Pompeii
History of Pompeii
Pompeii was founded around the 7th-6th centuries BC after having been used a port previously by Greek and Phoenician sailors. The city fell to the ancient Greeks, then the Samnites, before joining the Roman empire and becoming a Roman colony in 80 BC.
Pompeii underwent a great deal of development during this period of Roman rule. An amphitheater, a palaestra with a swimming pool in the center, an aqueduct that provided water for many fountains in the street, four public baths, and many private houses and businesses were built during this time. A large number of frescoes that were well-preserved provided archaeologists with a good idea of what everyday life was like in Pompeii. It has also helped art historians in better understanding the art of the ancient world.
By the late first century AD, Pompeii was one of many towns located at the base of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano. The area had a good deal of people living in it, but experts disagree on the amount of people living in Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. A major earthquake 17 years earlier sent many of Pompeii’s 20,000 inhabitants fleeing for another place to live.
The eruption happened sometime between August and November of 79AD, burying Pompeii in twelve different layers of soil, ash, and lava. After Pompeii and other towns were covered, they were abandoned. Eventually the names and locations of the cities were forgotten for nearly 1600 years until the digging of an underground channel unearthed ancient walls that were covered with paintings and inscriptions. Nothing more was said or found for another 150+ years when Karl Weber was in charge of the first real excavations. In 1860 the first human remains were found. Many of the mosaics have been moved to a museum in Naples. Work on Pompeii continues today, with new discoveries being made as recent as 2000.
Pompeii Visitor Information
Pompeii has been a popular tourist destination for over two centuries. This historic site was attracting almost 2.6 million visitors per year as of 2008, which made it one of the most popular tourist sites in Italy and all of Europe. You can walk to the ruins from the Circumvesuviana train stop, and there are also car parks nearby.
Adult Tickets are €11 with no special pricing unless you are under 26 and a citizen of the EU (proof is required). You can buy a five-site pass for €20 that includes Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum and is valid for 3 days. You can get in free or half price with the “Campaina Arte Card.” Pompeii is open daily from 8:30 to 7:30 during summer months and from 8:30 to 5:00 November to March. You can find more information by calling 081-857-5347. The last ticket is sold 90 minutes before closing time.
You can only walk when entering the site. Be aware that the old roman stone roads can be very exhausting to walk, especially in the middle of the summer heat with a good number of other tourists around. Cobblestones roads and uneven ground are the norm here. Make sure to bring plenty of water, especially in the summer. Tourists are advised to wear stable shoes, wear sunscreen, and bring a hat. Plan at least an entire day trip for visiting Pompeii.
Most popular sites in and around Pompeii
Pompeii was preserved almost perfectly for nearly 1800 years under layers of ash, stone, and lava, so many of the sites are some of the best preserved in the world. You will notice the remains of an entire city, including:
-large homes
-a forum and public marketplace
-a 5000 seat theatre built in the hollow of a hill for better acoustics
-an ancient brothel with pornographic frescoes
-a temple with an altar and a basilica that served as a courthouse
-bars and bakeries with ovens that have a similar look to a brick oven
In addition to Pompeii, there are other sites nearby you may want to visit:
-the National Museum in Naples has some of the best preserved mosaics and other items found in Pompeii
-you can visit the sister site of Pompeii, Herfulaneum, which was also destroyed during the eruption
-the Garden of the Fugitives has plaster casts of victims on display
-the Villa of Mysteries is a house that is preserved that gives a great portrayal of life in ancient times
Pompeii Conservation Efforts
Excavation of Pompeii has brought with it deterioration. Erosion, water damage, weather and human activity (whether accidental or deliberate) have both played their part in the slow disintegration of the area. Unfortunately, the materials used in reconstruction during the 1980s were mostly concrete and steel, though in later years, these have been replaced with more modern materials which are more sympathetic to the original work at the site. However, the damage has already been done in most places and the replacement endeavours will take many more years to complete.
Tagged With Europe, historical sites, pompeii, roman sites, Rome