Pompei

Pompei lies approximately 30 meters above sea level and controlled the area of the Sarno river valley and the nearby coastal port in the estuary. The first city walls were built early in the 6th century B.C. These walls were fortified in later years. The city was developed by Greeks and Etruscans in the 6th century B.C, before the local region around Vesuevius called Campania, was conquered at the end of the 5th century B.C. by the Samnites. The Samnites originated from the mountainous region of Sannio and Irpinia.

The city of Pompei expanded rapidly whilst under Samnite control, however the Roman state needed room for expansion and it conquered the entire region of Campania between 343 and 290 B.C. After the Roman victory, the Campania region and the city of Pompei and was classed as an ally of Rome though it retained some autonomy, however its citiziens did not enjoy the full rights of Roman citizenship and the city rebelled againgst Rome is 90-89 B.C. along with other Campanian towns and cities. Rome responded and Pompei was besieged and eventually defeated in 80 B.C. under the command of Pùblius Còrnelius Sùlla. Pompei became a full Roman colony called Còrnelia Venèria Pompeianòrum in 80 B.C. Pompei prospered as a Roman colony and many grand public and private buildings were constructed, especially under the Roman Emporors Augustus and Tiberius during the period from 27 B.C. to 37 A.D.

An earthquake struck the region in 62 A.D. and much damage was sustained by Pompei. The reconstruction of Pompei was not fully completed by the time that Vesuvius erupted 17 years later on the 24th August 79 A.D. The city of Pompei became totally engulfed and preserved with ash and the city lay undisturbed until it's rediscovery at some time in the 16th century. Pompei is one of the earliest ever archealogical excavations, starting as early as 1748 and has continueing under various administrations intermittently right through to the present day, even through periods of war and the French occupation of the Napoleonic era.

The archeological area of Pompei extends over 163 acres and is of enormous historical significance. 29 acres are open to the public and a total of 121 acres have been excavated. As Pompei is such a large site it was divided into several regions or sectors in 1858 by Giuseppe Fiorelli who was the director of excavations at that time. New buildings and houses have been discovered over a very long period of over 250 years. The houses and buildings were named by archaeologists as they were discovered. If you are considering visiting Pompeii whilst holidaying on the Neapolitan Riviera at Sorrento, Almafi or Ischia then we highly recommend that you check out the Sorrento Italy Travel Guide site. This site offers details of hotels in Sorrento, Almafi, Ischia and Capri.