HS/CL/AH 252 - The Last Days of Pompeii

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. spelled death and destruction for many of the inhabited areas of the Bay of Naples with an explosive force that also bred unique freeze-frames of ancient Roman life and practices in famous locations such as Pompeii Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae. This course traces these cities’ urban development, their fateful ruin, and their ultimate rediscovery. It places special emphasis on the contribution that these archaeological sites make to our understanding of society in antiquity, as they provide contexts for both the public and private domains. In addition to city infrastructure and architectural typologies – private villas, civic buildings, temples, shops – and related decorative programs in the form of sculpture, painting and mosaics, the course also examines smaller objects of everyday use that afford further insight into the fascinating lives of Pompeii’s inhabitants.