Pompeii

Pompeii provides special insight into daily life in the Roman Empire because, not
only did it survive important infrastructure such as temples, amphitheaters as in
most Roman cities, but it also survived suburbs, residences, popular spaces, and
service providers such as bakeries, thermophiles , enafolios. This gives us some
contributions that help us to see Roman architecture in a different way:
-All the city tells us about the economic, social and cultural phenomena that
occurred at that time.
-The fact of the Entertainment District is articulated with the residential area and
the forum. Through important roads that connect the entire city, this makes us
know that life takes place mainly in the city center.
-The Frigidarium of the Stabian baths for being a new typology of plant different
from the rigid rectangles in Roman plants, and that gives us an understanding of
an architecture more concerned with space and light management.
-The residential buildings of the city of Pompeii are almost intact examples, which
help us to understand the evolution of the Roman Domus.
The life of the Romans in their cities makes us think that our reality in our cities is
not far from theirs, that despite the great differences in time we are not very
different.

In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted explosively, burying Pompeii under a crust of volcanic ash.
For the next seventeen centuries, the city would remain preserved, sealed in a time capsule.

Aside from the daily bathing ritual, the spectacles of the amphitheatre were the most popular
form of entertainment in Pompeii. It was built sometime after 80 BC, making it the oldest known
example of its kind in the Roman world. Spectacles took place in the arena of the amphitheatre
and often few days.

Their residents were knowledgeable about all the latest fashion and beauty trends from Rome
and beyond. The Roman beauty ideal was a white face, bright red lips and very dark eyes.
Lipstick was made from ochre or molluscs, and eyeliner from soot or antimony powder. Mirrors
made from highly polished bronze or silver were, of course, essential items in the wealthy
woman’s beauty kit.

In today’s houses, the kitchen tends to be a central feature, often used for eating and gathering
with friends as well as cooking. In contrast, Roman kitchens were small, poorly lit rooms,
usually tucked away at the back of the house. The only other furnishings in the Pompeian
kitchen were a basin to hold water for cooking and washing up, and sometimes supports for
tables to prepare the food.

Roman cuisine was also decidedly simple: food of all sorts was usually boiled, smoked, fried or
baked and either seasoned with fish sauce or wine reduced to a thick syrup and thickened with
starch.
Due to modern-day excavations, technology, and improved methods of preservation and
restoration we have come to learn much about the architecture of Pompeii and how it reflects
daily life in ancient Rome. Pompeii was a bustling city. People both lived and worked very
close to one another. Many homes and businesses were combined into one unit, often with
open cellae situated on either side of the fauces and used as tabarnae either rented to
shopkeepers or used by owners to generate or supplement income. We find examples of this
often in the Domus Italica floor plan. It was common to conduct business within the home.
Homeowners employed various clever methods to build and decorate the interiors for their
aesthetic pleasure and to project an air of elegance and wealth to impress their various guests.
This extravagance can be illustrated by studying the House of the Faun.
The general construction of the domī was very conducive to daily life during those times. Domī
included compluvia and impluvia in their construction to conveniently gather water for daily
use. The House of the Vettii having two each. There were also many public fountains
constructed where citizens could gather as much water as needed, as often as needed. As the
population grew second stories were added atop buildings as apartments.
In conclusion, it's plain to see that although architectural styling may be different from that of
today, ancient architectural goals were just as geared towards daily convenience, practicality,
and influence as they are now.