Pompeii and Herculaneum Leisure Activities - 3640 Words

Pompeii and Herculaneum: Leisure Activities For each Ive chosen one main source, and gathered a variety of other sources to help explain and reinforce it further. I find that one source (particularly buildings alone) are not enough to base all of the information on, and you gain a more comprehensive understanding by combining them. Entertainment was essential to daily life in Ancient Rome. According to Juvenal1, it seemed that all Romans were interested in was bread and circuses, and with theatres, amphitheatres, gambling, drama and public baths galore, the Romans never seemed to get bored. Source 1: Pompeian Amphitheatre * Built in 70BC, Pompeiis amphitheatre is the oldest and most complete pre-Colosseum style†¦show more content†¦Thanks to the various sources and the multiple mediums through which they are presented we have learnt much about this aspect of Roman entertainment. Frescoes, mosaics, writings, graffiti, buildings, artefacts (gladiators helmet, weapons, etc), inscriptions, reliefs and even bodies all reveal details of the many different facets and experiences of this ancient entertainment. We now know who went, what and who the entertainment was, and even the stories of the ancient Pompeians and reconstruct a variety of experiences. This source is a archaeological treasure as unlike others it did not deteriorate from non-use or knocked down, it was frozen on a typical roman day and has thus remained. It is also significant as we can compare this evidence to similar items of evidence from all over Rome and deepen our understanding of the life o f the ancient Romans. Source 2: Public Baths at Herculaneum and Pompeii. In first century AD, the baths were a place of leisure time during many Romans daily routine. People from almost every class, men and women ( but not children) could attend the public baths or thermaes3, which could be compared to modern day fitness clubs. Public baths were not only for cleaning purposes only, but in many ways, the baths were the ancient Roman equivalent of community centres. The baths were only part of what the thermae (large bath complex)Show MoreRelatedThe Private and Public Leisure Activities of Pompeii and Herculaneum1237 Words   |  5 PagesThe private and public leisure activities of Pompeii and Herculaneum Introduction: The private and public leisure activities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were largely abundant. Many activities could be participated in and were used often. These include Drama performances, gladiatorial games, drinking, gambling, brothels, exercise, gardens, baths and food and dining. All these were an important part of Pompeian and Herculaneum life. They were seen as important to keep the body and mind healthyRead MoreThe Forum Pompeii3379 Words   |  14 Pagesrestoration.’ (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. The Forum dates back to the 2nd century BCE. It underwent numerous alterations during the city’s history and at the time of the eruption was in the process of receiving an ambitious restoration. The Pompeii Forum was accessed through the entrance ViaRead MoreMount Vesuvius3985 Words   |  16 Pagesand deadly. It is, therefore, important to look back at prior eruptions and compare them to present eruptions in order to draw conclusions on what could be done to mitigate loss of life and destruction. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD on Pompeii and surrounding areas proved to be catastrophic because of the location of the volcano and especially since citizens were not aware that an active volcano was in their midst. By examining the series of events that took place at Mount Vesuvius in 79