Excavations
The ruins at Pompeii were first discovered late in the 16th century by architecture Domenico Fontana. Herculaneum was discovered in 1709, and the systematic excavation began in 1738. Both cities, Herculaneum and Pompeii were discovered accidentally when the workmens digged a canal therefore uncovering walls decorated with paintings. Many years later, two Latin inscriptions were discovered which mentioned 'res publica Pompeianorum' ( 'the state of the Pompeians') Work did not begin in Pompeii until 1748, and in 1763 an inscription (“Rei publicae Pompeianorum”) was found that identified the site as Pompeii. The work at these towns in the mid-18th century marked the start of the modern science of archaeology. The Excavated towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were located in Southern Italy on the coast of the Bay of the Naples. Pompeii was located on a river close to the sea. It was an important trading center as boats carried goods between its harbour and ports all around the Mediterranean. Herculaneum was a smaller settlement used by traders from nearly Neapolis (Naples). Both towns were prosperous, due to the fertile volcanic soils and vibrant trading economy Pompeii quickly attracted the attention of invaders. It was occupied from the 9th Century B.C by a member of different Italian tribe such as the Oscans, Etruscans and the samnites. It was coloniesed in the 5th century B.C by the Creeds, who at the height of the power had established many colonies in the Southern Italy. There is clear evidence that people in Pompeii were in contact with Rome and the city was responsive to changing ideas and fashions. Pompeii also had contact with the cities of Athens, Antioch in Syria and Alexandria, all influential in art, architecture and ideas. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD covered Pompeii in a layer of ash and lapilli up to the second storey of the building. The lower parts of the city was preserved as a time capsule: the buildings were located as the same as it was on the day of the eruption. The significance of Pompeii excavations is that it contains very important evidence of the material and social life in a thriving provincial town in Italy in the 1st Century A.D.Although the eruption of Mount Vesuvius was a devastating period but it also left behind impressive historical evidence form the period.
Aspects of pompeii
The Aspects of Pompeii are shown through the economy and its mixed population engaged in rebuilding their city after a devastating earthquake seventeen years before the eruption and the final destination of the city. A wide range of objects and victims have been recovered which reveals the significance of the city in the period of the eruption. The layout of the buildings and decoration of houses (erotic images that consumes most of all the buildings in Pompeii and its neighbouring countries). Even in their last hour people have been captured by plaster modelling which signifies how significant this resource is which highlights the moral idea that we must also be aware that Mt Vesuvius could repeat its destructive activity at any time and that the evidence could disappear. The excavation also gave us general knowledge of the sufficient work that has been done to establish that Pompeii was today does not have layers beneath it from much earlier periods but it is the work under the ruins such as buildings like the temple of Jupiter or the House of Faun that gives us the history of each of those buildings, it indicates that Pompeii was not built ontop another settlement. Pompeii and Herculaueum are among the earliest archaeological sitess, and the history of their excavations reflects much of the history and philosophy of archaeology over the last 200 years.