CALDERÓN, M.; ESPAÑA-CHAMORRO, S. & BENITO, E.A. (eds.) (2016) Estudios Arqueológicos del Área Vesubiana II. Oxford. (original) (raw)
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ONLY INDEX These archaeological studies offer to provide an alternative tour through Vesuvian cities. One way to see Pompeii, for example, is via its hydraulic systems, from the higher parts to waterlogged landfills at the mouth of Sarno. They invite you to walk the streets amidst the traces of regulation issued in municipal law and the free initiative of those who built and maintained the sidewalks. The graffiti and paintings allow us to take a tour specially designed to understand the tastes and devotions of the inhabitants of the Vesuvian cities. Thus, disparate themes researched separately may be presented here as a coherent work that initiates the visitor into Vesuvian studies. Each author gives us a particular tour of the specifics of the cities and villages of the Vesuvian area, its story, furniture, findings and the research process that has been developed over many years.
Gerión, 2017
Este libro está dedicado a las actas del primer congreso de Estudios Pompeyanos en Madrid, bajo el amparo del proyecto Pompeya que disfrutó la Universidad Complu-tense de Madrid entre 2002 y 2013. Con él se pretendía ofrecer un amplio marco de estudio a la ciudad de Pompeya desde un plano historiográfico y arqueológico. El Prólogo corre a cargo del que fue el director del proyecto, el ya jubilado profesor J. Mª Luzón Nogué, que nos ofrece un alegato a favor de la cotidianeidad de Pompeya. Nos presenta el volumen no como una guía del lugar en castellano, sino como una visión de la ciudad desde las investigaciones centradas en nuevos aspectos, que son detallados en cada capítulo. Las aportaciones de los investigadores noveles están agrupadas en torno a la Historiografía y los estudios de arqueología. El bloque de Historiografía lo inauguran S. España Chamorro y J. González Ló-pez con el título "Oplontis y Estabia en su perspectiva histórica". En primer lugar Oplontis, el barrio suburbano de Pompeya que es Patrimonio de la humanidad desde 1997, pero que no fue puesto en valor hasta 2006 cuando, bajo el Proyecto Oplontis, se realizaron estudios de 3D y palinología. El mismo olvido podemos asociar con Estabia, ciudad formada por varios núcleos de origen osco y de importante valor comercial, hasta el periodo comprendido entre 1998-2014, cuando se inaugura el master plan, que proyecta convertir el yacimiento en una escuela arqueológica. Mª J. Calvo Martín nos habla de "Las villas marítimas de Estabia". Se han exca-vado 9 complejos residenciales situados en terrazas que han dado a la luz todo tipo de lujos en bienes muebles e inmuebles. Estas villas de recreo eran usadas por los patricios para su descanso y para hacer contactos políticos con las elites locales. El paso a una investigación sistemática llega en el 2002, cuando se aprueba el Restoring Ancient Stabiae con la finalidad de inaugurar un parque arqueológico. D. Cogollo García presenta el tema "Libero D'Orsi y el "redescubrimiento" de Stabia" que trata de revalorizar la figura del profesor de instituto y director de Cas-tellammare di Stabia. Entre 1950 y 1962 excavó en Estabia, terreno yermo desde las excavaciones borbónicas. Erudito local interesado en la arqueología, consiguió per-misos para excavar y saca a la luz 10 villas, entre las que se encuentran Villa Ariad-na, Villa Petraro, Villa Carmiano y Villa del Pastor. También consigue abrir tempo-ralmente un museo, el Antiquarium donde se exhiben las piezas. El artículo también trata sobre la Asociación arqueológica pro Stabia, creada con gente local con un mínimo de conocimiento para intentar sufragar los gastos de las excavaciones. R. Montoya González, con el tema de "Herculano y Pompeya: historia de las ex-cavaciones desde el siglo XVIII hasta la actualidad", defiende cómo la historia de las dos ciudades va ligada desde el primer momento. Herculano fue descubierta en 1738
When one thinks of the so-called “vesuvian archaeology”, the first image is always the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. In the best way, Oplontis could be added to this list but mainly, it is the most overlooked. Even the declaration of the World Heritage site, UNESCO (With the official name: Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata” (Ref. Nº 829) 1-6 December 1997), only affects the archaeological sites of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata (Oplontis) while Stabiae is no longer considered today. In the case of Stabiae, its chronology goes back to the VII century BC. Its history is older than other settlements as Pompeii and Herculaneum and it brings us very useful archaeological information of the protohistoric situation in the Sarno plain. Previous investigations to the Borbonic excavations were carried through Tommasso Milante. He was interested in the area on account of the archaeological remains appeared in the hills of Varano and Gragnano. He pointed out the identification of this area with the ancient city of Stabiae. But the start date of the Borbonic excavation was a couple of years later. In 1749, Roque Joaquin de Alcubierre, a Spanish military engineer, directed the labours of digging and swiftly discovered important archaeological remains. This Borbonic excavation in the ancient Stabiae happened through phases of interest and abandonment (around 30 years). After the death of Alcubierre in 1780 the excavation was abandoned until 1950. In this time, in around 1881, only Michele Ruggiero was interested in the history of excavation at Stabiae in a documentary way. Between 1950 and 1862, Libero D’Orsi took the baton of the Stabiae archaeological history. He worked to bring the Stabian village to light. After him, an abandonment period occurred again (excluding any occasional intervention). In 1998 until present, the RAS project initiated a new period for Stabiae focusing on academic research and touristic promotion. Compared to that, the history of Oplontis is more much limited. If Stabiae was a city, the Oplontis archaeological site is just a three (documented) village. Just two of them have been excavated. The so-called village A was discovered in the XVI century but it was not partially excavated until XIX century. In XX century, village A and B were more sternly excavated. Currently, this settlement is involved in a recovery project named the “Oplontis Project”. It started in 2006 and is developing new documental and archaeological researches of the villae.
In Pompeii traces of worship of three triads have been found: one of them relates to Hercules, Bacchus and Venus. Devotion for represent the Dionysiac is visible through the gardens of the Pompeian domus, the most representative environment associated with Dionysus, because the naturalism and growth are elements, among others, that related to Pompeian people with the God; sometimes, the correspondence between the room and the divinity was achieved by masks and garlands that decorated columns and stucco and, even, statuettes of animals. The garden represented a place of rest, refuge and salvation in the Antiquity; it was a room into the domus that stimulated the connection between the religious conception and primitive naturalism. For example, the House of the Vettii (VI.15.1) summarises very well what was explained above. However, mural painting of interior of the houses is exactly the best way to convey the Dionysian taste: the union of Dionysus and Ariadne, their history and myth were widely covered in the walls of the Pompeian domus (as is known, the abandonment of the the girl by Theseus and the subsequent discovery of the youth by the God). There is also an abundance of iconography of the couple with their respective attributes. Of course, representations of Dionysus like sovereign and triumphant God are evident, as it can be seen in the famous mosaic of Dionysus child on beast found in the House of the Faun (VI.12.2). It is common to find frescos with his entourage and his faithful companions: for instance, in the houses of Lucrezio Frontone (V.4a) and Gavius Rufus (VII.2.16-17). The lararios were also appropriate places to recreate the Dionysian atmosphere, because Lar was introduced in the cortege of the God, as it can be seen in the Caupona of Lucius Vetutius Placidus (I.8.9) or in the House of the Centenary (IX.8.3). The oscilla, given their propitiatory intentions for festivals or planting and harvest time, were a sculptural way by which the divinity also represented; like pinakes of marble, that represented theatrical masks and Dionysus himself, subtle indicators that the festive mood inherent divinity was present in the daily lives of Pompeian people. Even in the temple of the goddess Isis (VIII.7.28), the guarantee testimony of oriental cult in Pompeii, there was also Dionysian presence, which should not be surprising, on the other hand, because there is an identification of Dionysus with the Egyptian God Osiris. Without any doubt, the two clearest manifestations of the Dionysism was developed in Pompeii are the temple of the deity, was built around the third century BC, outside the city walls, and the famous frescos from the Villa of the Mysteries, some paintings that appear to narrate the initiation of one (or two) women in the Bacchic Mysteries. However, if Bacchanalia were forbidden in Rome and Campania in 168 BC and the frescs of the Mysteries have been dated around 60-50 BC, are fully accepted the Consult Senate de Bacchanalibus? Was, therefore, the cult of Dionysus settled and forgotten?
In ancient Roman cities, sidewalks (crepidines or semitae) provide valuable information about the delimitation of public spaces and private spaces within the Roman urbanism and civilization. This study presents an analysis of the sidewalks in Pompeii and describes their role in the urban life and organization. Specific legislation was aimed at regulating the dimensions of sidewalks, which varied in proportion with the dimensions of the streets and their position within the city. Legislation also regulated the constructing practices and the conduct of people to whom construction and maintenance of sidewalks were assigned as self-managed tasks. When a sidewalk was located in front of the doorway of a private building (e.g. a domus), construction and maintenance were assigned to the owner of that building. As a consequence, the owner of the building acquired a right of possession of the area covered by the sidewalk. However, sidewalks were subjected to public use, since pedestrian were allowed to walk on them. The outermost limit of a sidewalk area was demarcated by boundary stones (termini), hence the sidewalk was built between the wall of the building and the termini, whose location and features were also regulated by specific legislation. A description of the termini of Pompeii is provided in this study. No construction was normally allowed over a sidewalk. Nevertheless, the legislation regulating sidewalks was occasionally broken and consequently the building practices and the use of sidewalks could present some anomalies. In fact, in Pompeii private buildings sometimes obstructed the passageway on the sidewalks. A variety of constructions occupying sidewalks can be observed in Pompeii, e.g. fountains or means of access to private buildings like stairways or ramps, which normally were not authorized. These anomalies can be explained as specific circumstances related to individual needs or permissions. In some cases, the characteristics of sidewalks as well as the architecture of the bordering buildings present some particularities in Pompeii. For instance, we can observe private buildings presenting outstanding entrances that indicate the high social status of the owners. When a sidewalk bordered a public building, its construction was assigned to the authority of a magistrate. Some buildings were not bordered by sidewalks, but constructions having different purposes can be observed instead, e.g. drainage systems for stormwater. Corbels can be also observed jutting from the walls of buildings to carry superincumbent balconies, passageways or other interior spaces. Differently from the above-mentioned anomalies, these constructions did not obstruct sidewalks; hence they did not constitute violations of rules. This study provides a detailed description of the anomalies and particularities of sidewalks which can be observed in Pompeii, as well as some considerations about the circumstances from which these anomalies and particularities could originate. Finally, this study provides a characterization of some colonnades over sidewalks presenting the structure of a portico. This architectonic element, which in fact is rather unusual in Pompeii, was widely present in eastern Roman cities and started to spread in the western cities at the beginning of the 1st century AD. By setting the limits of private and public spaces, sidewalks represented a buffer zone between the private rights and the public use in ancient Rome cities. The termini were structural components of sidewalks and thus constituted essential factors implementing the role that sidewalks played within the urban life.
The urbanistic structure of the ancient Roman cities displayed delimitations between public and private spaces. These delimitations were marked by termini, specific stone elements located along the border lines of public structures, e.g. pavements, fountains or tombs. The termini were sacred and untouchable, and they were considered as a real representation of the god Terminus. Specific legislation prohibited private constructions from overpassing the delimitation lines which were determined by the termini, and sanctions were imposed against whom moved any terminus. Within the municipal affairs, specific legislation was dedicated to the intrusions of private buildings into public spaces (loca publica) and specific procedures were carried out to prove that an individual was guilty of intrusion. These cases of intrusion into public spaces were brought to court. Municipal administrative officers and the implicated individuals were called to court trials called controversia. During the trials, the emperor (or an imperial delegate) led a process in which the restitution of the occupied public space was made (restitutio terminorum). A surveyor took part in the trial as well, since plans or cartography were often necessary to restore the original delimitation of public spaces. The whole procedure carried out during the restitutio terminorum was transcribed on pedestals located next to the city gates. Pompeii is testimony of the sacred character of the termini. The buildings of some individuals in Pompeii occupied the public space by overpassing the border lines marked by these stones. In such cases, the law was violated and it was necessary to proceed with a restitutio terminorum. The authority in Pompeii resorted to the emperor’s intervention. A tribune was appointed as imperial delegate in Pompeii to solve the cases of intrusion of public spaces. His name was Titus Suedius Clemens. He was a distinguished Roman soldier: for his noteworthy military service supporting the emperor Vespasian during the civil wars, the emperor Vespasian named him Tribunus Militum of the Praetorian Guard. The restoration of the legally-established order of the city and the recovery of the original urbanistic structure were among his tasks in Pompeii. Titus ordered the demolition of some private buildings which were invading public spaces. He also ordered the establishment next to the city gates of several pedestals displaying written information about the procedure of restitution terminorum which had been carried out to make restitution of the occupied public spaces. In this study we present an example of intrusion of private buildings into public spaces in Pompeii. We describe how the restoration of the original delimitation of spaces was accomplished under the supervision of the emperor’s delegate Titus Suedius Clemens, who followed the guidelines of the Vespasian’s plan of city restoration which was carried out in those times throughout the Roman Empire.
2020
The monograph collects the contributions made at the International Congress of Public Spas of Hispania, held in Murcia in April 2018. The work gathers and analyzes in a systematic way all the information on public baths in the Iberian Peninsula, without a doubt one of the elements that best contribute to the knowledge of the Romanization process of Hispania. Its essential objective is to update the existing archaeological information on the urban public thermal complexes of Roman Hispania. The discovery of new thermal complexes in the last fifteen years, the reviews of other old acquaintances and the novelties contributed by the development of Urban Archeology in Spain and Portugal, have allowed us to propose new perspectives and synthesis of the argument. The work consists of two well individualized blocks. The first begins with a study by Maura Medri (Università degli Studi Roma Tre) dedicated to Ostia Antica and the proposal of a theoretical and conceptual model for the study of urban public baths in Roman times, and consists of several studies of a general nature and transversal on the Hispano-Roman urban thermal reality (origin, typology, urbanism, evergetism, decoration, supply and evacuation of water, historiographic balance ...). The second is organized following the criteria of the Hispanic provincial order and consists of a synthesis for each of the three Augustan provinces and various works where news and new data on various public thermal complexes, which have been found, are presented and discussed. or recently reinterpreted. With this monograph, the territory of the Iberian Peninsula becomes one of the regions of the Mediterranean basin where the argument of the Roman public baths is better known from the archaeological point of view.