Streets
Walking down the ancient cobbled streets is a process
of discovery. You'll immediatly notice that the Pompeiians had
traffic intersections just like modern cities.
They even had primitive crosswalks! Like the sidewalks,
these are raised up about a foot above the street. They are somewhat
like stepping stones across a stream. Guides will tell you that
they were used to cross when the streets were wet from big rainstorms
when the streets served as part of the sewage system. Everything
drained downward, so you could cross over the street without getting
your feet soaked.
If you look closely, the streets tell you something
else. Deep grooves mark the cobbles. Small wagons were used to
transport goods around the community and left deep marks over
time that are about an inch deep. They are quite noticeable in
busy areas.
Pompeiian Homes
Pompeiians had a rich cultural life. The proof is there to see. If you go into homes along the streets, you see murals (paintings on the plaster) on the walls inside the main rooms that depict a rich life. Some still have mosaic stone pictures set in their floors.
To see a fine example of a mosaic, look at the Battle of Issus which shows Alexander the Great fighting the Persians in 333 B.C. by clicking here. In Pompeii, there is one of a crouching black dog on a leash with his tongue hanging down that is very realistic and well-preserved.
You can see the amenities like baths in some homes.
There are even some toilets! If you would like to learn more about
the plumbing and public works in Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum,
click here. It
is interesting.
Use of Metal
There are works of metal, such as this bronze statue
below. Remember, one of the main reasons the Greeks came to this
general area is that metal was available here. They used metal
to create many artistic and utility items for daily use, as well
as military purposes.
Notice how free and lifelike the statue is. Can you
feel the energy? That is a Greek trademark. No one in the ancient
world was able to duplicate it. It was deeply admired by neighboring
cultures.
Greek Statues, Columns, and Art
Some of the finest statuary ever sculpted came from
the minds and hands of the Greeks. The later Romans made every
effort to learn the techniques of copying this style. They were
somewhat successful, but when a Greek marble statue from the Classical
Period is placed side-by-side with a later Roman effort, it is
easy to see why what the Greeks did was special. To look at some
photographs of some great Greek sculpture, click here.
Two of the most well-know pieces of marble sculpted in Greece
are the Venus de Milo and the Nike of Samothrace. Both are in
the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. You can go there and see them
and many other ancient Greek and Etruscan artifacts as well as
a collection of vases from the "Campania" region (where
Pompeii is located) by clicking on Louvre.
What does the word "nike" mean?
The Greeks were able to achieve a remarkable freedom
in their statuary. Roman statues made of marble are typically
leaning or in some way being held up by a heavy object such as
a tree stump. Greek statues employ a marvelous balance that frees
them from heavy support.
Imagine a statue of an athlete throwing a javelin.
Think about what makes this statue work. It has to look athletic,
comitted, and free to move and exert tremendous effort. It has
to be poised. Side-by-side, the Roman statues look heavy and lack
life. (One of the legs may even be attached to a stump by a connecting
bar because the sculptor couldn't come up with a better way of
balancing his statue's weight and posture so that the statue wouldn't
fall over.) You can see some examples of the most beautiful Roman
statues that are housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Firenze, Italy
by clicking here.
The Greek statues are very beautiful, comparatively. Greek and
Roman marble were different and that accounts for some of this
effect. Greek marble was very beautiful and created soft, lifelike
lines when sculpted by a master.
Little statuary remains at Pompeii, however, there
are some pieces in the National Museum in Naples. Because the
architecture is blended between the Greek and Roman styles in
Pompeii, much of what we see is the construction that came later
with the Romans. There is still quite a bit of Greek work to be
seen, particularly in the area of the Forum, which is in the most
ancient section of the city. There are standing and fallen columns,
as well as flagstones and the construction of altars and portions
of the forum. Much of this work is in poor condition, having survived
several severe volcanic eruptions and related earthquakes.
There are some fine pieces of glasswork and pottery
painted with pictures. Furniture still survives from this period.
Some is very beautiful and uses finely-shaped metal as part of
its structure. During the period of colonization, metal was considered
enormously valuable. To see some artwork from this period, click here
to go to an archaeological art site in England.
Theatres
One of the Greek's crowning achievements was their theatre. Their plays are still performed and studied. They had great theatres! The design of theatres today is not too much different in how they work.
One of the most impressive architectural structures
in Pompeii was the area used for public theatre. Pompeii has a
large open air 5,000 seat theatre and a small 1,200 seat theatre
that had a roof. The open-air main theatre is very large. Its
seating was originally all made of marble slabs cut to fit the
stairsteps of the theatre space. Workers built this on the hillside
that overlooks the beautiful sunsets on the Mediterranean Sea.
The view is spectacular. The theatre seats were large and very
hard because they were made of rock. Remember that some plays
lasted many, many hours.
Theatres didn't have microphones in those days, but
it didn't matter, because the stage acoustics were so perfect
that even a small child could stand on the stage and sing or chant
and the thousands attending could hear very clearly. If you visit
Pompeii, you must try this! It still works today. Theatre was
a very important part of Greek cultural life and Pompeii's stage
was the focal point of many a fine epic tale. Many performances
made use of musical instruments and
singing.
All performances were were given by men, who played
the parts with the use of large masks to show which character
was being portrayed. The masks had exaggerated facial expressions
to help the audience clearly understand and identify the character.
The Forum, Temples and Agora
Pompeii had a central area where important community activities were conducted.Much of the community's commerce took place here. Religious offerings could be made by priests for citizens at the temples. Legal and financial matters could be decided in the law court and business area inside the impressive two-story building called the Forum. This huge government building was open-air on one side. Commerce was conducted around the outside walls with stalls selling various goods lined up side-by-side, much like a Saturday Market today. There was a nearby market for foodstuffs and ritual temple offerings.
The Amphitheatre - Where Gladiators Fought
In ancient times, skill and strength in battle were
admired and often vital to a community's survival. It was common
for schools to spring up where warriors trained and exhibited
their skill. Pompeii had an oval-shaped amphitheatre that could
seat about 20,000 spectators for blood sports called "games".
They had a large training area for gladiators who then displayed
their skills in fights to the death with others.
Sometimes, two cities would have a gladiator event,
much like a modern athletic contest such as a football or basketball
game. There would be excitement, and sometimes the fans would
be unruly. This happened at Pompeii around 59 A.D. The Romans
closed the amphitheatre at Pompeii for ten years because of the
rioting between Pompeiians and a neighboring town that left several
dead in the amphitheatre.
The amphitheatre at Pompeii is not as big as the Coliseum in Rome, but it is startlingly large compared to what you might think people would have had in a community that may have only had 10,000 to 20,000 people. The arena is huge like a modern football or baseball stadium. It is completely encircled by a high outside oval wall with one main entrance that has what looks like a ticket booth at the top of two steep narrow flights of stairs. This is the only way in or out for spectators. Like the theatres, seating is divided into three categories. The affluent, important citizens sit close down to the fighting arena, and rank and status determined where the remaining spectators would sit.
The new "Rose Garden" where the Portland Trailblazers Basketball Team plays seats about the same number of people as the Pompeiian amphitheatre.
Greece is home and originator of the "Olympic Games". To learn about these, click here.
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