Ancient History is all about using sources, which can make finding Pompeii and Herculaneum sources for the core study stressful.
Most of the information you write in the exam should be backed up by a good source. But what do you do when you feel like you’ve got a load of information but no sources to back it up with?
Well, fear not! We’ve got you covered with a list of Pompeii and Herculaneum sources and quotations for you to ace your exams.
Let’s dive in!
The Pompeii and Herculaneum Sources
Geographical Setting and Natural Resources
Quote: “[Campania is] one of the loveliest places on earth”
Source: Pliny the Elder (Ancient Historian)
Quote: “[Campania has] an abundance of corn, vines and olives, splendid fleeces produced by its sheep”
Source: Pliny the Elder (Ancient Historian)
Source: Fresco depicting Bacchus on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius
Location: Pompeii
The Eruption
Quote: “A cloud of extraordinary size appeared”
Source: Pliny the Younger (Ancient Historian)
Quote: “Rain of pumice stones”
Source: Pliny the Younger (Ancient Historian)
Quote:“Earth shocks became so violent”
Source: Pliny the Younger (Ancient Historian)
Quote: “Soon the cloud began to descend upon the earth and cover the sea”
Source: Pliny the Younger (Ancient Historian)
Quote: “The walls of the house were swaying with violent shocks.”
Source: Pliny the Younger (Ancient Historian)
Public and Private Buildings
Quote: “The clever orientation of porticoes, dining rooms and bedrooms… shows that Roman aristocrats consciously included nature in their designs… This takes the Hellenistic approach to an extreme”
Source: Paul Zanker (Contemporary Historian)
Source: Impluvium in the atrium of a house
Location: House of Menander, Pompeii
Source: The Forum
Location: Pompeii
Source: Collegium of Augustales
Location: Herculaneum
The Economy
Source: The exporting of Garum is evidenced by vessels found across the Mediterranean bearing the inscription “from the workshop of Scaurus,” a Pompeiian garum producer.
Source: Wine press
Location: Villa of Mysteries, Pompeii
Source: Fuller’s basin in the impluvium of a house
Location: House of the Fullery, Pompeii
Source: Thermopolium
Location: Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus
Source: Remains of fish and bones, fruit and cereal, and centre area which housed a fish tank, fountain and workbench.
Location: The Macellum, Pompeii
Source: Herbs and spices found in sewerage waste, including black peppercorns, suggests far reaching famine.
Location: Herculaneum
Quote: “Come to the sign of the bowls [for] half a dozen types of wine”
Source: Herculaneum tavern sign
Source: Popidius Priscus’ bakery in Pompeii (containing 81 loaves of bread in an oven) and Sextus Felix’s bakery in Herculaneum (containing 25 bronze baking dishes).
Slaves
Quote:“Poppaea Note, a freed woman of Priscus… had slaves of her own”
Source: Pamela Bradley (Contemporary Historian)
Source: Bracelet engraved with “From a master to his slave girl”
Location: Pompeii
Women
Quote: “Women could own property, do business, pay for construction, hold honorific and cultic office, and go about in public”
Source: Elaine Fantham (Contemporary Historian)
Source: House of Julia Felix
Location: Pompeii
Leisure Activities
Source: Palaestra. Excavations uncovered a pile of 2.2kg round stones used for throwing contest.
Location: Herculaneum
Source: Bronze gladiator’s helmet
Location: Pompeii
Source: Terracotta theatrical mask
Location:House of Neptune Mosaic, Herculaneum
Baths
Quote: “A visit to the baths was a regular social event”
Source: Brian Brennan (Contemporary Historian)
Source: Men’s changing room at the Forum baths
Location: Herculaneum
Water Supply
Quote: “Herculaneum carried rainwater and waste out to sea via an excellent drainage system”
Source: Brian Brennan (Contemporary Historian)
Source: Public water fountain
Location: 1 of 42 excavated at Pompeii
Religion
Source: Lararium
Location: House of Vettii, Pompeii
Quote: “The large number of such shrines indicated widespread religious practices among the inhabitants of Pompeii as a whole”
Source: Alison Cooley (Contemporary Historian)
Source: Temple of Isis
Location: Pompeii
Source: Bronze statue of Apollo
Location: Temple of Apollo, Pompeii
Source: Marble sacrificial altar
Location: Temple of Vespasian, Pompeii
That rounds off our list of top Pompeii and Herculaneum sources for HSC Ancient History!
Other Ancient History Resources
If you’re on the hunt for more resources to help you study for HSC Ancient History, we’ve got you! Check these guides and practice questions out:
- HSC Ancient History Pompeii and Herculaneum Practice Questions
- The Ultimate Guide to Writing Your Own HSC Ancient History Practice Questions
- How to Write Effective HSC Ancient History Study Notes
- The Master List of HSC Ancient History Past Papers
- How To Ace Your HSC Ancient History Extended Response
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