Dear Departmant Of Italian Conservation

“The study of Pompeii and Herculaneum provides us with a wealth of sources – However we are faced with issues regarding their limitations, reliability and evaluation.”

Most of the Italian municipalities in their time had a Forum, a square in their town where the political, commercial, and social lives are all intertwined. Not only did it act as a social meeting place for the residents, but it also functioned as the primary religious and economic sector of the city. In Pompeii the Forum was a large area measuring at around 157 by 38 metres, not including all the surrounding buildings (Unfortunately in Herculaneum, the forum is still uncovered). The Forum was lined with the most important buildings in the city. (See figure 1) In Pompeii particularly, the forum held the Municipal offices (A), Basilica (B), Temple of Apollo (C), Forum Olitorium (vegetable market) (C), Latrines (public toilets) (D), Temple of Jupiter (E), Macellum (marketplace) (F), Temple of the Lares (G), Temple of Vespasian (I), Building of Eumanchia (J), and a Comitium (voting house) (K). On the western side of the forum, there is a pedestal, built for outspoken orators. This served as a location where people could express their views on current situations, usually political.

Over the past centuries, since its discovery in 1749, many archaeologists have contributed to our understanding of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Archaeologists were initially focused on excavating, most of which were improperly done causing extensive damage. It wasn’t until the 19th century, when archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli introduced new excavation methods; those succeeded him include August Mau, Vittorio Spinazzola and Amendo Maiuri. Now attention has shifted towards conservations and restorations which are reflected in the works of Fausto Zevi and Pier Guzzo.

The Pompeii exhibition at LACMA was an astounding visualization of history. The exhibition provided all sorts of objects; from sculptures, glass figures, painted art, and more. These art pieces specify the kind of life that was taking place in the Bay of Naples during the second century. As we know the cities around the Bay of Naples, which include Pompeii and Herculaneum, became tourist attractions when the cities were excavated after they were buried from the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. However, the comprehension of how the art pieces made their way into the museum is just a little fact of the history behind them. With this exhibition we are able to feel like we are back in time and living in the exhilarating time of

Historians consider the Forum to be the ‘centre of Pompeian life’ therefore it is an important aspect to study as numerous buildings and many events occurred there. From the latest evidence, it is believed that the Pompeian Forum was undergoing a ‘comprehensive, vigorous and ambitious post-earthquake restoration.’ (Bradley. 2005, p.87). The Forum at Herculaneum, however, is still buried under the town of Resina and therefore there is not enough physical evidence to provide a great depth of information. Studies were concentrated on the Forum at Pompeii.

At first glance, Giovanni Paolo Pannini’s Picture Gallery with Views of Modern Rome (1757) reveals very little past the outsider-looking-in perspective we are given from Pannini’s perspective. In the center is the Duc de Choiseul surrounded by detailed views of Roman architecture including buildings, fountains, and monuments and several infamous sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries. While looking at the painting, it is hard to pinpoint one focal point within the composition when the walls of the gallery are filled with paintings from the floor to the ceiling. The focus becomes about the space Pannini has created and it does not focus on one specific object or figure. Each view of Rome seen in the imagined gallery adds to the illusion of Rome as an ideal city and to the idea of its beauty. By showing a space that reflects this beauty through the numerous paintings, sculptures, and architecture Pannini’s painting transforms into an allegory. Even though this painting was commissioned to commemorate Rome, he is able to portray the city and its architecture through a well respected and scholarly environment uncharacteristic of any known space or time. These characteristics cause the which allows it by creating a fictitious These allegorical characteristics do not become known unless you take a closer look at Picture Gallery with Views of Modern Rome (1757).

It is amazing that Pompeii, a city that existed so long ago, had such a complex water system. Ancient Rome is famous for its luxurious public baths, but much less is known about the about the movement of water through private homes. Did all citizens have running water? How was the water transported to individual homes? How were they able to control the flow of the water? Did they have toilets and sinks? How did they dispose of waste? Since Pompeii (and Herculaneum) were so well preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, archaeologists have been able to answer these questions and more. Studying the use of water in Pompeian homes teaches us about the level of technology available to them and also offers us insight

Pompeii used to exist in Italy, in the colony of Naples. Establish on the Italian Coast. It rests on a stimulus conceive by a lava issue, fair north of the Sarno River. Present-day, it is detected more interior land, before, it was nearby to the coast. In addition to was a bigger city Campania.

Now lets visit a couple of places in Pompei. Some famous and interesting places are The Villa of the Mysteries, The Garden of fugitives , and The Pompeii Amphitheatre. The Villa of Mysteries is famous for the series of Frescos in many rooms. It was a country house built around 65-50 BC.

The reign of Augustus was an age of enormous architectural and artistic avidity, where he combined conservatism and revolutionary new ideas. The establishment of a Principate in 27BC created a stability which enabled a long-term, comprehensive planning programme to be worked out for the monuments of Rome. Suetonius emphasises that Augustus not only “restored, ruined or burned temples” he also improved the infrastructure where “He improved the approaches to the city, repaving the Via Flaminia […] at his own expense”. Emperor Augustus and his family provided much of the patronage for his projects, which drew architects, sculptors and painters to Rome. This created the right conditions for art and architecture on a grand scale. With this patronage

Essay Topic 4: Augustus made significant urban and architectural interventions on the city of Rome. Choose three buildings/monuments related to his reign and discuss how they reflect his impact. What representational messages were they designed to convey?

In the article she talks about how important graffiti was in Pompeii and how, while quite a lot of the graffiti was destroyed by the elements, what is still there tells us a lot about life in Pompeii. She also talks about how declarations of love were very common and they have found many declarations of love addressed towards their emperor, and how graffiti in Pompeii was a lot nicer than graffiti today many of the messages being Felicter Pompeii meaning “Happily Pompeii” wishing the whole town to be

Domus, Insulae, Villa Any society cannot functions without buildings. Structures are essential for human survival. From houses to barns to windmills, society functions off various different structures. Without them, we wouldn't be what we are. This is true for Rome as well.

During the re-examining the Ancient people killed in the eruption, scientists have discovered that ancient people of Pompeii seemed to have perfect teeth, this seems to be from their healthy diet and the high fluorine air and water of their environment. And we know this because the people of Pompeii and Herculaneum had access to a wide range of fresh produces such as bread, cheese, nuts and salads. Organic materials have been found in Herculaneum including dates, figs, prunes, almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, olives, myrtle berry. Pomegranates and loaves of bread. At Pompeii a priest's meal was found in the ruins of the temple of Isis, this included eggs, walnuts, fish and cereal.

Not much was known about the Roman Houses until the discovery of the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum in south Italy. Before these evidences, Vitruvius, with his book De Architectura, was one of the few primary sources available about this topic. He describes