Wednesday 2 December

10 AM PST
1 PM EST
6 PM GMT
7 PM CET

With Dr. Eireann Marshall

Much of what we know about everyday life in the Roman period comes from the Vesuvian cities which have preserved precious clues that have not survived elsewhere. Analysis of skeletal remains and of the Herculaneum sewage allow us to get an idea of the kinds of diseases people in the Roman period had, as well as their diet. In addition, the layout of the cities provides invaluable evidence for urban logistics, such as traffic control, the management of water and the collection of sewage. Likewise, much of what we know much about bathing, gambling, and gladiatorial games in the Roman world comes from the Vesuvian cities, which provide evidence ranging from the balls preserved in the Stabian baths to the riots which broke out in the Pompeiian amphitheatre.

Walking down the streets of Pompeii, one cannot help being struck by the number of bakeries and taverns, or thermopolia, which the city hosted, giving us an unmistakable impression that people didn’t cook for themselves. Walking in the houses of those who died in the eruptions give us unique glimpses into the lives of the elites, including their dinner parties and patronage of freedmen. This lecture takes you down the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum to see what living in the Roman period was like.