LARGE PALAESTRA - POMPEII

The Palaestra is situated in the eastern periphery of the city, near the Amphitheatre. It was created during the Augustan period, one of the projects of imperial propaganda which led to the founding of the ‘collegia iuvenum’, organizations of young people whose prime scope have been that of furthering sports but whose secondary scope was that of providing an atmosphere of adhesion to the principles of the new political ideology in which the future citizens would be formed. The palaestra of the ‘Iuventus Pompeiana’ occupies a vast area, 141 x 137 meter, and consists of a central space for gymnastic exercises, surrounded by a tall perimeter wall with ten monumental entrance gateways. Inside, on three sides, runs a portico of 118 columns in brick covered with stucco. Originally there were two rows of plane trees, of which the impression of the roots still exist. At the centre of the courtyard was a large swimming pool from one m. to two m. in depth. A room preceded by two columns off the south-west side, with the base for a statue near the back wall. This was probably the space dedicated to the cult of Augustus, patron of the ‘collegia’. A large latrine was on the southeast side. The Palaestra had been heavily damaged in the earthquake of A.D. 62 and was still being restored when the eruption of A.D. 79 took place.

 

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Leaving the Forum now and heading along Via del Foro to the corner of Via della Fortuna, we find the Temple of Fortuna Augusta built at the expense of Marcus Tullius, a relative of the famous orator Cicero. This benefactor, an eminent citizen of Pompeii and twice Duumvir in the Augustan age, even went so far as to create the position of minister of the cult. The temple consequently acquired a political connotation, which was spread through the diffusion of the imperial cult. Hence whenever a new emperor succeeded to the throne, the ministers immediately had a statue build and placed in the temple along with a stone slab to commemorate the event. This fairly small bu ... continue

(Apic. 2, 4) Ingredients:

• 1 duck
• 25 g pine nuts
• 2 big dates
• ground pepper
• 1 tblsp privet
• 1 tblsp cumin
• 1 tblsp dry coriander
• 1 tblsp dry mint
• 1 tblsp oregano
• 1 tblsp ground mustard
• 1 tblsp oil
• 1 tblsp honey
• Liquamen or 3 tblsp soya sauce
• 3 tsp anchovy paste
• 1 glass wine (Marsala)
• 1 tsp vinegar
• salt

Instructions:
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Cut in part the duck cutting off fat and bones. Put in a large and low c ... 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.