Activity Sheet - Last Days of Pompeii
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Last Days of Pompeii ACTIVITY SHEET - LAST DAYS OF POMPEII INTRODUCTION The greatness of the Roman Empire was evident in its marvelous cities. Although Rome itself was the crown jewel of the Empire, there were other amazing cities that Romans loved to call home. Today, you will go through a day in Pompeii before the famous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. Wake up in an aristocratic home before journeying out into the city to take care of everyday chores in the market. Once your shopping is done, you will make your way to reflect on life at the Forum and visit the Temple of Isis before relaxing at the public baths. No day in Roman life is complete without a spectacular performance at the theatre and a bit of politics at the Basilica. This adventure in Pompeii will be your introduction to Roman life, before continuing to the heart of the Empire, Rome itself. The north east of Civil Forum at Pompeii, looking south. Last Days of Pompeii SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR THE POMPEII PLAYLIST SCENE 1: HOUSE OF THE FAUN HOW THE RICH LIVED: WAKING UP AT THE HOUSE OF THE FAUN FIGURE 1 The House of the Faun, so named from the statue of a dancing faun found in it, was among the largest and most elegant in Pompeii. You are the master/mistress of the house, and you find yourself in the main atrium of the home. The pool, called an 'impluvium', sits in the centre of the scene and in the middle rests a small, yet remarkable, statue. The striking colour of the floor, paved with small pieces of dark slate, formed an effective contrast against the white limestone edge and brilliant inner surface of the shallow impluvium. ACTIVITY Look at the plan of the house. Can you find where you are standing? Find the Faun; identify the capital on the doorway and on the second floor. QUESTIONS What purpose do you think the opening in the roof has? What type of capital is on the first floor? What is a faun? Last Days of Pompeii SCENE 2: BAKERY OF POPIDIUS PRISCUS DAILY LIFE: A MORNING VISIT TO THE BAKERY FIGURE 2 This bakery may have belonged to N. Popidius Priscus, who lived in the house next door. The business was most likely managed by one of his libertus (a freed slave). The consumption of bread became widespread among the Romans during the 2nd century BCE. Previously, flour was primarily used to prepare puls (a wheat paste). ACTIVITY Look at the plan of the bakery. Can you find where you are standing? Look at the tools used in the bakery; look at the bread, what is special about it? QUESTIONS Think about the things you can see in the bakery. What is the cylindrical tool in the center of the bakery called? What were the steps to make bread? What is special about this bread? Does it remind you of anything? How does this compare in size and decoration to the last place you were in? Last Days of Pompeii SCENE 3: FORUM - TEMPLE OF JUPITER DAILY LIFE: BUSINESS AT THE CIVIC FORUM FIGURE 3 The Civic Forum was the main square of ancient Pompeii, the center of political, commercial and religious life. You are standing in front of the Temple of Jupiter, transformed during the Imperial period into a Capitolium. ACTIVITY Look at the plan of the forum. Can you find where you are standing? Notice the different clothing of the characters (humans and statues) in the scene; trace the layout of the forum and take note of its shape and rooms. QUESTIONS How many horses are in the scene? Who do you think the statues were dedicated to? Who do you think the temple before you dedicated to? Last Days of Pompeii SCENE 4: TEMPLE OF ISIS PRIVATE RELIGION: A PRAYER AT THE TEMPLE OF ISIS FIGURE 4 The temple of Isis dates from the 2nd century BCE, and was dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, whose cult was widespread throughout the Roman Empire. The temple you are looking at was re-built by the freedman Numerius Popidius Ampliatus for his son Celsinus after the earthquake of 62 CE. ACTIVITY Look at the plan of the temple. Can you find where you are standing? How many people can you see in this scene? What are they doing? QUESTIONS Why do you think Egypt was so important to Rome? What is the triangle at the top of the temple called? Last Days of Pompeii SCENE 5: THE FORUM, AND STABIAN BATHS LEISURE ACTIVITIES: TEPIDARIUM AND FRIGIDARIUM FIGURE 5 After a light lunch, Romans would typically exercise and then enter the bathhouses. Enter first the tepidarium, where bathers could warm up a little before entering the caladium (hot room). Around the room you can see a number of niches bordered by telamones (male figures), in high relief, who are supporting a rich cornice. Next was the caldarium. Note, that the scene of the frigidarium takes place in a different bath complex, that of the Stabian Baths. ACTIVITY Look at the plan of the baths. Can you find where you are standing (tepidarium only)? Look at the parts of the rooms and consider how bathers would engage in social activity here. QUESTIONS What are the three main rooms of a Roman bath? What do the telamones in the scene do? What are the niches for? Last Days of Pompeii SCENE 6: GARDEN WITH THE SEA VIEW RELIGIOUS LIFE: A STROLL AT TRIANGULAR FORUM FIGURE 4 The “Triangular Forum” of Pompeii places you along the seaside on the southern end of the city, in a peculiarly shaped forum close to the city’s Large Theatre. Most forums are rectangular in shape but Pompeii had this specially designed forum with a mysterious temple in the centre. In fact, this temple was already centuries old at the time of the eruption. ACTIVITY Look at the plan of the forum. Can you find where you are standing? Look at the temple and its position in relation to the rest of the forum. Enjoy the seaside view and ponder why Romans colonized this area. QUESTIONS What is the mountain in the background? What is the name for the circular structure in the center of the forum. How would you describe this part of the city compared to other places you have been? Last Days of Pompeii SCENE 7: THEATRE - CAVEA ENTERTAINMENT: A TRAGIC PERFORMANCE AT THE THEATRE FIGURE 4 The Theatre at Pompeii is a proof of how, in at least one city in the region of Campania, dramatic representations of a high order were given. The Large Theatre was originally built into a natural hill at Pompeii in the 2nd century BCE, and was renovated at a later date. ACTIVITY Look at the plan of the theatre. Can you find where you are standing? Notice how the theatre is divided into different sections. Consider what function these divisions have. QUESTIONS How many parts are the seats of the theatre divided into? Can you name them? Last Days of Pompeii SCENE 8: BASILICA POLITICS: MEETING WITH ELITES AT THE BASILICA FIGURE 6 Those who come to the Basilica to engage in politics are at the heart of the governance of Rome’s Empire. At the centre of the forum where the Basilica is found, there was a colossal equestrian statue of Augustus. The pedestals within the portico hosted statues of the important citizens of Pompeii. These all serve as reminders of the status of those mighty individuals. ACTIVITY Look at the plan of the basilica. Can you find where you are standing? Observe the distribution of people, consider why people are gathering here and how this affects Roman politics QUESTIONS Who is the figure on horseback illustrated on the golden statue in the middle of the Forum. What was his connection to Roman history? Last Days of Pompeii SCENE 9: MAUSOLEUM OF SERVILIUS QUARTUS TRAVEL: MEETING ON THE VIA APPIA TO....ROME! The Via Appia (known as the queen of roads by the Romans) was a road that connected Rome to Brundisium, one of the most important ports of ancient Italy. Here you can see the Tomb of the libertus (freedman) Marcus Servilius Quartus, erected, as the inscription says, "at his own expense". ACTIVITY What do you think lines the road? DISCUSSION 1. What are some of the differences you discovered between aristocratic and plebeian life? 2. Name some of the public and some of the private spaces you encountered. 3. How did Romans relax? 4. What are the differences and similarities between Roman life and modern life? HOMEWORK 1. Write a story in the first person of your experience in the first person of your experience in Pompeii. Start with: “When I woke up that morning…”. Ask your teacher how much to write. 2. Tell your friends or parents the story about your day in Pompeii as if you were there. Write down any interesting comments or new things they learned. Last Days of Pompeii LESSON PLAN AND TEACHERS INSTRUCTIONS 50 - 60 MINUTE LESSON WITH OPTIONAL HOMEWORK TASKS; OR SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL OVER SEVERAL CLASSES WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF VR FOR THE ANCIENT WORLD This activity will introduce your students to the Roman world and Roman society in the Imperial period in a way that used to be impossible. Using an exciting new digital medium: 360 panoramas and virtual reality (optional), your students will travel back in time and gain a sense of what the ancient world looked like—with their own eyes! They will have the opportunity to imagine themselves as a contemporary ancient observer—an aristocrat— going through their day in Pompeii.