pompeii. Some information about this catastrophe that occurred in Italy in 79 has reached our time. Then, in the middle of the country, a huge mass of lava rushed towards the city from the mouth of the Vesuvius volcano. The townspeople, who had previously believed in the steadfastness of their power, fled in fear. Lava warmed the blooming Pompeii.

Features of Pompeii

It was a beautiful ancient city. Thanks to him, our contemporaries can more accurately determine the life of the Romans in ancient times. Curious artifacts are found during excavations at the site of the city. They claim how huge and rich the city was. Buildings, frescoes, amphorae, furniture, and household items covered with ash have survived to this day. Archaeologists are eager to visit the excavation site of an ancient city. You too can visit the ruins of the city with the Cheerful Tourist Travel Agency.

The city was formed in the 4th century BC. Then its first inhabitants settled near Naples. Subsequently, five small settlements merged together, forming one administrative center. The owners were the Etruscans, an ancient tribe whose culture was borrowed by the Romans.

History of Pompeii

At the end of the fifth century BC the Samnites took possession of the city. A hundred years later, Pompeii entered into an alliance with the Roman Republic, although this was only formal. Residents of Pompeii were drafted into the army, but they were not entitled to any material benefits. The protests of the inhabitants of Pompeii were pacified by the Romans in 89 BC by troops. The majestic city was declared a colony of Rome, although the life of the inhabitants did not change. They also continued to live carefree and freely on fertile soil, close to the sea and with a warm climate. Pompeii developed rapidly before the eruption of Vulcan.

Suburbs of Pompeii

Near Pompeii was the city of Herculaneum. Legionnaires who retired and former slaves who bought their freedom lived there. The city of Stabia was also nearby. The rich people of Rome lived there. They built villas in the city, furnished them luxuriously, and planted many plants nearby. Poor citizens lived nearby in smaller houses and served the wealthy nouveau riche.

During the volcanic eruption, Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia were buried under ash. The only survivors were those who left their belongings and left the city at the beginning of the eruption.

City infrastructure

Construction was active in Pompeii and many buildings were built.

1. A large amphitheater was erected there, where 20 thousand spectators could fit.

2. They built the Bolshoi and Maly theaters, which accommodated five thousand and one and a half thousand spectators, respectively.

3. In the city, many temples dedicated to different gods were built for believers.

4. A huge square decorated the central part of the city. Around the square there were public buildings where people traded and politicians met.

5. In the baths, people not only washed themselves, but also talked about commerce and discussed news.

City streets intersected at right angles. An aqueduct was built in the city, supplying residents with water from mountain rivers. From the aqueduct, moisture flowed into a huge reservoir and flowed through pipes into the houses of wealthy residents. Poor residents took water from the fountain. The city baked bread and produced textiles.

The last day of Pompeii

Volcanic eruptions have occurred before. But before the disaster in 79, the volcano did not cause concern for 1,500 years. A day before the eruption, the city felt several tremors of the earth's crust, which caused the temperature in the Bay of Naples to rise, even to a boil. All reservoirs have dried up. From the depths of the earth came sounds like groans.

The history of the last day of the city can be found out from the records of Pliny the Younger. The eruption began at 2 o'clock on August 24. A white cloud with gray spots rose above the volcano. The cloud expanded quickly.

The shaking of the soil could even be heard as far as Miseno, which was 30 km away, where Pliny the Younger lived. Jets of gas and large amounts of pumice fragments began to burst out of the crater, rising to a height of about 20 km. This went on for 11 hours.

Death of people

According to statistics, about 20 thousand residents died in the city, that is, approximately every tenth resident was covered with ash. Experts found this out from Pliny’s sources. These are the citizens of not only Pompeii, but also Herculaneum and Stabia.

The townspeople acted like this.

1. People rushed to the harbor in panic. They wanted to leave the dangerous city by sea. This became known when archaeologists unearthed many human remains on the shore of the bay. But the ships could not save all the residents who ran to the shore.

2. Some residents hid in closed houses and cellars. Then they wanted to get out, but were too late.

3. There were time intervals between explosions in the volcano crater. Therefore, many citizens were able to escape to a safe distance, leaving slaves in the city to guard things.

4. Some residents who did not have slaves to guard their household did not leave the city.

At night, flames erupted from the crater. The next morning, hot lava poured out of the crater. It caused the death of the people remaining in the city. At 6 o'clock, ash and pumice balls fell from the sky. They covered Pompeii and Stabia with a thick layer. This nightmare continued for 3 hours.

5. The residents who remained in the city rushed around the city. Hoping to find salvation, they soon weakened and fell, covering their heads with their hands.

Water heated to 700 degrees flowed onto the city. It mixed with the ashes and enveloped everything that came in its way, including people who had fallen from powerlessness and were suffocating from the ashes. Excavations show how, before death, people clasped their hands and opened their mouths and eyes wide in horror.

In 79, the awakening volcano Vesuvius instantly covered the city with a cloud of ash, under the weight of which the roofs of buildings collapsed. The city was destroyed in the blink of an eye, turning into stone for many centuries. Almost two millennia later, the city was discovered and gradually began to be dug up, revealing the typical life of an ancient Roman city.

Two cities bear the name. The first is a very lively small town, the second is the same famous Pompeii, destroyed in a matter of hours by the eruption of the formidable Vesuvius. The living city of Pompeii has existed for only 150 years. It grew up during the beginning of the excavations of Pompeii, becoming, in fact, a hotel city for millions of tourists who came to see the dead city.

Unlike the lesser known city, Pompeii is home to crowds of tourists, especially before lunch. So be prepared to encounter long queues to enter. In addition, Pompeii is much larger than Herculaneum, so it will take a long time to walk here. In the summer heat, don't forget comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat and water, as there is very little shade.

Weather in Pompeii:

Getting to Pompeii:

• Train timetable Naples - Pompeii(direction )
• Train timetable Pompeii - Naples(direction )
• Train timetable Naples - Pompeii(direction Poggiomarino)
• Train timetable Pompeii - Naples(direction Poggiomarino)

Buses to Pompeii:

Trains to Pompeii: approx. 50 minutes on the way

Practical information:

Ticket to Pompeii:

• Entrance to the archaeological area of ​​Pompeii: 11 €, preferential - 5.5 €
• Combo ticket(5 archaeological zones: Pompeii, (Ercolano), Oplontis, Stabia and Boscoreale) - 20 € , discounted 10 €.
• EU citizens under 18 years old - free.
• The entrance to Pompeii is covered

Entrance to the ruins: Porta Marina Superiore - Piazza Anfiteatro - Viale delle Ginestre (Piazza Esedra)

Working hours:

• from November 1 to March 31: from 8:30 to 17:00 (last entry at 15:30)
• from April 1 to October 31: from 8:30 to 19:30 (last entry at 18:00)

History of Pompeii

Unlike most cities in southern Italy, Pompeii was not founded by the Greeks - the first inhabitants of these places were Italic tribes. It is believed that in the 9th-8th centuries BC. They built a city on solidified lava, not knowing either the origin of this “foundation” or the reason for the exceptional fertility of the lands of the Sarno Valley fertilized with volcanic ash - at that time Vesuvius “slept”. During the era of Magna Graecia, the inhabitants of Pompeii had close relations with the nearby Greek colonies and they adopted religion, culture and way of life from their neighbors.

Two centuries later, the Greeks were replaced by the Samnites, and in the last years of the 4th century BC. The era of Roman rule began. Pompeii became part of the Roman state, maintaining relative autonomy. Under Roman protectorate, the city grew rapidly, its population increased sevenfold over two centuries. At the same time, the Pompeii were not particularly flexible: if the Italian tribes united and rebelled, the inhabitants of Pompeii, as a rule, joined them. In 74 BC. Spartacus took refuge with seventy rebels on the top of Vesuvius, and then, twisting ropes from vines, descended and defeated the Roman pursuers.

Trade, navigation, and crafts (especially the production and dyeing of fabrics) successfully developed in the city. Roman aristocrats built luxurious villas in Pompeii, but more in the neighboring one. Spacious dwellings were erected by local merchants and entrepreneurs who became rich. The inscriptions preserved on the walls of the houses indicate that the townspeople led an active social and political life.

It would seem that nothing foreshadowed the tragedy, but in 63 “the first bell rang” - a powerful earthquake occurred with its epicenter near Pompeii. Many public buildings collapsed, the water supply system was severely damaged, and city residents were buried under the collapsed houses.

Emperor Nero wanted to ban living in Pompeii, but the stubborn Pompeii defended the right not to leave their homeland and began to restore the city. The dire warning of an impending disaster was not taken into account. And 17 years later, on August 24, 79, a second disaster struck the inhabitants of Pompeii: a volcanic eruption destroyed Pompeii and the small settlements around it in a matter of hours.

As a result of lengthy archaeological excavations, an open-air museum arose on the site of the lost city.

Sights of Pompeii

At the entrance (at the tourist office) be sure to pick up a map of the excavations. It's easy to get lost in Pompeii.

Porta Marina Gate

The inspection starts from Porta Marina gate. City street via Marina paved with stone slabs, in which the carts pushed deep ruts. To properly organize traffic, city residents installed special stones with guides for wheels. On these same stones, during the rain, it was possible to cross from one sidewalk, lined with lava slabs and raised 20 cm above the roadway, to another, without getting your feet wet.

Antiquarium

Just outside the gate on the right side via Marina is located Antiquarium(lat. antiquarium - “repository of antiquities”), where some finds from excavations and plaster castings of the bodies of dead townspeople are collected.

Forum

Via Marina leads to a complex of buildings forum. Usually the forum was located in the center of the ancient city, but in Pompeii it was greatly shifted to the southwest, since it was not easy to find a large, flat area on the frozen surface of the lava flow. The forum was surrounded on all sides by buildings with porticoes; between the columns there were statues of famous people of that time, from which pedestals with inscriptions have been preserved. adjoined the forum from the west Temple of Apollo(Tempio di Apollo, VI century BC, rebuilt in the 1st century). Those who decorated the temple have been preserved statues Apollo and Diana (the originals are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Naples).

Temple of Jupiter

To the north of the temple of Apollo was the main sanctuary of Pompeii - Temple of Jupiter(Tempio di Giove, II century BC). It was destroyed by the earthquake of 63, and by the time of the next disaster they had not yet managed to restore it. In addition, on the forum there were Lar temple(Tempio dei Lari) And Temple of Vespasian(Tempio di Vepasiano), city administration buildings and the Comitium, where elections were held, a market, food warehouses, the Chamber of Weights and Measures and public toilets.

Stone triumphal arches in honor of the emperors Drusus and Tiberius they were once lined with marble.

Thermae of the Forum

To the north-west of the Temple of Apollo there are forum baths(Terme del Foro). After the earthquake of 63, they were the only ones that continued to function properly. The baths built under the dictator Sulla had women's and men's sections, each of them consisted of an apodyterium (locker room) and halls: frigidarium (with cold water), tepidarium (with warm water) and caldarium (with hot water). Here you can see the water supply and heating systems and admire fragments of decorative paintings that decorated the vaults and walls.

The northern façade of the baths faces the main ancient axis of Pompeii ( decumanus) - via Terme- via della Fortuna- via di Nola. On the nearby streets, buildings typical of a Roman city have been preserved: from profitable “apartment” houses of the poor (insul) to luxurious private mansions, sometimes occupying an entire block, with peristyles, fountains and richly decorated rooms.

House of the Tragic Poet

Opposite the term is up to m tragic poet(Casa Del Poeta Tragico) with the famous mosaic floor, which depicts a rehearsal of the play. In front of the entrance there is a mosaic image of a dog with a caption Cave canim ("Be aware of dogs!").

House of the Faun

A little further east on via della Fortuna costs up to m faun(Casa del Fauno), named after the small bronze figurine of the Dancing Faun, which decorated one of the peristyles of this aristocratic villa. The famous mosaic “ Battle of Alexander the Great with Darius"(kept in the Archaeological Museum of Naples).

House of the Vettii

Having passed from via Terme to the north along perpendicular to it via di Mercuriotwo quarters, you can explore houseApollo(Casa del Apollo), a folding c via Termeon at the first intersection to the east on Vicolo di Mercurio - up to m Vettiev(Casa dei Vettii). This is a most valuable monument of Pompeian painting (there are three different “Pompeian” painting styles) and a “museum of everyday life” of wealthy citizens. At the end of the excavations, the building needed only minor restoration, after which it appeared in its original form. The paintings on mythological themes are perfectly preserved (“ Ariadne and Dionysus», « Hercules strangling snakes") and a frieze with graceful miniatures " Cupids busy at work».

The image of Priapus located at the entrance with scales in his hand, on one bowl - a bag of gold, and on the other - a huge phallus, makes a stunning impression on an unprepared person. The life-loving Pompeians treated this organ with respect. It was believed that the image of the male reproductive organ could ward off evil spirits. Some researchers explain the purpose of small images of phalluses carved on Pompeian pavements with sacred purposes, but there is a version that these are just pointers to the nearest brothel (lupanarium), to which Vettiev leads west from the house vicolo Storto.

Lupanarium

Lupanarium(Lupanare) stands at the intersection with via della Fortuna. A well-preserved brothel from the inside looks rather gloomy and looks more like a prison dungeon than an entertainment establishment - tiny dark rooms, narrow, short stone beds and small frescoes. It is believed that the paintings on the walls not only created the right mood for visitors, but also served as instructions - with their help, foreign sailors who did not speak Latin explained themselves to prostitutes. Despite their unpresentable appearance from the point of view of a modern person, ancient brothels were popular among representatives of different classes of the empire.

Triangular Forum

From lupanarium, keeping the general direction south, along vicolo Storto, via degli Augustali, via dei Teatri you can go to Triangular Forum(Foro Triangolare). Many shops and workshops, taverns and drinking establishments have been preserved (dishes and coins thrown in a hurry by the last visitors remained on the tables in the taverns, images of dishes offered in the establishment are often painted on the walls), mills and bakeries. The standard of the latter can be bakery Modesta(Forno di Modesta), one of the largest in the city. In it, archaeologists discovered millstones, a sales counter and petrified bread. The triangular forum was built back in the Samnite era.

towered on it Doric temple(Tempio Dorico, VI century BC), dedicated to Hercules. Along the north-eastern side of the square there were Samnite palaestra(Palestra Samnitiana), Grand Theatre(Teatro Grande) And gladiator barracks(Caserma dei Gladiatori). The palaestra served as a place for sports activities for aristocrats before a similar large structure was built on the outskirts. The Great Theater for 5,000 spectators (2nd century BC, rebuilt under Augustus), made according to the Greek model, stood on the hillside. The majestic mountain range on the horizon served as a natural backdrop. Nearby there is a gladiator barracks with canteens, closets where the fighters lived, and a rectangular courtyard for training.

East of the Bolshoi was located Maly Theater, or Odeon(Teatro Piccolo o Odeon). Next to him stood a small Temple of Zeus Melichios, which, after the destruction of the large sanctuary in the Forum Square, served as the main place of worship of Zeus, and nearby - an elegant Temple of Isis(Tempio di Iside), considered one of the best examples of ancient architecture. Not long before the disaster, the temple was rebuilt and thanks to this, it was perfectly preserved.

Amphitheater

Walking from the Maly Theater to the east, you can first look around m Cryptoportica(Casa dei Criptoportico), where plaster casts of people who died during the eruption are exhibited, and then get to Great Palaestra(Grande Palestra), built in the 1st century. Next to her is a huge amphitheater(Anfiteatro), which could accommodate at least 12,000 spectators. The building, in the arena of which performances were staged and gladiator fights took place, was built in 80 BC. and may have served as a model for later amphitheaters in Rome. The palaestra and amphitheater are located on the eastern edge of the excavation area.

Villa of Mysteries

TO Villa of Mysteries(Villa dei Misteri) from the railway station you can walk along viale della Villa dei Misteri, following it to the north-west. There are magnificent wall paintings preserved here, made in the spirit of the cult of Dionysus, telling about marriage (possibly the mistress of the house). It is known that the cult, prohibited in Rome by decree of the Senate, was preserved in the province, and the paintings of the Villa of the Mysteries provide the key to the mysteries of the Dionysian rites. The figures are painted in full height on a characteristic red “Pompeian” background.

Pompeii Map

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 the dead city. The preserved ancient city will allow you to see and immerse yourself in the tragic history of antiquity.

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. The city lived through its 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 of ​​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 Pompeii 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 cost of the card includes skip-the-line tickets to the main attractions of Rome, transfer from the airport and back, travel on a tourist bus and discounts on many museums and other interesting places in 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 the Osci, one of the peoples of 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.

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 of his responsibility was, 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.

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.

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.

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.