Trials - P + H Flashcards
how did water + sanitation work for private housing?
o Augustan aqueduct + its Pompeian branch replaced underground cisterns and wells to provide water to houses of P + H from its highest point
o These then branched off into smaller pipes which supplied private areas + public fountains for those who could not afford private connection
What were the sources of supply?
o 1st several centuries – P’s water obtained from Sarno River, from wells + rainwater collected from roofs of houses + fed into underground tanks (cisterns).
oWasn’t until about 35BC that P was connected to a continuous running supply fed by gravity flow – the Aqua Augustus
How did the water system work?
From aqueduct to primary water tower (PWT)
From PWT thru pipes to secondary water towers (SWT) boxes. Then a system of buried pipes took the supply through main lines to the point of distribution.
Describe sanitation in P + H
o In H, the gradient was steeper + a downhill sewer has been excavated -> Better drainage, less prone to floods, newer pipelines + a smaller population to cope with. – Better sanitation than P
o In P – public toilets (foricae) were provided at the Forum + Palaestra – provided systems out the river (P) or the ocean (H)
o Private toilets were commonly found in houses. Were either continuously flushed or by bucket. These toilets shared the same pipe as the kitchen and so were located next to each other
Who made up the Board of Four? (quattorviri) and what did they do?
o Was made up of men of honour + wealth + was required to make generous contributions to the city. They were also former magistrates from the City Council.
o They presided over the city council and the People’s Assembly
o Was made up of two Douviri and two Aediles
Who were the Duoviri and what did they do?
• Duoviri administered electoral roles, criminal + civil cases + sentencing, + carried out census as quinquennales (Magistrates)
What was the city Council made up of?
- 100 decurions who were magistrates for life
- Were the most distinguished and influential citizens of the freeborn
- Seats became available with the death or disgrace of a member
What did the People’s Assembly do?
was made up of adult men and freedmen. It elected magistrates and vote honours
• Voting was carried out as individuals or as corporations (guilds)
• voting was done by ballot. The candidate had to receive an absolute majority to become a magistrate
What was the Imperial Cult?
o introduced during the time of Augustus as a form of homage
a new religious college of priests called Augustales were set us to supervise the cult
o The Collegium Augustalium (headquarters of priests) was found at H
o A main motivation behind cities choosing to worship the emperor was to again financial assistance
What were Lares?
were the tutelary deities of the house + were probably to be identified with the deceased: protected the property and family. Each house had a site or a small temple dedicated to them.
How did the goddess Fortuna become linked to the Imperial Cult?
a temple close to the shrine of the lares - originally dedicated to the goddess Fortuna, but the epithet ‘Augusta’ was added, associating the new imperial regime w the deity of good fortune in honour of Augustus perhaps to repay an imperial favour
What did Grant say about the Imperial Cult?
The imperial cult was “imposed for necessary political reasons” - Grant
What were the Mystery Cults?
o Cults from Greek + Egyptian cultures broughtby merchants, soldiers + slaves. spread was enhanced due to the area’s status as a town of commercial trading + naval commerce
o general conception that people found the standard religions impersonal and oppressive
How did the Cult of Isis emerge in P + H?
o Possibly emerged from the trade contacts between Alexandria + the bay of Naples, + the annexation of Egypt as an imperial province under Augustus.
Spread amongst the elites (Julia Felix) who incorporated shrines dedicated to Isis into their gardens with statuettes + paintings of Egyptian deities
What happened in the Temple of Isis?
It contained many epigraphs + a subterranean chamber representing holy water form the Nile.
o There were two daily services in the temple (shown from paintings that once adorned its walls)
What were the daily services in the Temple of Isis?
- Before sunrise; worshippers gathered in front of the temple where the image of the goddess was presented to them. Participants remained in prayer until the sun rose, when they uttered an invocation for its daily rebirth.
- Afternoon; water supposedly from the Nile was consecrated + sprinkled around by a priest as the symbol of life
What were two major annual festivals in the honour of Isis?
- The ‘Navigation of Isis’ - a procession of priests/ses + worshippers carried out a small boat to the seashore, purified it with water and sulphur and prayed for the protection of all sailors
- The ‘Isia’ commemorated the discovery of Osiris’ body. It’s believed this was when the secret initiations took place where the participants experienced rebirth, committing themselves to leading purer lives
What was the Cult of Bacchus/Dionysus?
A cult that worshipped the greek god of wine
o Originally was attended only by women on 3 days/year, but it eventually ext.ed to being celebrated 5 times/month
o Roman senate believed the excessive nature of cult encouraged political conspiracy + threatened public order - attempted to suppress Bacchic societies. But individuals - allowed to continue worshipping + in Campania the cult continued to flourish - shows popularity
What was their idea of death?
Generally, most people in P + H had no clear concept of life after death, despite the fact that they were constantly reminded of it: Images of death, such as skeletons and skulls, often found on triclinia or goblets
What happened when they died?
After family rites were performed, the paterfamilias had to make sure that the dead (family, slave - didn’t matter) received proper burial rites (as those who didn’t lived on as malevolent entities) and so those without families/too poor often belonged to funeral club - paid a fee while alive, ensuring cremation + interred in a mausoleum with others in the same group + so not forgotten
How were the bodies/graves dealt with?
Most people were cremated in the 1st century AD although burials were still carried out. No cremation or burial was permitted within the city walls, and legally there was supposed to be a belt of approximately 30m left free around the city’s perimeter. However sometimes important individuals were given permission to build their tomb within this space
What would a funeral procession involve?
involve musicians and professional mourners. Members of the family wore the wax masks of their ancestors (maiores) so that the protectors of their lineage were also present at the funeral. The ashes would be placed in urns of terracotta or even glass, or incorporated into the structure of tomb or buried at its foot
Give an example of a tomb
- The tomb of Istacidii family, owners of the Villa of mysteries, comprised a large funerary chamber or podium surmounted by a circular temple with statues of the most prominent family members set up between columns
- Tombs reminded passers-by of the achievements and social status of the deceased
What did the city council do?
debated + voted on issues affecting the administration of the city, and instructed the board of 4
Who were the Aediles and what did they do?
Aediles oversaw the admin of sacred + public buildings, the maintenance of roads + sewerage systems, regulation of markets, maintenance of public order + the sponsorship of spectacles + the theatre.
