![]() On the eve of the fateful eruption in 79 A.D., scholars estimate that there were about 12,000 people living in Pompeii and almost as many in the surrounding region.ĭid you know? Mount Vesuvius has not erupted since 1944, but it is still one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. People gathered in the 20,000-seat arena and lounged in the open-air squares and marketplaces. Tourists, townspeople and enslaved people bustled in and out of small factories and artisans’ shops, taverns, cafes, brothels and bathhouses. Much of the city’s wealth derived from its rich volcanic soil-the region was a center for olives, grapes and other crops, and wine from Pompeii was enjoyed in some of Rome’s most fashionable houses. Elegant houses and elaborate villas-many filled with exquisite artworks and sparkling fountains-lined the paved streets. ![]() ![]() An independent-minded town, Pompeii fell under the influence of Rome in the 2nd century B.C., and eventually the Bay of Naples became an attraction for wealthy vacationers from Rome who relished the Campania coastline.īy the turn of the first century A.D., the town of Pompeii, located about five miles from Mount Vesuvius, was a flourishing resort for the most distinguished citizens of the Roman Empire. Located on the west coast of Italy along the shores of the Bay of Naples-south of the modern-day city of Naples- ancient Greek settlers made Pompeii part of the Hellenistic sphere in the 8th century B.C.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |