Daily Updates
Week Six: 28 October
28 October. Thea Ulrich Reporting:
Today was spent wandering around the site of Pompeii, listening to student presentations on an introduction to the history of Pompeii, a Pompeian house, and buildings around the Forum. We left the Villa of the Mysteries Motel at nine o'clock after a satisfying breakfast of fresh bread and butter. Once we entered the site, we headed straight for the House of the Faun where Jackie started off, in hopes of avoiding the pressing crowds of tourists. The House of the Faun is a well-known (and the biggest) house in Pompeii, named for a miniature statue of a dancing faun on a pedestal in the center of its impluvium. The house was built in the early 2nd century, and is where the famous Alexander Mosaic (now in the Naples Museum) was originally found. After exploring about the House of the Faun, Minkun offered a report on the history and politics behind the foundation of the Roman colony of Pompeii, mainly focusing around the time of the Social Wars between Rome and her former allies (91 B.C.-88 B.C). The Social Wars involved, among other things, Pompeii fighting Rome to become an official Roman colony. Following Minkun's report Kyle told us some of the history and speculations about the organization of the Forum. He told us about each side of the public space, the north end being dominated by the Capitolium, the south end and its municipal buildings, and the east and west sides of the Forum occupied by temples, a market area, and a basilica. Once Kyle had given an outline of the Forum, Brian took us to the Temple of Apollo precinct. Apollo was one of the patron gods of Pompeii, and the temple dates to the 2nd century B.C., with traces of the sacred area centuries older. It is a peripteral, hexastyle temple that has 10 columns running along each side. Moving onwards from the Temple of Apollo, we investigated the basilica of Pompeii. Ben showed us around the basilica which is the earliest surviving building of its kind in the Roman world. The basilica dates to the late Hellenistic era around 130-120 B.C. Following the basilica was Charles's presentation on the Temple of Vespasian and the Temple of Fortuna Augusta. The former faces the Forum, and at one point was decorated with marble revetment, but the marble was later quarried and there is none left. The Imperial cult surrounding the emperor was very popular and emphasized in ancient Pompeii. The last presenter of the day was John who educated us about the Eumachia Complex. The columns and entablature in the complex were made of solid marble which not only demonstrates Pompeii's wealth at the time it was constructed (2-3 A.D.), but also the building's obvious significance. It was most likely used as a space for civic and economic functions. So after a long day and seven student reports, we retired back to the hotel and enjoyed a relaxing evening.
Brian presents the Temple of Apollo.
Charles presents the Temple of Vespasian.
Jackie presents the House of the Faun.
The basilica of Pompeii.
Ben presents the basilica.
A capital from the basilica.
Kyle discusses the forum.
The elaborate fauces from the House of the Faun.
The peristyle courtyard from the House of the Faun.
Minkun discusses the colonization of Pompeii.