Forum
Beyond the Antiquarium in Pompeii, is the Basilica, used as a market and a
law-court. To the left is the Temple of Apollo, surrounded by 48 Ionic
columns. Beyond these two buildings is the Forum, the principal square of
the Roman town, which was enclosed by colonnades. At the north end of the
forum is the Temple of Jupiter, on a base 3m/10ft high. At the northeast
corner is the Macellum, a hall for the sale of foodstuffs. Down the east
side are the Shrine of the Lares, the Temple of Vespasian (probably
dedicated originally to Augustus) and the Building of Eumachia, probably a
hall for the sale of wool. On the south side of the forum is the Curia,
the meeting-place of the town council, flanked by three other rooms.
Forum Baths
In the Via delle Terme, the westerly continuation of the Via di Nola (the
western part of which is also called the Via di Fortuna), are the Forum
Baths (Terme del Foro), smaller and more modest than the Stabian Baths but
also occupying a whole insula.
House
of Menander
South of Nuovi Scavi is the large and well-preserved House of Menander
which belonged to a wealthy merchant; it was named after a likeness of the
Greek comic playwright Menander in a niche in the magnificent peristylium.
Adjoining this is the charming little House of the Lovers.
Farther along the Via dell'Abbondanza, on the left, is the Thermopolium, a
tavern fully equipped with drinking vessels, a kettle, a stove and a lamp,
with the last customer's money still on the counter. Beyond this, on the
left, is the interesting House of Trebius Valens, the front wall of which
is covered with inscriptions; and beyond this again, on the right, is the
rich House of Marcus Loreius Tiburtinus, with a restored double door and
an interesting interior.
House
of the Faun
Opposite the House of the Vettii, to the south, is the House of the Faun
(Casa del Fauno; entrance from the Via di Nola), the most palatial mansion
in Pompeii, taking up a whole insula (80 x 35m/88 x 38yd). By the
impluvium is a copy of the statuette of a faun which was discovered here.
The famous mosaic of "Alexander's Battle" was found in the room with red
columns.
House of the Vettii
The very interesting House of the Vettii in the Vicolo di Mercurio has
well-preserved ornamental paintings and fine frescoes in the triclinium.
The
peristylium (partly rebuilt) still has its original marble decoration and
has been replanted. The kitchen still contains its cooking utensils.
Southwest of the House of the Vettii is the House of the Labyrinth (Casa
del Labirinto), with two atria.
Large Theater (photo - right)
Adjoining the northern half of the Triangular Forum, built into the
sloping ground, is the Large Theater (Teatro Grande), which could seat
some 5,000 spectators and is now used for "Son et lumière" shows in summer.
From the top row there are fine views.
Street
of Tombs (photo - left)
Outside the gate lies a suburban district of which only the main street
has been excavated. This Street of Tombs is, from the scenic point of view,
the most attractive part of Pompeii. Lined with imposing monuments to
distinguished citizens, it ranks with the Via Appia outside Rome as the
most impressive surviving example of the Roman practice of erecting tombs
along public roads.
Stabian Baths
At the corner of the Via dell'Abbondanza and the Via Stabiana are the
Stabian Baths (Terme Stabiana), the largest and best-preserved baths in
Pompeii (entrance from Via dell'Abbondanza). The entrance leads into the
colonnaded palaestra, with a swimming pool on the left; on the right are
the male and female baths, separated by the stoves for heating the water.
Each establishment has a circular cold bath (frigidarium), a changing room
(apodyterium) with racks for clothing, a warm bath (tepidarium) and a hot
(Turkish) bath (caldarium) heated by air-ducts in the floor and walls.
Villa of Diomedes
At the northwest end of the Street of Tombs is the large Villa of Diomedes,
with an extensive garden enclosed by a portico 33m/36yd long each way. In
the center of the garden is a basin and six columns which belonged to a
pavilion. In an underground passage (cryptoporticus) were found the bodies
of 18 women and children. Near the garden door (now walled up) was the
body of a man, presumably the owner of the house, with a key in his hand
and a slave beside him carrying money and valuables.
Villa
of the Mysteries
200m/220yd northwest of the Villa of Diomedes, outside the main excavation
area, is the magnificent Villa of the Mysteries (Villa dei Misteri;
reached from the main entrance to the excavations on a road which runs
past the station (500m/550yd) and continues for another 700m/770yd), with
the finest surviving ancient wall paintings, preserved in all the
brilliance of their original coloring. The most remarkable of these is a
frieze 17m/19yd long in the large triclinium with almost life-size
figures, dating from the pre-Augustan period (probably based on models of
the third century B.C.), which depicts scenes from the Dionysiac mysteries.
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Forum
House
of Menander
House
of the Faun
The
peristylium (partly rebuilt) still has its original marble decoration and
has been replanted. The kitchen still contains its cooking utensils.
Street
of Tombs (photo - left)
Villa
of the Mysteries
