Flashcards

Study guide

  1. Summarize the history of Pompeii, from its earliest settlement to its destruction. What were the reasons for its prosperity?
  2. Describe the layout of the forum of Pompeii. What do the buildings located there tell us about the range of activities that took place in this sector of the city?
  3. Describe a Roman bath complex, such as the Stabian Baths at Pompeii. What rooms were included, for what purposes?  In addition to hygiene, what social functions did the baths fulfill?
  4. What are the characteristics of Pompeiian houses, in plan and decoration? What evidence do they give of social hierarchy? (Some outside research may be needed in order to answer this question.)
  5. Describe the commercial buildings and apartment buildings found in Ostia, their plans, materials, and functioning.
  6. With the evidence for housing from Pompeii and Ostia, this is a good moment to compare and contrast houses, palaces, and apartment buildings (group housing) encountered throughout this book, from the Ancient Near East through the Roman Empire. To what degree did geography, climate, or cultural requirements determine their designs?  Are any features consistent through the centuries, or do differences predominate? Explain why this should be.

Useful websites

Images

Figure 22.1

Figure 22.1

Bay of Naples.

Figure 22.2

Figure 22.2

City plan, Pompeii.

Figure 22.3

Figure 22.3

Plan, Forum, Pompeii.

Figure 22.4

Figure 22.4

Plan, Stabian Baths, Pompeii.

Figure 22.5

Figure 22.5

Plan, House of the Surgeon, Pompeii.

Figure 22.6

Figure 22.6

Plan, House of the Faun, Pompeii.

Figure 22.7

Figure 22.7

Plan, House of the Vettii, Pompeii.

Figure 22.8

Figure 22.8

Atrium, House of the Vettii, Pompeii.

Figure 22.9

Figure 22.9

Mysteries wall paintings, Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii.

Figure 22.10

Figure 22.10

City plan, Ostia.

Figure 22.11

Figure 22.11

Apartment house (reconstruction), Ostia.