2. Public Buildings – Basilicas,
Temples, Fora, Theatres,
•
Palaestra, Amphitheatres a
Most of the large buildings in public Pompeii date from the period after it became
Roman colony, when the number of temples doubled and the public baths, theatres
and amphitheatres were constructed
• Inscriptions show that new buildings were initiated by the duumviri
• Other prominent citizens were also responsible for the construction of new
buildings or the addition of certain features
3. Public Buildings –
Basilicas, Temples, Fora, Thea
tres, Palaestra, Amphitheatre
s
• The donation of a public building was seen as a virtue in Roman society and it
enhanced the donor’s prestige
• Most public buildings had a religious element such as a small shrine or statues to
the Gods or members of the imperial family
• An example of this is the macellum in the forum at Pompeii had such a shrine
4. Public Buildings – Basilicas
• In Pompeii the basilica was a large rectangular building located on the south-
western side of the forum
• It was more Greek than Roman in style, with rows of columns, not arches,
supporting the roof
• The basilica housed the law courts: at the back was a structure reached by stairs
which has been interpreted as a tribunal where the magistrate sat when hearing
cases
• Graffiti suggests the basilica was also a place where business transactions were
negotiated
5. Public Buildings – Basilicas
• Few public buildings have been uncovered in Herculaneum
• Tunnels have provided access to buried buildings but there is no reliable analysis of
usage
• One building identified as a basilica may have been a temple or a shrine instead
• An inscription refers to the rebuilding of a basilica in Herculaneum by the
Proconsul Marcus Nonius Balbus, however it has not been positively identified
6. Public Buildings – Temples
• 10 temples have been excavated at
Pompeii, most in and around the forum
• These temples provide evidence of a
range of religious beliefs and practices
• The temples included the official
Roman state deities:
Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva
• Greek deities appropriated by the
Romans including Apollo, Venus and
Dionysus
• Foreign deities such as the Egyptian
Goddess Isis
7. Public Buildings – Temples
• Temples dedicated to the Imperial Cult paid homage to the deified Emperors
• In the forum was the Temple of the Genius of Augustus, later known as the
Temple of Vespasian
• The Temple of Fortuna Augusta, north of the forum, linked Fortuna, Goddess of
Fertility and Good Luck, with Augusta, the guardian of the Divine Augustus
8. Public Buildings – Temples
• All temples had been damaged in the
earthquake of AD62
• Some, such as the Temple of Apollo were
restored by the time of the eruption of 79AD
• Others, such as the Temple of Jupiter were
still in ruins
9. Public Buildings – Temples
• No large temples have been uncovered at Herculaneum
• A Shrine of the Augustales, including a section devoted to Hercules provides
evidence of the Imperial Cult
10. Public Buildings – Fora
• The forum was a large open area of a
Roman town where the main public
buildings were located and where there
was space for public meetings
• Two fora have been found @ Pompeii,
an early forum known as the
Triangular Forum and the main
forum
11. Public Buildings – Fora
• The Triangular Forum, which contains
evidence of a 6th century BC temple, was the
earliest forum in Pompeii
• It was located near the theatres
12. Public Buildings – Fora
• The main forum was located in the
south-western section of Pompeii
• It was a pedestrian area 40x150 metres,
paved in limestone
• Stone barriers prevented vehicles from
entering the area
13. Public Buildings – Fora
• Two storey public buildings surrounded the forum on three sides
• Porticoes linked the various buildings and provided shade and shelter
• Around the open space were statues of distinguished citizens and members of the
Imperial family
14. Public Buildings – Fora
• The Temple of
Jupiter stood at the
head of the forum on
the northern side,
flanked by two
triumphal arches
• A painting from the
estate of Julia Felix
shows people enjoying
various activities in
the forum which was
garlanded for the
occasion
• The buildings around
the forum were a
mixture of religious,
commercial and
political buildings
• Many were
undergoing repairs at
the time of the
eruption
15. Religious Buildings in the
forum at Pompeii
Temple of Apollo Built in the 2nd century BC on the site of a much older
temple. There are statues of Apollo and Diana on either
side of the portico
Temple of Jupiter Built in the 2nd century BC and later converted into a
Capitolium dedicated to the worship of Jupiter, Juno and
Minerva
Temple of the Genius of Also known as the Temple of Vespasian
Augustus
Temple of Fortuna Build by duumviri Marcus Tullius in honour of the
Augusta Emperor Augustus
Sanctuary of the City There are doubts about the origin and purpose of this
Lares building
16. Commercial Buildings in the
forum at Pompeii
Macellum Main market building with shops and stalls selling a
variety of food including vegetables, meat and fish
Mensa Ponderaria Stone table of weights and measures was near the
macellum, built into the wall of the Temple of Apollo
Building of Eumachia May have been a wool market or the headquarters of the
fuller’s guild. There was a jar inside the entrance where
men could urinate. Urine was used in the fulling process
and for bleaching.
17. Political Buildings in the
forum at Pompeii
Basilica A building for the law courts, but also a place where business
deals were negotiated and perhaps registered. Buildings thought to
be government offices, possibly the office of the Duumviri, office
of the Aediles and the hall of the Decuriones
Comitium??? Enclosed with no roof, perhaps used as a voting area
Statues At least 40 statues stood on high bases around the forum. Many
were of prominent citizens, some were of members of the Imperial
family
18. Public Buildings – Theatres
• The large theatre of Pompeii is a Greek-style theatre with seats built into the
natural slope
• It may have had an awning over sections of the seating
• The theatre held up to 5000 people
• Entry was free but seating was assigned according to social class
• The seats nearest to the stage were faced with marble and were reserved for
important citizens
19. Public Buildings – Theatres
• Mosaics depicting actors preparing for dramatic performances have been found in
private houses, as well as actors’ masks used in Greek and Roman tragedies and
comedies
• Farces and pantomimes were performed
20. Public Buildings – Theatres
• Near the large theatre is a smaller, free-standing
theatre known as the Odeon, built soon after 80BC
• According to an inscription found nearby, it had a
roof which ensured excellent acoustics
• It was used for musical recitals and poetry readings
• The Odeon could seat up to 1000 people: seating
was assigned according to social class
21. Public Buildings – Theatres
• Herculaneum had a free-standing Roman style theatre which remains under
Ercolano
• It held up to 2500 people
• Originally it was richly decorated with marble columns and gilded statues
• It was the first building to be found in Herculaneum and has been extensively
looted
22. Public Buildings –
Palaestra
• Another Greek
feature of Roman
towns was the
public for
exercise and
athletics called
the palaestra
• Popular sports
included
running, discus,
wrestling and
swimming
23. Public Buildings –
Palaestra
• The palaestra in Pompeii was built at public expense in response to Augustus’
desire to provide young people with facilities where they could exercise
• It became a meeting place for members of Juventus (Augustan Youth) and included
an alter for rites associated with the Imperial Cult
24. Public Buildings –
Palaestra
• The palaestra was a large building with porticoes along 3 sides
• In the middle of the palaestra was a large swimming pool
• Plane trees provided shade
• The palaestra in Herculaneum took up a whole insula, although only parts of it
have been excavated
25. Public Buildings –
Palaestra
• The large open area featured a shallow cross-shaped pool with a bronze fountain
• The large central area was surrounded by rooms opening onto porticoes on 3 sides
• An upper terrace of arched chambers on the northern side provided an excellent
vantage point for viewing events
26. Public Buildings –
Palaestra
• On the western side of the portico was a very tall building with a niche at the back
which would have held a large statue
• A marble table was found nearby
• This may have been used for worship and/or prize-giving
• Competitive games were financed by wealthy citizens such as Marcus Nonius
Balbus
27. Public Buildings –
Amphitheatres
• Situated in the south eastern corner of the
city, Pompeii’s amphitheatre dates to 70BC
• It survived the eruption of Vesuvius almost
intact, making it the world’s oldest surviving
Roman amphitheatre
• It also offers fascinating insight into the
design of amphitheatres and their importance
to Roman society
28. Public Buildings –
Amphitheatres
• In contrast to later amphitheatres, Pompeii’s is very simple and represents and
example of the earliest style of amphitheatre.
• It measures 135m long and 104m wide and its arena was a pit excavated 6m below
ground level with earth from the excavations heaped up into embankments that
served as a seating area
• All that divided the audience from the spectacle below them was a 2 metre
balustrade which would have offered poor protection for those on the nearest seats
during wild beats fights
29. Public Buildings –
Amphitheatres
• The arena accommodated all social
classes, demonstrating the universal popularity
of the games
• The 35 rows of seats which could
accommodate 20000 people were divided into
three areas to accommodate three distinct
social groupings of spectators from the city and
its outlying regions: the ima, media and
summa cavea
30. Public Buildings –
Amphitheatres
• The media was kept for the general populace whilst the ima cavae ran around the
arena and was kept for well to do
• Slaves and women and the lowest classes viewed the games form the summa
cavae, at a distance from the show.
• Protection from the sun was provided by velaria suspended above the crowd from
the top of the arena.
31. Public Buildings –
Amphitheatres
• The external walls of the amphitheatre were covered with posters praising the
gladiators and recording the outcome of the contests.
• The Thracian Celadus is described as the ‘hero’ and ‘heartthrob of the girls’.
• The area around the amphitheatre developed into an area of taverns and eateries to
provide pre and post games’ refreshment.
• Signs painted on the arena walls marking out rented spaces indicate that temporary
booths were set up just outside the arena walls, selling souvenirs, food and drink.
