Ancient History: Pompeii and Herculaneum

Pompeii and Herculaneum

Students learn about:

Non-examinable background
• stages of occupation
• brief historical overview up to and including the eruption of AD 79
• early discoveries and brief history of the excavations
• representations of Pompeii and Herculaneum over time

Examinable content:

1 Geographical context
• the physical environment: the geographical setting, natural features and resources of Pompeii and Herculaneum
• plans and streetscapes of Pompeii and Herculaneum

2 The nature of sources and evidence
• the range of available sources, both written and archaeological, including ancient writers, official inscriptions, graffiti, wall paintings, statues, mosaics, human and animal remains
• the limitations, reliability and evaluation of sources
• the evidence provided by the sources from Pompeii and Herculaneum for:
– the eruption
– the economy: trade, commerce, industries, occupations
– social structure; men, women, freedmen, slaves
– local political life
– everyday life: leisure activities, food and dining, clothing, health, baths, water supply and sanitation
– public buildings – basilicas, temples, fora, theatres, palaestra, amphitheatres
– private buildings – villas, houses, shops
– influence of Greek and Egyptian cultures: art, architecture, religion
– religion: temples, household gods, foreign cults, tombs.

3 Investigating, reconstructing and preserving the past
• changing methods and contributions of nineteenth and twentieth century archaeologists to our understanding of Pompeii and Herculaneum
• changing interpretations: impact of new research and technologies
• issues of conservation and reconstruction: Italian and international contributions and responsibilities; impact of tourism
• ethical issues: study and display of human remains


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