Roman City Life: Pompeii
Prescribed visual/ material sources from Pompeii, for J199/22 OCR Classical Civilisation GCSE. This page aims to give an overview and explanation of prescribed sources.
House of Menander
The House of Menander is one of the largest and most impressive houses in Pompeii. Located in the south, it was probably built in the 3rd century BC and added to over time. It takes it's name from a fresco of Menander, a writer of Greek Comedy, found in the house on the south side of the peristyle. Although it has been suggested that this is not Menander himself, but rather the owner of the house reading his works. It was not Menander's house. The owners, whose names are unknown, would have been very rich and likely enjoyed the theatre. The head of the house would have been a patron, which we know from the bench outside the house which would have been used by the owner's clients as they waited to be seen by him. They may have owned land, as a wagon and lots of amphorae were discovered in the house.
Unusually, the house had two atria and its own set of private baths, which was situated in the south-west corner of the peristyle. Features usually found in public architecture, such as pillars in the Corinthian style, were used to mark entrances. In the room to the left of the lararium, the walls are painted with a triptych inspired by the Trojan war. On the left is Cassandra resisting abduction by Odysseus, in the centre is Cassandra as she tries to convince the Trojans not to let the wooden horse enter the city, and on the right we see the death of Laocoon who, along with his children, was strangled by a snake.
For further information, see the following links:
House of Menander: pompeiiinpictures.comLink opens in a new window
House of Menander: greekreporter.comLink opens in a new window
House of Menander: rosyfingereddawnLink opens in a new window
House of Octavius Quartio
The House of Loreius Tiburtinus or House of D. Octavius Quartio was refurbished after the earthquake which hit Pompeii in 62AD, and has a water supply (in contrast with the Insula of Diana, which did not have water). The house also holds the largest garden in Pompeii, which may tell us that the residents of Pompeii preferred the country life over that of a bustling Roman city. Within the rooms, we can see frescoes of the Trojan War, Hercules battle against Laomedon and the myth of Narcissus. Interestingly, we also have a fresco of a high-priest of Isis in one room, suggesting cult practises of Isis took place here.
The naming of this house was wrongly created from electoral graffiti etched in the outer façade, saying either "Vote for Loreius" or "Vote for Tiburtinus." However, the last known owner of the house was a man named Octavius Quartio, whose bronze seal was found inside the house during excavation.
For further information, see the following links:
House of Octavius Quartio: planetpompeii.comLink opens in a new window
House of Octavius Quartio: pompeiiinpictures.comLink opens in a new window
House of Octavius Quartio: rosyfingereddawnLink opens in a new window
House of Octavius Quartio: KCClassics on QuizletLink opens in a new window
Tomb of Naevoleia Tyche
To avoid confusion, there are two tombs often referred to as "the tomb of Munatius Faustus/ Naevolia Tyche". The first was fairly simplistic in design and located at Pompeii’s Nuceria Gate. The second, built by Naevolia Tyche after her husband Munatius Faustus' death, is situated at the Herculaneum Gate on the Via dei Sepolcri. She had this built to honour that her husband had received a bisellium (double seat at a theatre/amphitheatre) for his contributions to the community. This second tomb is the Tomb of Naevoleia Tyche. A dedicatory inscription found at the first tomb implies Faustus was actually buried there. No remains of Tyche herself have been found, indicating that she was probably still alive when Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.
Inscription
“Naevoleia Tyche, freedwoman of Lucius Naevoleius, for herself and for Gaius Munatius Faustus, member of the Brotherhood of Augustus and suburban official, to whom on account of his distinguished services the city council, with the approval of the people, granted a seat of double width.
This monument Naevoleia Tyche built in her lifetime also for the freedmen and freedwomen of herself and of Gaius Munatius Faustus.”
This is the inscription on the second tomb, the one that Naevoleia Tyche built.
Key words:
Brotherhood of Augustus: A college of priests (re)established by Augustus. See this linkLink opens in a new window for more information.
Seat of double width: The bisellium, as mentioned above.
Freedman/ freedwoman: A person who has been released from slavery by their master or mistress, either in the master's will or during their lifetime.
For further information, see the following links:
Tomb of Naevoleia Tyche: 3D model, Virtual Via Dei Sepolcri
Tomb of Naevoleia Tyche: hcquayle on Quizlet
Tomb of Naevoleia Tyche: Classical and Ancient Civilisation on YouTube
Tomb of Naevoleia Tyche: KCClassics on Quizlet
The Large Theatre
Built in the 2nd century BC, the large theatre at Pompeii was designed according to the Greek model. It started small, but was extended and restored during the reign of Augustus (27BC-14AD). The theatre would have seated 5,000 people after Augustus' renovations and was the main venue for public spectacles such as plays and musical performances. The seating was divided into five separate sections, each assigned to a different class of citizens as per Roman social hierarchy. It was built on a hill, so that tiered seating could be incorporated naturally.
This is not to be confused with Pompeii's Odeon, a smaller theatre designed to hold 1,000 spectators. This was for poetic recitals and smaller musical performances, even political meetings. The large theatre at Pompeii is also not to be confused with the amphitheatre, a large venue used to stage gladiator and animal fights.
For further information, see the following links:
The Large Theatre: planetpompeii.com
The Large Theatre: pompeiiarchaeologicalpark.com