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Was it on this day in AD 79 that Vesuvius erupted and buried #Pompeii, #Herculaneum and the other Vesuvian sites in volcanic debris?
Probably!
Probably!
Evidence such as ripe pomegranates and the remnants of a recent grape harvest in wine-pressing rooms found in the ancient Vesuvian sites certainly suggest an autumnal date rather than the traditional August date recorded in a medieval copy of Pliny’s account of the eruption.
A charcoal inscription uncovered in #Pompeii contains the date ‘XVI K Nov’—16 days before the Kalends of Nov—equating to 17th Oct. No year is mentioned but the impermanence of charcoal suggests it *may* have been written close to the time of eruption.
Image: @MassimoOsanna
Image: @MassimoOsanna
You cannot have a #NeroExhibition without the back story. Cue Augustus (and his swooshy locks), Caligula (and his cute eyelashes) and a few of the other Julio-Claudians before we meet the protagonist: Nero. #NeroExhibition
From a curtain fringe to full on foppish curls (and a fuller chin) #NeroExhibition
Your annual reminder that although it is claimed, today probably wasn’t the day that Vesuvius erupted in AD 79 burying the landscape in volcanic debris and covering the Roman cities of #Pompeii and #Herculaneum as well as other settlements and rural villas in the area.
According to letters Pliny the Younger wrote to Tacitus, detailing his eye-witness account of the AD79 eruption, it happened on Aug 24th.
We only have transcribed copies of these letters & the eruption date on each version varies. It’s more likely that Vesuvius erupted in Oct/Nov
We only have transcribed copies of these letters & the eruption date on each version varies. It’s more likely that Vesuvius erupted in Oct/Nov
A charcoal inscription uncovered in #Pompeii contains the date ‘XVI K Nov’—16 days before the Kalends of Nov—equating to 17th Oct. Though no year is mentioned, the impermanence of charcoal suggests this could have been written close to the time of eruption.
Image:@MassimoOsanna
Image:@MassimoOsanna
ROTOLO n.2 – Lararia in Pompeii and Herculaneum
Follow @Polemicarc for more –
#larario #lararium #pompeii #herculaneum #architecture #arquitectura #RomanEmpire
Follow @Polemicarc for more –
#larario #lararium #pompeii #herculaneum #architecture #arquitectura #RomanEmpire
The Lararium is an altar sacred to the Lares, the deities of the ancestors according to the Romans. The word has an Etruscan origin, as 'lar' meant 'father' in their language.
Lararia were mini-shrines, permanently in use, and were worshipped by both the high and low class.
Here, one of the richest ones I’ve ever seen (Herculaneum):
Here, one of the richest ones I’ve ever seen (Herculaneum):
ROTOLO n.1 – Public Fountains in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Follow @Polemicarc for more –
#fountain #herculaneum #pompeii #architecture #arquitectura #RomanEmpire
Follow @Polemicarc for more –
#fountain #herculaneum #pompeii #architecture #arquitectura #RomanEmpire
Public fountains were execptionally important for every urbanized civilization.
They served an important logistic and social function, located in the most strategic places to relieve the thirst of the people walking by, supplied by the local aquaduct. (pic thru @wrathofgnon)
They served an important logistic and social function, located in the most strategic places to relieve the thirst of the people walking by, supplied by the local aquaduct. (pic thru @wrathofgnon)
@wrathofgnon Water was supplied through mighty infrastructures (here, Aqua Claudia – the 8th aquaduct built), and canalized along very long distances, thanks to the deep insight Romans had over hydraulics.
Romans built their aquaducts with a slope of 0,00034%, which is 34 cm/Km.
Romans built their aquaducts with a slope of 0,00034%, which is 34 cm/Km.
I’ve waited 22 years but very recently I finally got to visit the Roman theatre at #Herculaneum which is still buried in the eruption material of AD 79. My excitement was palpable... #HerculaneumTheatre
The Roman theatre in Herculaneum is located just north of the excavated part of the ancient town. But for a series of tunnels dug through it in the 18th/19th centuries, it lies hidden from view under the volcanic debris of 79AD. Only small glimpses of the structure are possible.
Today, the descent into the theatre is through a building on Via Mare & by way of a steep flight of steps cut into the volcanic material, just as it was at the time of the Grand Tour in the 18th century.
Image 2: 1840 lithograph of some of the visitors to the theatre (anonymous)
Image 2: 1840 lithograph of some of the visitors to the theatre (anonymous)
