Pompeii and Herculaneum Sources

The range of sources Architectural structures and spaces at Pompeii and Herculaneum: domestic dwellings places of worship places of work places of entertainment shops and public spaces

The variety of decorative arts: frescoes mosaics sculptures furniture Written sources – inscriptions public notices graffiti papyri rolls wax tablets

Essential Knowledge 1.You should be aware of the following – What type of archaeological source is it ? a private building a public building a monument an artefact

What type of written source is it ? a literary source an epigraphic source (inscription) a numismatic source (coins or medals)

Has the source been dated ? Is it a primary or secondary source ? In the case of an archaeological source, where was it located ? In what state of preservation is the source ? If it is a line drawing or a photograph, how accurate is it ? What information does the source not provide ?

Archaeological sources the study of human remains can provide information on gender, age, appearance, general state of health, a probable cause of death everyday objects provide historians with a snapshot of daily life buildings give some idea of the big-picture. However, much of the information available is based on subjective impressions. wax tablets provide information about business and legal activities and family structures.

Epigraphic sources wall writings offer a record of electoral slogans, gladiatorial programs and various other events formal inscriptions throw some light on the system of government, the social structure and social change

Written sources Cicero [c BC] – provides information about political activities in Pompeii post 80 BC Strabo [c.63 BC-21 AD – provides descriptions of Vesuvius prior to the eruption and of the Sarno Valley Seneca [c.4 BC-65 AD] – provides information about the earthquake of AD 62 which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum  Dio Cassius [c AD] – provides information about the eruption 100 years after the event  Tacitus [c AD] – he alludes briefly to the eruption in his prologue. In his Historiae, he may have made reference to Pliny’s description of the eruption but this work is lost. Pliny the Younger [c AD]

In assessing the reliability of sources the following issues need to be considered – the context in which the source is found – artefacts must be related to other things around them the reliability of dating methods artefacts or organic materials are not in themselves evidence, they can be interpreted in different ways by archaeologists and historians both sites are only partially excavated and there are, therefore, gaps in the evidence available