Book Club Guide

The Place of Pompeii in Roman History

The city of Pompeii was not an important city in Roman times. Founded by the Oscans, Pompeii went through several relationships with Rome before becoming a true Roman city. It eventually became a vacation spot for prominent Roman citizens, and boasts the fame of Myrtle Beach, SC instead of that of New York, NY or even Philadelphia, PA. Pompeii is vastly more important to us today than it could have ever been in Roman times. Mt. Vesuvius both destroyed and preserved Pompeii, and now we have the chance to see what life was like in this ancient Roman city with our own eyes. As you visit A Day in Pompeii, look for evidence of the city’s existence before Rome and think about what we can learn about Roman history that historical writings cannot provide.

The Unity of the Roman Empire

Rome was a vast and diverse empire, but there were aspects of life that were consistent throughout. Pompeii upheld Roman gods and goddesses such as Bacchus, Venus, Neptune and Vulcan. It used the same standards of measurement as all of Rome. Roman citizens shared funerary practices across the empire as well as celebratory and familial customs. As territory was conquered, the trade route stretched further and further across the land, and ideas were exchanged along with goods, and Roman laws were not the only ties that bound Rome. Look for evidence of Pompeii’s connections to the rest of the Roman Empireas you go through the exhibit.

Roman Home Life

Prominent Romans did much of their work not in office buildings, but from their homes. They received clients, hosted dinner meetings, and made decisions to affect the empire, all from their not-so-humble abodes. This meant that each piece of furniture and each painting were chosen to compliment the public impression of a person in what we think of as a private dwelling.As you view artifacts that would have been in Roman households, think about how they help to build the image of their owner. What were Pompeiians trying to say about themselves?

Ancient Rome: From the Earliest Times Down to 476 A.D.By Robert Franklin Pennell

Mount Vesuvius in Roman History

For most of Roman history, Mount Vesuvius was probably thought of as a nice view for expensive villas. But all of that changed on August 24th, 79 A.D. Life in ancient times was full of uncertainties- families were destroyed by turbulent seas, constant war, and sometimes political whims- but Mount Vesuvius destroyed an entire city within a few hours. As you watch the video recreating that fated day and as you view the casts of the people who lost their lives, remember that the history of Rome and the history of Pompeii is the history of real people.

People of Today, People of Yesterday

When our founding fathers set out to create a new nation, they looked to Ancient Rome for inspiration. Even in today’s society, shadows of Roman culture span the lengths of time to color our world. Similarities can be found between funeral practices, entertainment and furniture, as well as systems of government. As you look at each artifact, think about it as a link between today and yesterday. Do you use a similar object in your life? How might its use have influenced our society?

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