
This book presents translations of a wide selection of written records which survived the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, giving a vivid impression of what life was like in the town. From the labels on wine jars to scribbled insults, & from advertisements for gladiatorial contests to love poetry, the individual chapters explore the early history of Pompeii, its destruction, leisure pursuits, politics, commerce & religion, plus early reports of its excavation. Information about the city from authors based in Rome is included, & the great majority of sources come from the city itself, written by its ordinary inhabitants
- men & women, citizens & slaves. With helpful introductions, notes & illustrations, this Sourcebook will appeal to anyone with an interest in Pompeii & in daily life in Roman times. It is also designed to be directly relevant to those studying the Romans in translation, at school or university level.