CITIES OF VESUVIUS
PRACTICE SOURCE QUESTIONS
FOR CORE ( POLITICS, ECONOMY, WOMEN, THEATRES,
PALAESTRAS, HOUSES)
USING THE SOURCE DESCRIBE THE COMMERCIAL LIFE OF
POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM ( OCCUPATIONS)( 8 MARKS )
Give dot point outline to this answer
POINTS TO INCLUDE
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Opening sentence: “ The location of Pompeii as a port and central to the
fertile Campanian hinterland and Italian penninsula ensured its vibrant
and cosmopolitan economic activity in primary secondary and tertiary
activity. The excavation of up to 600 shops indicates the scale of such
economic activity ”
Give a brief description of major industries textiles, ( refer to source )
wine and oil, garum, bakeries and a couple of minor ones like perfume(
recent excavation) and pottery ( Jaye Pont study)
With each industry be able to give at least one piece of specific supporting
evidence eg The Bakery of Modestus where 81 loaves of bread were
recovered.
If space allows mention market days, numismatical evidence and the shops
The wax tablets of Caecilius Jacundus records commercial transactions
recording receipts for loans and rent is valuable supporting evidence
USING THE SOURCE EXPLAIN TRHE ROLE OF
WOMEN IN POMPEII ( SLAVES)
POINTS TO INCLUDE; POLITICAL, BIOLOGICAL,
RELIGIOS AND ECONOMIC
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The amount of tangible evidence on women in the cities of Vesuvius is limited and fragmentary. Evidence of
women in art is usually a male depiction and therefore often idealized
Upper class women, literate, politically active in supporting husbands and fathers eg Eumachia inscription (
refer to source ), patroness of Fullers guild
Business Women, Often in partnership with their husbands, women could earn profits, run shops and engage
in crafts and trades.
independent and wealthy; tomb of Naevola Tyche and House of Julia Felix
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Of somewhat lower status women worked independently in making and mending clothes. They were also
employed in the Fuller industry, both slave and free.
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Women could own and operate taverns, inns and bars, which also served as food outlets ( prostitution
??)
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Graffiti advertisements tell us that Valeria Hedone was an innkeeper; “ Hedone says ‘ You can drink
here for one as, if you give two, you will drink better; if you give four, you will drink Falernian.’”
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Slave Women
This class had a wide range of duties, including personal attendants, for the wealthy, household
slaves who did cooking and cleaning, nannies and wet nurses. Slave women who earned their
freedom could then own their own slaves.Slaves could be freed by a brief ceremony called
manumission eg Bracelet “ from a grateful master to his slave girl”
Laser and Bisel skeletal evidence
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USING THE SOURCE EXPLAIN WHAT THEY REVEAL ABOUT THE POLITICAL LIFE
IN POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM
A Marcus Holconius
Rufus, military leader
elected by the people,
duumir five times,
twice duumvir fiveyear, a priest of
Augustus Caesar,
protector of the
Colony.
Statue of Nonius Balbus in Herculaneum
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Families like Balbus and Rufus ( refer to source ) formed the local elite. Some from wealth and
some from Patrician background expressed status through patronage
The Patron-Client relationship allowed the giving of advice, granting of favors, food and money to people
of lower status. In turn, these people would work for your next election and if able to vote, would vote for
you
The wealthy maintained strong ties of political friendships, ie Amicitas
Examples of programmata
“ Wake up and Vote for Helvius Sabinus for Aedile”
Political structure and responsibilities
Opening sentence; “Pompeii and Herculaneum, like all provincial towns were self governing in local
matters. Written evidence from Cicero and epigraphic evidence suggests intense competition for the
various magistracies, particularly Dumviri and Aedile. as a way of achieving social status”
Manner of election and duties of the Council, Quattuorvri, Quinquennales, Dumviri, Aediles and Peoples
Assembly ( refer to source )
Be able to support with evidence from statues, inscriptions, graffiti slogans and any other modern sources
that you can possibly remember
You could include discussion of the political buildings, Curia, Comitium and Basilicas as well as the
fundamental patron client relationship made visible through the Salutatio.
EXPLAIN WHAT THE SOURCE SUGGESTS ABOUT
THE CULTURAL LIFE OF POMPEII AND
HERCULANEUM
POINTS TO INCLUDE
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LARGE THEATRE (VIII,7,20-21,27,30)
Built in the 2nd century BC, this theatre takes advantage of the natural slope of the land to create the tiers of seats ( refer to
source ) (cavea), in a horseshoe shape divided into three zones, of which the lower (ima cavea), covered with marble, was reserved
for the decurions and important citizens. The ring corridor supporting the upper tiers, and the 'balconies' above the side entrances, were
added during the Augustan period: thus the theatre could hold approximately 5,000 spectators. The stage and opus latericium backdrop
decorated with marbles and statues date from the restoration in 62 AD, after the earthquake. The works performed here quite likely
included the Atellanae (popular farces in the Oscan language), the plays of Plautus and Terentius, mimes and pantomimes (with dancing
and music
Troups of performers went on tour to different towns in Campania; Actius Anicetus and his troupe of actors inspired a number of graffiti,
recorded in Pompeii and Herculaneum
“Actius, master of stage performers”
Mozaics and frescoes like the one shown here were found in various houses including the House of the Tragic Poet and the
Villa of Cicero
Theatre masks were also found and there is a plentiful supply of graffiti concerning actors
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The small theatre was a covered theatre holding about 1,500 people and mainly used for more serious and intimate
performances of musical concerts, poetry readings and mime
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Although women didn’t play a large part in performances it is thought that they participated in mime and pantomime. There is
graffiti about an actress called Histrionica Rotica which could support this theory
EXPLAIN WHAT THE SOURCE REVEALS ABOUT
ATTITUDE TO PHYSICAL EXERCISE
Palaestra in Herculaneum
POINTS TO INCLUDE
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“Sound mind and a Sound Body”
Every Roman town had an open sports ground. The Large
Palaestra was 107x 141 metres rectangle with enclosed
walls. In the centre was a large swimming pool.( refer to
source )
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The Herculaneum Palaestra occupied a whole block and had
an impressive swimming pool with fountain.
In and around these, activities like athletics, wrestling,
javelin, discus throwing took place
Both men and women could participate in events.
Athletics played a major role in the Roman culture,
recreation,military training, fitness,competition and
education
WITH REFERENCE TO THE SOURCE EXPLAIN THE
ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH BATH COMPLEXES
POINTS TO INCLUDE
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The Roman adage, ‘a sound mind in a sound body’ contributed to their passion for physical exercise & the
baths
Four thermae have been found in Pompeii
Forum Baths, Central Baths, Stabian Baths, Sarno Baths
Herculaneum had 2 thermae
STRUCTURE Vestibule – exercise yard,Apodyterium – change/waiting rooms Frigidarium – circular cold bath
Tepidarium – warm room, transition space Laconicum – sweating room Caldarium – hot room with
rectangular heated bath. Hot air circulated through the interstices (hypocaustum) under the marble floor
The ceiling had grooves that channelled condensation down the walls to prevent it dripping onto bathers
ACTIVITIES Visitors could practise physical activity, play sport, indulge in massage, stroll in the gardens, listen
to music, read & conduct business ( patrons would meet clients as well )
A favourite game was pila, played with an inflated animal bladder ~ J.J. Deiss
Slaves often accompanied their masters ~ J. J. Deiss
Slaves would apply a mixture of olive oil & finely ground pumice then scrape off the dirt with a strigil, a
curved implement ~ J. J. Deiss
Women wore a two-piece costume, men wore leather trunks or bathed naked
Pornographic graffiti suggests that sexual activity may have taken place
From the discovery of 100s of lamps it appears that the baths stayed open at night – bustling lively places. ~
‘Here I am surrounded by all kinds of noise (my lodgings overlook a bathhouse) ~ Seneca
EXPLAIN WHAT DOMESTIC SPACE REVEALS ABOUT THE LIVES OF
PEOPLE IN POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM
HOUSE OF MENANDER
POINTS TO INCLUDE (REFER TO SOURCE)
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There is no such thing as a standard house in Pompeii or Herculaneum. Hadrill identified
four different groups of houses, combining various degrees of residential and
commercial function- include apartments. Second stories only found at Herculaneum;
House of the Bicentenery
Room function is highly interpretive, reflecting historical context The removal of
material culture from their context makes room function almost impossible to determine.
Houses opened directly on to the street and because they were designed to face inwards,
their facades were austere with little indication of the elegance within
The key feature in the design of urban houses (domus) for the Roman elite is the long
axis running from the street entry to the garden. This axis ties together fauces ("jaws"),
atrium, tablinum, and peristyle; it is framed by columns ( greek style) (often
positioned, as here, to "force" the perspective and make the house look bigger than it
actually is). The house falls naturally into to two basic zones, the "negotium"
("business") half focused on the atrium and tablinum, and the "otium" ("leisure") half,
focused on the peristyle. Most houses included several dining rooms and cubicula, and
many included small, private bathing facilities
House decoration functioned as illusion ( views to the outside as in the Villa Rustica )
and allusion, usually referencing Greek mythology
Supporting examples House of Faun, etc