|
|
 |
Pompeii, unlike the other towns in Campania founded for the most
part by Greek colonists, was built by the Oscans, probably around
the 9-8th century B.C., even if the evidence now available does not
go back beyond the 6th century.
The town developed on lava terracing
formed many centuries earlier. It constituted an important natural defence against the threat of invasion by neighbouring peoples. At
the same time the volcanic nature of the land meant the territory of
the Sarno valley was particularly fertile, thereby allowing for the
rapid development of the agricultural economy. Pompeii soon made
contact with the nearby Greek colonies, whose culture, way of life
and the religion of Magna Graecia it quickly absorbed. Evidence of
this is to be found in the shape of the Doric temple which stands in
the Triangular Forum. The city was subject to the Etruscans for
almost fifty years (until 474 B.C.) when the latter occupied part of
inland Campania. Immediately afterwards it came back under the Greek
sphere of influence. It then became part of the Samnite area of
expansion (5th century), under whom it saw remarkable growth,
forming that historical centre whose remains are still visible. This
can be identified in part of the most ancient boundary wall, in the
architecture of several houses (those characterised by a Tuscan-type
atrium), in the public buildings in the Triangular Forum and in the
Temple of Apollo in the Civic Forum.
Meanwhile Rome had begun its gradual advance towards southern Italy
and had started to overcome the resistance of the Italic peoples. As
a consequence even the Samnites were forced to surrender to the
Eternal City, though only after three long and bitter wars, the last
of which was fought in the years between 298 and 290 B.C. As a
result of the conquest of Campania, Pompeii also ended up under
Roman dominion, becoming an "associate", a status which allowed for
the maintenance of a relative local autonomy. From that time on its
history was closely connected with that of the Eternal City and only
on the occasion of the social war waged by the Italic peoples in a
final attempt to defend their freedom, did it ally itself with the
insurrectionary movement (91 B.C.). In 89 B.C., however, it was
besieged by Sulla, taken by storm and thus brought back under the
aegis of Rome. In 80 B.C. it became a Roman colony with the name of
Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompei. As in the past, Pompeii continued
to expand and develop in every sector, in the economic field in
particular, greatly helped by its fertile hinterland and its
advantageous position. All the activities linked to trade and
maritime traffic saw a period of growth. This remarkable development
had immediate results: outside, it led to an increase in the level
of prestige of Pompeii compared with other Campanian towns; within,
as a consequence of growing wealth, there was a general increase in
the standard of living for many of the social classes. As a result
the "middle-class", that is to say the class of merchants and
entrepreneurs who had built Pompeii's fortune and had reaped their
reward, was able to establish itself in an increasingly prominent
way.
Pompeii's flourishing economy led to a decisive population increase,
widespread affluence and in addition the remarkable embellishment of
the town. It is true to say that the middle-class derived great
pleasure from
competing with the nobility in the construction of splendid villas.
The nouveaux riches, in their desire to outdo the aristocratic class
who traditionally held power, vied in displaying their own wealth
through the opulence of their houses and the preciousness of their
ornaments and jewellery. The urban building expansion took place for
the most part along Via dell'Abbondanza, a symbolic centre of the
new emerging class. However, the life and splendour of Pompeii was
destined to come to an end. The first inklings of the tragedy were
felt in about 62 A.D., when a violent earthquake devastated the city
and the surrounding countryside. It was no mean feat to recover from
this blow. The least well-off class suffered the most serious
consequences, having seen their houses destroyed. Most of the public
and private buildings were still at the strengthening and
restoration stage when Vesuvius became active, and in the space of a
few hours sowed death and destruction on the city. It was the 24th
August in the year 79 A.D. A heavy shower of ash, lapilli and lava
from the volcano began to rain down onto the city and onto nearby
Herculaneum and Stabiae. All was buried beneath a thick blanket of
volcanic material to a depth of several metres. The inhabitants, who
for the most part fled in the direction of the coast, were
suffocated by the fumes of the gases, others met death in their own
homes.
|
|
|
© 1995-2005 - Tiberio Gracco |
|
|
|
|
