Download Pompeii and Herculaneum - History

Pompeii and
Herculaneum
The Physical environment
Resources
Geographic Setting
Natural Features
Geographic Setting
Pompeii and Herculaneum are located in Campania, a fertile region
200km south of Rome. The towns are both on the coast of the Bay
of Naples. Known for its many bays and inlets including Misenum
the home of the Roman fleet.
Pompeii is located on the River Sarnus and lies inland from the
coast. Herculaneum is on a cliff face directly overlooking the bay.
Both towns have elevated positions, being built on volcanic spurs
enabling both to catch sea breezes.
Rising between both towns is the volcano Mt Vesuvius that
dominates the sky line.
Salt pans are located near Herculaneum, as are thermal pools.
Resources
Pompeii and Herculaneum had many resources.
Mineral Resources included the salt pans of Herculaneum, the
pumice stones used for paving roads and mill stones in both towns
and the soil rich with potassium and potash from previous volcanic
activity. This made the soil fertile and moisture retaining.
Animal resources included sheep and goats in particular as used in
the cloth industry and abundant sea life especially important for the
fishing village of Herculaneum and the Garum producing town of
Pompeii.
Vegetable resources included olives, grapes, wheat, various fruits
such as peaches and figs.
Natural Features
Pompeii and Herculaneum have two main seasons being very mild
winters and dry summers.
Houses were designed to capture the sea breezes to ensure mild
temperatures during Summer and the properties of the volcanic
soil ensured that moisture was retained.
The elevated position of both towns ensured that these breezes
could reach the occupants of the towns.
Pompeii and Herculaneum were often used as resort towns by the
Romans who wished to visit the region for recreational purposes.
Florus, Epitome 1.16
“Of everything not just in
Italy, but in the whole
world, the region of
Campania is the most
beautiful. Nothing is more
temperate than its climate:
indeed, its spring flowers
blossom twice. Nothing is
more fertile than its land:
consequently there is said
to be a competition
between Liber (god of
fertility) and Ceres (god of
wine). Nothing is more
welcoming than its
sea…Here are the
mountains that befriend
the vine…”


Florus was a Roman author
living in the second
century BC who wrote
about the region of
Campania of which Pompeii
and Herculaneum were a
part.
In this description he
refers to the climate,
geography and resources
of the region in a very
complimentary fashion
Map of the Region



This map illustrates the
dominating presence of the
volcano Mt Vesuvius in the
region.
It illustrates the relative
position of Herculaneum
and Pompeii to the
volcano.
Herculaneum’s direct
coastal location is
illustrated as is Pompeii on
the Sarno River.
Painting of Bacchus and Vesuvius
from Pompeii


This fresco located in
a house in Pompeii
shows Bacchus the
god of wine standing
near an ancient
depiction of Vesuvius
showing its
appearance in
antiquity.
The fresco may also
be indicating that
grapes for wine
making were grown
on its slopes.
Aerial Photograph of Pompeii
This picture illustrates the flat elevated
layout of Pompeii surrounded by a wall.
 It also shows the inland nature of this city
with the River Sarnus flowing on its far
right hand side.

Photograph of a Street in Pompeii
This street in
Pompeii indicates
the use of pumice
for paving roads
and creating
stepping stones.
 Pumice was also
used for mills for
grinding wheat and
olives.

Mosaic of sea and bird life in the
House of the Faun Pompeii

This mosaic
illustrates the fish
and ducks that
were available in
the region. In the
centre is a piece
from an olive tree
also indicating a
vegetable resource
of the region.
Remains from a rubbish pit in
Pompeii


These organic remains
from a rubbish pit in
Pompeii provide
information on the
fruit that was grown
as well as sea
resources of the two
towns.
From top right there
are grape pips, fig
pips, fish bones and a
sea anemone shell.
Impluvium at the House of Marcus
Lucretius Fronto in Pompeii



Impluviums were common
features in grand Pompeii
homes. They were located
in the entry way with an
open roof.
Water would collect in the
pool and the breeze would
blow over it to create an
evaporative cooling
system.
This indicates both the
warm summers and sea
breezes that were features
of the region.
Digital reconstruction of
Herculaneum



This digital reconstruction is
also supported by
photographs of the town
where a solid wall separates
the raised town of
Herculaneum from the
boatsheds which were located
at the base of the cliffs on the
beach front.
Due to the eruption the water
is now further from the town
due to volcanic deposits in the
eruption.
This digital reconstruction,
however, enables one to view
the layout of the town as it
would have existed in 79ad.