No matter how much it is admired by historians, scrutinized by archaeologists, and appreciated by tourists, Pompeii is not exceptional. That also happened to the nearby town of Herculaneum, even though it was doomed to be buried in ashes by Mount Vesuvius in 76 AD. Rather, what we cherish most today is the sheer ordinariness of that medium-sized Roman provincial town, unintentionally preserved intact by that volcanic disaster. new lost in time video above Pompeii is recreated as it was at the end of its era, with everything from houses to aqueducts, forums to cathedrals, and wine and perfume production facilities to gladiatorial arenas.
Naturally, Pompeii’s amphitheater is much smaller than the Colosseum. But it was actually constructed 140 years ago, at a time when local leaders across the empire were already beginning to believe that any self-respecting Roman town should have its own venue for spectacles such as one-on-one combat, feats of athleticism, exotic animals, and even public executions.
Eventually, the same applied to all kinds of facilities, such as bathhouses, snack bars, and dining rooms, excavated in the public spaces and private residences of the buried cities. To that extent, Pompeii had it all, even if life there lacked the possibilities for advancement and intrigue offered only by the Eternal City.
This video takes you on a tour of thriving Pompeii and counts down to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which lasted about two days. “Why didn’t people leave the city?” the narrator asks. “Historians claim that about 2,000 people lost their lives that day at Pompeii, meaning that about 10,000 people escaped.” Much of what we know about the experience of the catastrophe itself is thanks to the writings of one such fugitive, Pliny the Younger. And it is thanks to centuries of research since its rediscovery as an archaeological site that we have a kind of knowledge of the places where reconstructions like this one take place. Those efforts have deepened our understanding of life in the ancient world as a whole. Because in Pompeii’s afterlife, Pompeii is not just a mid-sized Roman provincial city; of A medium-sized provincial city in Rome.
Related content:
Watch the computer-animated destruction of Pompeii by Mount Vesuvius (79 AD)
Take a high-definition guided tour of Pompeii
See a 3D recreation of a luxurious mansion in Pompeii – as it existed before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Pompeii’s Last Morning and the Night Pompeii Died: New video series explores the end of the ruined Roman city
The only eyewitness account of the destruction of Pompeii: hear Pliny the Younger’s letter about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
The only eyewitness account of the destruction of Pompeii: hear Pliny the Younger’s letter about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Based in Seoul, Colin Mbemust write and broadcastIt’s about cities, languages ​​and cultures. His projects include the Substack newsletter books about cities and a book Stateless City: A Stroll Through Los Angeles in the 21st Century. Follow him on the social network formerly known as Twitter. @Colinbemust.
Source: Open Culture – www.openculture.com
