Interesting Facts about Pompeii

Pompeii is a place that cannot be summed up in a few words. Its history dates back to the founding of Rome, and although the eruption of the volcano was a tragedy at the time, today it can be considered an archaeological stroke of luck as it has been better preserved than Rome.

This week, I took an online course that gave me a different perspective for my next visit to Pompeii. I wanted to share with you the points that stood out to me, so that you don’t miss them during your next visit, or your first one if you haven’t been yet.

First of all, Pompeii’s history dates back to the 8th century BC. Before the Romans arrived, the Samnite tribe lived here, but when the Romans conquered the city in 89 BC, as they always did, they gave the homes to war veterans, and the Samnites were displaced. In 62 AD, Pompeii experienced a major earthquake that destroyed many structures. While reconstruction efforts were underway, 17 years later, the infamous volcanic eruption occurred, burying the city under ash and lava. Time essentially stopped for Pompeii that year, as it lay waiting to be rediscovered, unlike other cities like Rome that continued to evolve. When the city was finally uncovered centuries later, treasure hunters looted it first, followed by archaeologists who took over the work.

So, what did these excavations reveal? Almost an entire city, but I’ll share the points I found most interesting.

The foundations of fast food were laid in Pompeii: When exploring the shopping areas of Pompeii, you can see the remains of bakeries. In these bakeries, a bread very similar to pizza in shape was baked, and people could quickly choose and order ready-made foods placed in containers on the counters.

An amphitheater still serving as an example centuries later: Not only did it serve as a model for the Colosseum, but it also set a precedent for modern equivalents. After the Romans took over the city, they built this amphitheater to host gladiator and animal fights. It became the first stone amphitheater, which also influenced the design of the Colosseum. The Yale Bowl stadium in New Haven shows striking similarities to this structure, aside from the capacity difference.

The importance given to the arts: When establishing the city, they did not neglect to include a theater and a music hall, which makes you question which of us has progressed more with time, considering that some cities today still lack these facilities. The theater is semicircular and larger than the music hall. The music hall, also semicircular, is smaller and covered, as enclosed spaces provide better acoustics. Around these venues, there were shops selling souvenirs and costumes for the day’s performances.

Baths that inspired the Pantheon: Since homes at that time lacked bathing facilities, public baths were essential for cleanliness and socializing. There were separate sections for men and women, with the women’s section being smaller and architecturally unremarkable. There were four key rooms in these baths: a changing room, a warm room to start heating up, a hot room similar to a sauna, and finally a cold room to cool down. The two main baths in Pompeii are the Stabian Baths and the Forum Baths. The Forum Baths have better-preserved wall decorations and are now also a place to eat in Pompeii. When you visit or explore them on Google Earth, pay attention to the design of the cold room. Its round dome and the light that filters through it are said to have laid the foundations for the construction of the Pantheon.

Stepping stones to avoid rainwater: You’ll notice large stones in some streets. These stepping stones were placed so people could cross the street without getting wet during heavy rain. Considering today’s roads, one can’t help but wish city planners from back then were around now.

A fatal mistake: While many fled during the eruption, some stayed in the city, thinking thick-walled buildings would protect them. However, it wasn’t the lava or ash that killed them, but the toxic gases released after the eruption. The ash and lava created a protective layer that preserved their bodies to this day. Thanks to this, you can still see these people in Pompeii.

If this article piqued your interest and you’re fluent in English, you can watch “Roman Architecture-Lecture 4” from Yale University’s free online courses for more information.