Pompeii's Buildings &
Temples
Pompeii
was a fairly unimportant territory of the Roman Empire. It's
economy was based mainly on agriculture and maritime trade. In
both respects, Pompeii was blessed by its natural setting. The
surrounding Campian soil was extremely fertile, while its close
proximity to the sea allowed it to become a harbor for the whole area
around Vesuvius. These attributes led to Roman occupation
beginning in 310 B.C.E. After a crushing defeat during the
Italic revolt against Rome, (91-87 B.C.E), Pompeii was stripped of
all traces of autonomy. It's name was changed to Colonia Vernia
Cornelia P, in honor of L. Cornelius Sulla, the general responsible
for conquering the city. By 79 C.E., Roman culture and law had
become completely absorbed within the Pompeian way of
life.
Despite its strong and lasting Roman domination,
Pompeii's city planning was strongly influenced by the Greeks.
The town itself was laid out in a Greek manner, with long, narrow
rectangular residential blocks divided by narrow side streets running
perpendicular to the main avenues. While there are many
irregularities in some sections of the city, the overall layout is
well planned and rationally thought out. Below are pictures and
descriptions of some of Pompeii's more notable pieces of
architecture.
The Pompeian Forum was the center of the city's
social, political, economic, and religious life. At the opposite
extreme of the city lay the Amphitheater, the center of
sporting events and civic festivals. All of Pompeii's public
buildings, such as the Basilica (Pompeii's largest building), the
Municipal Offices, and the Comitium, lay south of the Forum.
While to the north of the Forum stood the
Temple of Jupiter.
The Eumcahia building in the Pompeii forum was the
headquarters of one the most influential of trade guilds, the Fabric
Dyers and Washers. The building itself was built by the guild's
patron, the priestess Eumachia. The building was comprised of a
courtyard surrounded by a two-story colonnade. The actual
trading took place within the courtyard, which is also where the
fabrics themselves were stored or on display.
Standing at the northern side of the Forum is the
Great Temple of Jupiter. Built in 150 B.C.E., it became
Pompeii's main temple when the city fell under the Roman Republic's
rule. A capitolium in structure and in pure Italic style, the
temple was constructed on a high base, measuring 10 feet in height,
121 feet in length, and 56 feet in width, with a double flight of
stairs at its front. Inside the temple lay the "cella",
accessible only to the priests, and which contained three niches at
its far end. Theses niches were occupied by statues of Juno,
Jupiter, and Minerva. In 62 C.E., the temple was seriously
damaged in an earthquake, and was in the process of being repaired
when Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 C.E.
The temple was constructed and dedicated to Isis,
a goddess from the Egyptian triad, a cult that was quickly spreading
throughout the Roman Empire. The cult of Isis was one of the
most popular in Pompeii, which carried over in the construction of
the temple itself. When completed, the temple was beautifully
painted, on a raised platform and facing east so as to illuminate its
interior from the rising sun. Inside, the open cella held the
instruments and symbols sacred to the cult and were used during the
ceremonial rituals.
The Temple of Apollo was constructed by the
Samnites on a site where the Greeks are thought to have consecrated
to Apollo's worship as early as the 5th century B.C.E. The
sacred area and temple was surrounded by a portico which can still be
seen today. Like the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Apollo
was constructed in an Italic style, with a flight of steps leading up
a high base. Originally surrounded by 28 Corinthian columns,
only two remain standing at it's entrance.
At the far end of the temple wall, were painted
scenes from the Iliad. Statues of Apollo and Diana face
opposite each other within the temple, while statues of Venus and
Hermaphroditus were placed on the bases of the entrance
portico.