DEFENSIVE WALLS - POMPEII

Along the wide perimeter of the walls, still recognizable, opened no less than seven doors. Only of two we know the ancient denomination, but to the other has been ascribed a conventional name that express well their function and their placement in the general topography: Porta Marina Gate, Porta Ercolano Gate, Porta Vesuvio Gate, Porta di Nola Gate, Porta di Sarno Gate, Porta Nocera Gate and Porta di Stabia Gate. At the moment of the eruption the doors had lost their strategic or defensive role for let space to more wide and convenient doorway useful for commercial traffic and exaction of tribute. The eruption has crystallized them in a transformation that has never really happened
Porta Marina Gate is actually the most famous and frequented because from it is possible to enter in the archaeological area, but in the past it was not a very busy gate and so it was less monumental that others; but it gave rapid access to the civil and religious hearth of town: the Civil Forum.
Porta Ercolano Gate (the ancient Porta Saliniensis or 'Door of Salt') opened to Vesuvius slopes, Ercolano and to all villas and suburb of neapolitan gulf. The structure and the stucco covering, so similar to a private building, make it one of the most “modern” gate of the area.
Porta Vesuvio Gate at the moment of eruption was in complete remaking; situated at the end of the principal way, it was burdened by commercial traffic. Between Porta Ercolano Gate and Porta Vesuvio Gate there are three of the most imposing tower of the defensive walls: particularly the Tower XI of Via di Mercurio, where is possible to have a wonderful view on the town and the valley.
Porta di Nola Gate belong to the pre-roman age and is the most monumental, it’s typically defensive.
Porta di Stabia Gate, at least, is the oldest; from it was possible to arrive directly to the harbour of Pompei, on Sarno river. The paving so worn-out certify the intense traffic on that way.

 

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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. T ... continue

(Apic. 4, 2, 27) Ingredients:

• 1 whole firm-fleshed fish
• 200 ml fish stock
• 30 ml white wine reduced
• Liquamen to taste (or soya sauce)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 sliced leek
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• large pinch of black peppercorns
• 1 tsp lovage (or celery seeds)
• 1 tsp chopped fresh oregano
• 2 raw egg yolks
• twist of black pepper

Instructions:
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Fillet the fish and add these to a pot before topping with fish stock, wine, olive oil, liquam ... 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.