Cities of Vesuvius
Pompeii and Herculaneum
Stage 6 Ancient History
CORE TOPIC
CORE TOPIC!!!
• This means that EVERY student studying
Ancient History for the HSC will study
Pompeii and Herculaneum
MORE IMPORTANTLY…
• This means that EVERY TEACHER with a
Yr 12 Ancient History class from 2006
onwards will have to teach Pompeii and
Herculaneum
SEX SELLS!!!
Brothels of Pompeii
•Brothels like
this one were
scattered over
Pompeii
Where in the world is Pompeii?
Pompeii
Mt Vesuvius looms over Pompeii
Examinable Elements:
• Geographical Context
– The physical environment: the geographical
setting, natural features and resources of
Pompeii and Herculaneum
– Plans and streetscapes of Pompeii and
Herculaneum
Examinable Elements
• The nature of sources and evidence
– The range of available sources, both written and
archaeological
• The evidence provided by the sources for:
– The eruption, economy, social structure, political life,
everyday life, housing etc
– Influence of Greek and Egyptian cultures: art,
architecture, religion; household gods, temples
Examinable Elements:
• Investigating, reconstructing and preserving
the past
– Changing methods and contributions of 19th and 20th
century archaeologists to our understanding of
Pompeii and Herculaneum
– Changing interpretations: impact of new research and
technologies
– Ethical issues
– Issues of conservation and reconstruction
HSC Examination
• EVERY student must answer the question
on Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and
Herculaneum
• There will be one question in three parts
with at least three sources provided
THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
YOUR STUDENTS KNOW HOW TO USE
AND INTERPRET SOURCES!
Question 1 (a)
• This part will require students to extract relevant
information from some or all of the sources in
context. This question may contain a number of
sub parts.
• Students must use the sources provided and
demonstrate skill in understanding and
interpreting the sources
Question 1 (b)
• This part will require students to use
sources and apply their own knowledge to
reconstruct aspects of life in Pompeii and
Herculaneum
• Students will have to expand on the
sources provided, drawing on their own
knowledge to answer this question
Question 1 (c)
• This part will require students to refer to
sources and apply their own knowledge to
issues of investigating, reconstructing and
preserving past and related ethical issues
• This is where students can demonstrate
their knowledge and understanding, tying
it in with the provided sources
Ancient Sources
• The earliest written record of any
volcanic eruption relates to Mt Vesuvius
• Pliny the Younger describes the
eruption that buried Pompeii and
Herculaneum
• Pliny the Younger also wrote letters to
Tacitus which tell us of politics and
everyday life in Pompeii
Ancient Sources
• Names to remember when looking for
ancient written sources on Pompeii:
– Pliny the Younger
– Strabo
– Seneca
• Archaeological Evidence
– Pompeii is preserved today
– Artefacts survived
– The evidence shows the daily lives of the people of
Pompeii
Pompeii
• In 79 A.D., the
ancient volcano
Vesuvius erupted and
preserved the daily
lives of the Pompeii
residents under a
cover of lava and ash.
Frozen in Time
• People were “frozen”
in place as the ash
from Mount Vesuvius
cooled around them.
The ones that
escaped the ash were
soon killed by the
poisonous gases that
filled the air
Streets of Pompeii
Pedestrian Passages
Forum Baths
• The rooms
used for
changing were
embellished
with stuccos
and paintings
Flour Mill Bakery
Grindstones
Oven
Graffiti of Pompeii
• Graffiti of
political
messages is
found in the
forum at
Pompeii
• Women too
expressed their
political opinion
through graffiti
Political Statements
Inscriptions by the duoviri
(Pompeii’s mayors)
Wonders of
Pompeii
Lead Pipes, Pompeii, 79 A. D.
Grain Mill, Pompeii, 79 A. D.
Lunch Counter, Pompeii, 79 A. D.
Amphorae, Pompeii, 79 A. D.
Painting, Pompeii, 79 A. D.
Street Scene in Pompeii
Victim of Vesuvius
Victims of Vesuvius