The overwhelming, scorching sun shines on the streets once bustling with life and responsibility. They stand strong, symbolizing the Italian ancient outlooks of both occupation and connection. Every corner turned and every glance gave provides another detail to what is known of this city surrounded in tragic whispers. There are vibrant frescoes upon the walls and mosaics at your feet. You’re probably curious as to where you have miraculously transported to. We have been brought back to the 8th century A.D. in a small Roman town by the name of Pompeii!
Located in southern Italy near the Bay of Naples, Pompeii is a town filled with disaster and the history of antiquity. Upon the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the city lay under thick layers of volcanic ash for hundreds of years until it was rediscovered in the 18th century. The somewhat modern excavation allowed us as the modern world to perceive just how miraculous the society of Pompeii really was. With scenes of everyday life and political connections, the art and architecture of the city is at the heart of its vibrancy and liveliness, even after all these years. Let’s travel back and discover the beauty of Pompeii and why it is adored heavily today.
Among the art forms present in the city, one of the most popular and professional mediums were frescoes. This technique includes painting in watercolor on wet plaster, allowing the scene depicted to stay fixed to the wall or ceiling upon drying fully. With it’s bright tones, many decorated temples, public areas, and even individual homes. There were many subject matters present in these works, including landscapes, still lifes, mythological figures, and more. It was a representation of the town’s inhabitants, symbolizing what was important most to the society. The early use of perspective and detailing displays talent that many, even in the later periods of art history, could accomplish correctly.
Pompeii isn’t just know for the frescoes, with beautifully intricate mosaics also rising to the top. Crafted from colorful pieces of glass, stone, and even terracotta, they adorned floors, ceilings, and walls, standing as a representation of ancient artistic innovation and dedication. Themes within mosaics were elaborate narratives or simple patterns, such as greenery. One of the most renown was found in Pompeii’s House of the Faun, later earning the name of the Alexander Mosaic, providing an intense view of the Battle of Issus, which occurred in 333 B.C. Surprisingly, mosaics hold more of a purpose as well. Not only were they decorative, but they would serve a cultural and symbolic message, reflecting the popular belief and moral system of the city and those neighboring it, such as Herculaneum.
Although many works in the mediums mentioned have survived the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the same cannot be said regarding sculpture. During excavations, there have been very few bronze and marble sculptures discovered, including theological idols and portrait busts. Regardless, the sculptural techniques in these works present the traditional classical way of art and the stylistic preferences that surround it.
In addition to the miraculous art, Pompeii is also the destination of architectural treasures, going from small villas to grand civic gathering areas! Because many still stand today, they work as a window to the city’s past politics and cosmopolitanism, which influenced social order and urban planning in ancient Rome.
Domestic architecture, usually in the form of residential communities, features many apartment complexes and homes. Each has a story of social status and degree of wealth, with many holding ornate decorative elements and impressive craftsmanship. On the other hand, the heart of civic life, in the form of public buildings, had many different elements and functions. This included political debates and even community worship and praise to the gods. Each structure was created in order to sustain the communal nature of the city, such as basilicas, theatres, and baths. Streets were created as well, snaking through the city in such a way that it guided the bustling system of Pompeii. The city’s unique layout allowed for the construction of public markets, shops, and fountains too, serving as a way to reflect the advanced and sophisticated urban planning ideas and principles of the ancient world, specifically along the Mediterranean. The town had a diverse population, making sense to the rapid growth of architectural monuments and artistic creation.
Much of Pompeii’s art and architecture remains today, offering a look into the social and cultural aspects of ancient Rome. From beautifully detailed frescoes painted on the walls of the city to the grandeur of both public and domestic buildings, it continues to grab attention from students, scholars, visitors, and even modern artists. The disaster which struck the town serves as a reminder to the idea of human fragility and the powerful strength artistic expression has throughout multiple ages. So, what are you waiting for? Go check it out yourself!
