Survey

Question 1

Geographical Setting

Answer 1

“Incredibly favoured by nature” - Grant (Cities of Vesuvius)
Both located in Campania - a volcanic plain
Pompeii built on volcanic spur
Herculaneum built on steeply sloping spur, close to the sea

Question 2

Natural Features

Answer 2

Mt Vesuvius - 1281m high, 25km from Pompeii and 15km from Herculaneum 
Herculaneum - close to Bay of Naples 
Pompeii - close to Sarno River 
Fertile farm land (high levels of phosphorus) - painting of Vesuvius depicts Bacchus (god of wine) + snakes (fertility and wisdom)
Strabo: 
- River Sarnos acts as a trading port 
- Farm lands on the slopes
- Flat top on the volcano 
- Evidence of previous explosion
- "Land suited to the vine" = fertile

Question 3

Natural Resources evidence (written)

Answer 3

Pliny:
Olives were the most fruitful
Fish as a major food source, significant
People enjoyed wine and consumption

Seneca:
Agriculture based around farming sheep as he writes 600 were killed in the earthquake of 62AD

Question 4

Natural Resources by category

Answer 4

Marine environment: fish and shellfish industry, production of Garum
Salt: preserving foods produced in slat pans in shallow pools
Woodland: building materials, sand mixed with lime to make cement
Fertile soils: cultivation of grapes/olives, loamy sand allowed drainage and ideal pH for crop growing. Minerals (phosphorous) = abundant flowering of crops

Question 5

Natural Resources evidence (archaeological)

Answer 5

Mosaic from house of fawn: industry of fish
Olive press from Pompeii
Dolia containing wine, Pompeii
Fullery of Stephanus (wool pressing = clothing industry)
Boatshed of Herculaneum

Question 6

Lead up to eruption of 79AD

Answer 6

Earthquake in 69AD affected both cities

Small tremours occured mid Aug 79AD, strange animal behaviour, springs/wells dried up - Pliny the younger

Question 7

Archaelogical evidence of eruption

Answer 7

Relief - House of Lucius Iunundus depicts temple of Jupiter during earthquake
Regio V Graffiti - changes date of earthquake ‘on oct 17th he over indulged in food’ written in charcoal

Question 8

Day 1 of eruption

Answer 8

Plinian Phase

• initial explosion: clouds of ash and pumice, gas 20km into air
• Pumice and lapilli cause Pompeii roofs to collapse
• Sigardson suggests minimal fatalities + alert to danger
• H recieved light dust of ash (upwind)

Question 9

Day 2 of eruption

Answer 9

Pyroclastic phase
Surge 1:
- Gas column cools and collapses series of pyroclastic surges and flows occur
- 1st surge covers H (3m ash) superheated gases travelling 200km/h kill most immediately
- Dense flow followed composed of superheated (400°C) volcanic matter

Surge 2:

• Hotter and more powerful
• Wider distruction
• Pompeii unaffected by both

Surge 3:
- Hit Pompeii (pumice 3m in some places)

Surges 4-6:

• Sucessive superheated avalanches, covered whole Pompeii
• H completed sealed under 23m of hardened volcanic material
• P under 5/6m

Question 10

Written evidence of eruption

Answer 10

Vulcanologist Sigurdson confirms pliny

Pliny Younger:

• Eye witness account
• Responsible for letters to Tacitus outlining eruption stages
• Written 25 years after

Question 11

Death at P&H

Answer 11

• Collasped roof ( 1st stage)
• Asphyxiation
• Thermal shock (major cause of death, caused muscles spasms = weird positions)
• Lack of domestic animals (horses and oxes) = owners able to escape
• Sigurdson: by 4 surge everyone in Pompeii died
• H, evidence of red stuff, brains exploded
• Boat house, people waiting to be rescued

Question 12

Representations

Answer 12

Neo-classicism
- Influence of art and archetecture
- Creation of tourism
Eroticism:
- Interest in early discoveries of sexual imagery
- Rise of publications emphasising Roman obsession with sex
- Creation of tourism
Romanticism:
- Influenced writers to romanicism and dramatise last days