MUNICIPAL BUILDING - POMPEII

Three almost identical buildings situated on the southern side of the Forum were the seat of the town’s municipal offices. The most important of these were the office of the Duumviri, the highest authority in the town, the office of the Aediles, who were responsible for public work and maintenance of town building, the Council of Decurions, who acted as town councillors, and the municipal archives. While archaeologists are certain of the general function of the complex, opinion is divided on the actual use of the individual building. The first on the right, in the corner where the Basilica stands, was probably the Curia, seat of the Ordo Decurionum or town council. This building still preserves its marble floor and has an apse on the far wall, while the side walls have three rectangular niches where honorary statues of emperors or eminent citizens of Pompeii once stood. The central building was probably the office of the Duumviri, although some scholars think they may have been the seat of the Council of Decurions. An unusual feature can be seen in the small columns marking out the presence of a podium on which stood wooden cabinets housing administrative files and archives. Finally, the third building has been attributed as the Office of Aediles.

 

Why do not you arrange with us an amazing day in the Gulf of Naples - a private tour (just for you) with a comfortable limousine or minivan with driver and an English-speaking tour guide? We have organized for you a great guided tour to Naples-Pompeii-Sorrento-Amalfi Coast (Positano). Contact us by e-mail info@pompeii.org.uk for further info.

This is the only building in Pompeii which was originally built as a laundry and fuller’s workshop; the three other establishments of this kind were restructured residential buildings. The fuller’s workshop provided services to numerous clothiers, wool makers and tailors working in the town. According to the electoral slogans painted on the façade (“the united fullers recommend… Stephanus recommends’), the establishment has been attributed to a certain Stephanus. A press used to fold cloth was placed against the left wall of the large entrance hall. Past the entrance hall, we enter an atrium with a flat roof which served as a terrace to hang out the washing. Finer c ... continue

(Apic. 8, 1, 9) Ingredients:

• Large joint of Boar
• pinch of black peppercorns
• large pinch of lovage
• large pinch of celery leaves
• large pinch of rue
• pinch of cumin seeds
• pinch of fennel seeds
• pinch of origany
• 1 garlic
• Liquamen (or salt)
• 150 ml passum (or, in this case, pork or chicken stock)
• 100 ml red wine
• 1 tbsp honey
• Starch

Instructions:
-------------
Roast the boar (2 hours for kilo) in oven 180° C. Meanwhile, place all ... continue

Love was a common topic of conversation in Pompeii. Feelings, passions, poetic love, sex, homosexuality, prostitution and so forth were all part of daily life and not a source of prejudice. The concept of “obscenity” seems to have been unknown. Love and sex were considered earthly practices of a man’s life that were encouraged by the benevolence of Venus. The thousands of examples of graffiti found on the town’s walls are unequivocal proof of what the people of Pompeii thought about love and sex.