Photos of the Beautiful Roman Pompeii Archaeological Site

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Photos of the Beautiful Roman Pompeii Archaeological Site. the remains of the lost Roman City of Pompeii. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Beautiful Roman Pompeii Archaeological Site.

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Photos of the Roman Pompeii archaeological site and Pompeii museum exhibits.

Foundation of Pompeii

Pompeii had a settlements on the site in the 8th century BC when the Oscans, founded five villages in the area.

In 524 BC the Etruscans had settled in Pompeii. They not conquer the city militarily, but simply controlled it, and Pompeii enjoyed a sort of autonomy. In 474 BC, the Greek city of Cumae, allied with Syracuse, Took control pf Pompeii. The Samentites were the next rulers then after the Samnite Wars from 290 BC, Pompeii was forced to accept the status of socii of Rome, maintaining, however, linguistic and administrative autonomy.

Pompeii Allies With Rome

In the 2nd century BC, Pompeii enriched itself by taking part in Rome’s conquest Greece. A statue of Apollo in the Forum was erected by Lucius Mummius in gratitude Pompeii’s support in the sack of Corinth.

Pompeii Becomes a Roman City

Pompeii was one of the towns of Campania that rebelled against Rome in the Social Wars and in 89 BC. It was besieged by Sulla, and many buildings inside the walls were destroyed. The result was that Pompeii became a Roman colony named Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum. Many of Sulla’s veterans were given land and property in and around the city as a reward.

The area around Pompeii became very prosperous due to the desirability of living on the Bay of Naples for wealthy Romans and due to the rich agricultural land. The city became an important passage for goods that arrived by sea and had to be sent toward Rome or Southern Italy along the nearby Appian Way. Many public buildings were constructed or refurbished and improved under the new order; new buildings included the Amphitheatre of Pompeii in 70 BC.

The Eruption of Vesuvius

Pompei has a bright and prosperous future laying ahead of it until Vesuvius decided otherwise. On 24 August AD 79 Vesuvius erupted resulting in Pompeii and Herculaneum being covered in meters of Volcanic ash up to 6 metres (19.7 ft) deep. Pompeii was lost for 1700 years until it was rediscovery in 1748.

This was a terrible tragedy of those that lived in Pompeii but has been a great gift to archaeologists.

Excavations of Roman Pompeii Archaeological Site

The excavated town provided a unique snap shot of Roman life with well preserved streets, shops & villas. The Roman frescoes discovered in Pompeii gave new insights into Roman art. The most controversial being the erotic frescoes of Pompeii. These so outraged 19th century academics & Nobility that they were ordered to be hidden from public view in a Secret Cabinet in Naples Archaeological Museum.

The excavations at Pompeii also revealed that Romans were great practitioners of graffiti art. Subjects rang from the bawdy to political graffiti.

The site at Pompeii is huge and most of its treasures are exhibited at the wonderful Naples Archaeological Museum

Pompeii Today

Pompeii has been a popular tourist destination for 250 years attracting over 2.6 million visitors a year.

Pompeii is part of the Vesuvius National Park and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.