Pompeii and Pompeii and HerculaneumHerculaneum

The Physical environmentThe Physical environment

ResourcesResources

Geographic SettingGeographic Setting

Natural FeaturesNatural Features

Geographic SettingGeographic Setting

Pompeii and Herculaneum are located in Campania, a fertile region 200km south of Rome. The towns are both on the coast of the Bay of Naples. Known for its many bays and inlets including Misenum the home of the Roman fleet.

Pompeii is located on the River Sarnus and lies inland from the coast. Herculaneum is on a cliff face directly overlooking the bay.

Both towns have elevated positions, being built on volcanic spurs enabling both to catch sea breezes.

Rising between both towns is the volcano Mt Vesuvius that dominates the sky line.

Salt pans are located near Herculaneum, as are thermal pools.

ResourcesResources

Pompeii and Herculaneum had many resources.

Mineral Resources included the salt pans of Herculaneum, the pumice stones used for paving roads and mill stones in both towns and the soil rich with potassium and potash from previous volcanic activity. This made the soil fertile and moisture retaining.

Animal resources included sheep and goats in particular as used in the cloth industry and abundant sea life especially important for the fishing village of Herculaneum and the Garum producing town of Pompeii.

Vegetable resources included olives, grapes, wheat, various fruits such as peaches and figs.

Natural FeaturesNatural Features

Pompeii and Herculaneum have two main seasons being very mild winters and dry summers.

Houses were designed to capture the sea breezes to ensure mild temperatures during Summer and the properties of the volcanic soil ensured that moisture was retained.

The elevated position of both towns ensured that these breezes could reach the occupants of the towns.

Pompeii and Herculaneum were often used as resort towns by the Romans who wished to visit the region for recreational purposes.

Florus, Epitome 1.16Florus, Epitome 1.16

““Of everything not just in Of everything not just in Italy, but in the whole Italy, but in the whole world, the region of world, the region of Campania is the most Campania is the most beautiful. Nothing is more beautiful. Nothing is more temperate than its climate: temperate than its climate: indeed, its spring flowers indeed, its spring flowers blossom twice. Nothing is blossom twice. Nothing is more fertile than its land: more fertile than its land: consequently there is said consequently there is said to be a competition to be a competition between Liber (god of between Liber (god of fertility) and Ceres (god of fertility) and Ceres (god of wine). Nothing is more wine). Nothing is more welcoming than its sea…welcoming than its sea…Here are the mountains Here are the mountains that befriend the vine…”that befriend the vine…”

Florus was a Roman author Florus was a Roman author living in the second living in the second century BC who wrote century BC who wrote about the region of about the region of Campania of which Campania of which Pompeii and Herculaneum Pompeii and Herculaneum were a part.were a part.

In this description he refers In this description he refers to the climate, geography to the climate, geography and resources of the and resources of the region in a very region in a very complimentary fashioncomplimentary fashion

Map of the RegionMap of the Region This map illustrates the This map illustrates the

dominating presence of dominating presence of the volcano Mt Vesuvius in the volcano Mt Vesuvius in the region.the region.

It illustrates the relative It illustrates the relative position of Herculaneum position of Herculaneum and Pompeii to the and Pompeii to the volcano.volcano.

Herculaneum’s direct Herculaneum’s direct coastal location is coastal location is illustrated as is Pompeii on illustrated as is Pompeii on the Sarno River.the Sarno River.

Painting of Bacchus and Vesuvius Painting of Bacchus and Vesuvius from Pompeiifrom Pompeii

This fresco located in This fresco located in a house in Pompeii a house in Pompeii shows Bacchus the shows Bacchus the god of wine standing god of wine standing near an ancient near an ancient depiction of Vesuvius depiction of Vesuvius showing its showing its appearance in appearance in antiquity.antiquity.

The fresco may also The fresco may also be indicating that be indicating that grapes for wine grapes for wine making were grown on making were grown on its slopes. its slopes.

Aerial Photograph of PompeiiAerial Photograph of Pompeii

This picture illustrates the flat elevated This picture illustrates the flat elevated layout of Pompeii surrounded by a wall.layout of Pompeii surrounded by a wall.

It also shows the inland nature of this city It also shows the inland nature of this city with the River Sarnus flowing on its far right with the River Sarnus flowing on its far right hand side.hand side.

Photograph of a Street in PompeiiPhotograph of a Street in Pompeii

This street in This street in Pompeii indicates Pompeii indicates the use of pumice the use of pumice for paving roads for paving roads and creating and creating stepping stones.stepping stones.

Pumice was also Pumice was also used for mills for used for mills for grinding wheat and grinding wheat and olives.olives.

Mosaic of sea and bird life in the Mosaic of sea and bird life in the House of the Faun PompeiiHouse of the Faun Pompeii

This mosaic This mosaic illustrates the fish illustrates the fish and ducks that and ducks that were available in were available in the region. In the the region. In the centre is a piece centre is a piece from an olive tree from an olive tree also indicating a also indicating a vegetable resource vegetable resource of the region.of the region.

Remains from a rubbish pit in Remains from a rubbish pit in PompeiiPompeii

These organic remains These organic remains from a rubbish pit in from a rubbish pit in Pompeii provide Pompeii provide information on the information on the fruit that was grown fruit that was grown as well as sea as well as sea resources of the two resources of the two towns.towns.

From top right there From top right there are grape pips, fig are grape pips, fig pips, fish bones and a pips, fish bones and a sea anemone shell.sea anemone shell.

Impluvium at the House of Marcus Impluvium at the House of Marcus Lucretius Fronto in PompeiiLucretius Fronto in Pompeii

Impluviums were common Impluviums were common features in grand Pompeii features in grand Pompeii homes. They were located homes. They were located in the entry way with an in the entry way with an open roof.open roof.

Water would collect in the Water would collect in the pool and the breeze would pool and the breeze would blow over it to create an blow over it to create an evaporative cooling evaporative cooling system.system.

This indicates both the This indicates both the warm summers and sea warm summers and sea breezes that were features breezes that were features of the region.of the region.

Digital reconstruction of Digital reconstruction of HerculaneumHerculaneum

This digital reconstruction is This digital reconstruction is also supported by also supported by photographs of the town photographs of the town where a solid wall separates where a solid wall separates the raised town of the raised town of Herculaneum from the Herculaneum from the boatsheds which were located boatsheds which were located at the base of the cliffs on the at the base of the cliffs on the beach front.beach front.

Due to the eruption the water Due to the eruption the water is now further from the town is now further from the town due to volcanic deposits in the due to volcanic deposits in the eruption.eruption.

This digital reconstruction, This digital reconstruction, however, enables one to view however, enables one to view the layout of the town as it the layout of the town as it would have existed in 79ad.would have existed in 79ad.