Quick facts.
Capital of: Archeology?
Location: Near the Tyrrhenian Sea coast
in the Campania region of Italy
Population:
11,000-20,000.
Possible
English meanings: It is at least theorized that it comes from the
word for the number 5 in the Oscan language.
Significant
sights, or sites: The forum, many bath houses, the Temple of Apollo,
the Villa of Mysteries, amphitheatres, etc.
Demographics:
Around the middle of the 1st
century, Pompeii would have largely housed Roman Patricians and
Plebeians and slaves. Patricians the smallest number, slaves the
largest.
Public
Transportation: Feet or, if you were a patrician or rich plebeian a
palanquin could probably have been hired.
Founding:
Sometime around the 6th century BCE by the Osci people.
When
I first realized Pompeii existed: I'm not really sure, probably well
before I had much interest in history though. So quite a while ago,
let us say.
One
interesting fact: It is not, in fact, named for the famous Roman
general Gnaeus Pompey Magnus (the great) as I had always thought.
One
semi-related fact: According to Suetonius, a Roman writer famous for
his work of biography: the 12 Caesars, the eruption of Vesuvius was
one of the signs that Emperor Titus Flavius (who had only become
Emperor a few months before) would die early in his reign, leaving
the Roman Empire in the hands of his cruel and menacing brother,
Domitian. Under whom Suetonius spent many years fearing for his
life. Suetonius, of course, wrote his 12 Caesars after Domitian had
been assassinated.
Recent
news from the ancient town: Due to heavy rainfall, several of the
ancient buildings in Pompeii were damaged at once last month, leading
to an international outcry over the conservation of the site of
Pompeii. There have been some squabbles and accusations of
corruption over the care taking, but it looks like things are moving
forward this month to monitor the site using satellites, with
agreement from Italian technology and defence groups.
Brief
history to the 76AD: Founded by the Osci in the early 6th
century BCE, it changed hands from Etruscan, to Greek to Samnite
before it came into the Roman sphere of influence. It along with all
of the other Campanian towns rose in rebellion against Rome in 89 BCE
and was almost immediately seized back for Rome by the general, later
to be dictator, Sulla. After which it became part of the Roman
Republic and then the Empire. At which point it became something of
a tourist spot for wealthy patricians. In 62 AD, while the Emperor
Nero still reigned, a massive earthquake hit the town, destroying
many buildings. In 76AD some are still being rebuilt. They will
also still not be rebuilt on August 24th 79AD, when the neighbouring
mountain Vesuvius will erupt, covering Pompeii.
References:
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