Pompei Urbs classica et clara

Bellwork Answer the following questions on your weekly bellwork sheet. If you don’t know, put a question mark. Where is Pompeii? How was Pompeii destroyed? What is a forum and why is it important? How did Pompeii have water throughout the whole city?

When you are done with the quiz… TURN IT OVER. I WILL COLLECT IT FROM YOU. Think about these questions: (You don’t have to write them down): If our civilization were to end today, how would we be remembered? What do you think people would be most impressed with from our civilization? How could what we have be misinterpreted?

Pompei Typical Roman town Founded 6th – 8th century BC Frozen moment for typical Roman everyday life

Where is Pompei? To Google Earth!

The Forum The Forum Center of Roman Life Philosophizing Court cases Market

Temple of Apollo largest temple in town Beautiful late republic artwork Popular for worship and sacrifice

The Villa of Mysteries Popular religious destination Worshipers of Dionysius Greek cult connections Most beautiful frescos in southern Italy!

Amphitheater First to be built out of stone! called the spectacula Roman games gladiator fighting oldest surviving Roman Amphitheater

Palaestra Wrestling school! Next to the amphitheater baths and gardens Greek style buildings

Famous Dining Many Cauponae Many Thermopolia small restaurants with home-cooked meals Many Thermopolia beverage stands Macellum with food from around the Mediterranean market places

but……… August 24th 79 AD Everything changed……

Tacitus My uncle was stationed at Misenum, in active command of the fleet. On 24 August, in the early afternoon, my mother drew his attention to a cloud of unusual size and appearance. He had been out in the sun, had taken a cold bath, and lunched while lying down, and was then working at his books. He called for his shoes and climbed up to a place which would give him the best view of the phenomenon. It was not clear at that distance from which mountain the cloud was rising (it was afterwards known to be Vesuvius)

Tacitus Then the flames and smell of sulphur which gave warning of the approaching fire drove the others to take flight and roused him to stand up. He stood leaning on two slaves and then suddenly collapsed, I imagine because the dense fumes choked his breathing by blocking his windpipe which was constitutionally weak and narrow and often inflamed. When daylight returned on the 26th - two days after the last day he had been seen - his body was found intact and uninjured, still fully clothed and looking more like sleep than death.

Rediscovery 1700s amazing insights into Roman life Which discovery do you feel best represents their life? What are the problems with using these discoveries to sum up their lives?

Frescos Represent Daily life Represent values Represent religion

Food Petrified eggs and fruit found frescos of food EVEN BREAD!

Bodies Found with families Jails Even their dogs ….. no pugs were found

Houses Typical Roman house layout We get most of our information about Roman houses from Pompeii

Exit Slip Which discovery do you feel best represents a Roman’s life in Pompeii? What are the problems with using these discoveries as the only sources of understanding Roman lives in Pompeii?