Pompeii ruins | archaeology from the sky | archaeological site | Roman archaeology & history | forum

Pompeii is one of the most magnificent archaeological sites in the world. Mount Vesuvius' eruption destroyed the city in 79 AD, but the ash preserved the site. Pompeii is near Naples, Italy.
This lecture looks at the architecture and archaeological ruins preserved. It examines Roman public, social, religious, and domestic architecture.
The Forum was the heart of the Roman city. People assembled here. The Temple of Jupiter is on the north side of the Forum. Near the Forum is the comitium (election house), municipal buildings, and basilica (legal courthouse). The Temple of Apollo is just west of the Forum. Just east of the Forum is the Eumachia building, a textile market, and a macellum, a fish market complete with a tholos structure.
Two theaters are near south and east of the Forum. The large theater was for dramas and comedies, while the little theater was actually an odeon, a concert hall for music. A gladiatorial barracks is just south of the theatres.
Further east is the great Amphitheater. Gladiatorial games were held here in the arena. "Amphitheater" means "two theaters." Next to the amphitheatre is the palaestra, an exercise area.
Pompeii had three bathhouses, the Stabian baths, the Forum baths, and the Central baths. The bathhouses had a cold room (frigidarium), a warm room (tepidarium), and hot room (calidarium).
Wealthy Romans had large villas in Pompeii, including the House of Pansa. The atrium, where rain water filled a pool called an impluvium, and a peristyle, a colonnade that surrounded a garden, were common features.
Many of you likely have theatres, plazes, amphitheatres, pools, and other structures in your hometown just like Pompeii!
Arial images are from Google Maps and Microsoft Bing maps. Historical photographs are from the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division.
Valete!
Presentation by Jeffrey Meyer, Mount Pleasant Public Library, Iowa, United States.
Satellite images from Google Maps
Images from the Library of Congress

[@scott6828]

One of the most informative video of ancient Roman architecture I've seen. Well done and thank you for the spectacular lesson.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@davidcarpenter416]

I have been fascinated with Ancient Rome my whole life. I'll never afford to actually travel there, but it never occurred to me to use google maps to explore it. Your video crushed it! I felt transported in time almost. What an education and great video, man! Thank you. My two passions are the civil war, and ancient history, so just finding your channel has me geeking out!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you! Yes, the wonders of satellite imagery makes distance places easy to explore.

[@evangelieabs]

excellent presentation, been there twice, and yr video was much useful as i had some until now unanswered questions.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I really appreciate your nice comments. Thank you!

[@berto22194]

Love your videos dude, keep it up!

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

[@marcleysens7716]

Excellent! Well done. Very informative. Thank you.

[@jondickinson1142]

That was fantastic...thank you kindly for your efforts; much different than your Civil War videos, but no less enjoyable. 🙂

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you! I will do more archaeology in the future.

[@m.rogers5846]

I wish I had this knowledge before I visited there. It was fascinating nonetheless. I completely missed the theater and amphitheater because I was unaware of them. Thanks so much for both the education and the memories.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thanks for watching!

[@antonleimbach648]

Wow, great video.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thank you!

[@edwardlulofs444]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

Thanks for watching!

[@bekincai]

well first off I learned the proper pronunciation of the cities name. I didn't know it was pronounced with an extra e on the end. I got to visit the Scavo back in 1992. it was amazing. one of the most striking things I remember was seeing a mosaic on the entryway floor that had what looked like a German Shepard and the words caveat canine. think of that 2000 years ago they had a beware of dog sign. I stood there transfixed as if I had been transported back in time. i hope i get to go back with my kids before I die.

[@bekincai]

oh and great work Jeff. your videos are super interesting

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

I really appreciate that, thanks! The "beware dog" mosaic is one of my favorites too. A professor once explained the pronunciation like this to me: "Pompey is the guy, PompeiEE is the city."

[@Research0digo]

Jeffrey, those aren't Doric columns, they have no circular capitols. :) @17:45, arena is Spanish for sand. :)

[@dong4617]

I was there and looked around. I spent a year in the Med on a big gray boat with a 5 inch gun on the bow.

[@deg6788]

Thanks

[@JeffreytheLibrarian]

You're welcome!

[@maje9448]

Sparrow status, mineral common,