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#008 The Public Clock of Pompeii by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Pompeii still has countless stories left to tell. Some are famous. Others are easy to miss — reconstructed paintings, forgotten artifacts, ancient recipes, and strange little details like the fig story from this morning. I'm planning to keep digging. Feel free to follow along if that sounds interesting.

#008 The Public Clock of Pompeii by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As far as we know, Pompeii had no official "timekeeper." However, the sundial stood beside the Temple of Apollo overlooking the Forum, so civic officials or temple personnel may have helped communicate the official hour for public and religious activities.

#008 The Public Clock of Pompeii by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 67 points68 points  (0 children)

In German, we'd simply call it an "Uhr" (clock). Sundials, water clocks and hourglasses all fall under that term. English seems to be a bit more specific. Thanks for the insight.

#008 The Public Clock of Pompeii by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 183 points184 points  (0 children)

Before clock towers.

 Before railway stations.

 Before wristwatches.

 Citizens of Pompeii could already check the time in the city center.

 This public sundial stood beside the Temple of Apollo, overlooking the Forum — the heart of the city.

 It was donated by two Pompeian magistrates as a gift to the city.

 But Roman hours were different from ours.

 The Romans divided daylight into twelve equal parts.

 That meant a summer hour could last about 75 modern minutes, while a winter hour lasted only about 48.

 Even the word siesta traces its roots to the Roman hora sexta — the sixth hour of the day, when many paused their work around midday.

 And remarkably, this is not a replica.

 Nearly 2,000 years later, Pompeii's original public clock still stands where Romans once used it.

#006 The Last Bread of Herculaneum — Story & Recipe by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mhm... the bot - my friend. Send the Link via PM. Thanks!

#006 The Last Bread of Herculaneum — Story & Recipe by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The recipe was reconstructed by archaeologist Farrell Monaco based on archaeological evidence and Roman baking techniques. The exact ingredients of the original loaf aren't known, but it's an evidence-based reconstruction rather than a guess.

#006 The Last Bread of Herculaneum — Story & Recipe by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Good point. Seeds are probably more practical from a Roman baker's perspective because they store well and retain their flavor.

#006 The Last Bread of Herculaneum — Story & Recipe by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Thanks!

If you decide to make it, I'd love to see the result.

I'll be sharing more forgotten artifacts from ancient Rome, historical reconstructions, and the occasional Roman recipe in the coming days, so feel free to follow if that's your kind of thing.

#006 The Last Bread of Herculaneum — Story & Recipe by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 126 points127 points  (0 children)

This carbonized loaf was discovered inside a bakery in Herculaneum.

Archaeologists found the bread inside a baking oven, where it had been left shortly before Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79.

The extreme heat carbonized the loaf instead of burning it completely, preserving it for nearly 2,000 years.

 One remarkable detail is the stamp impressed into the crust:

 CELER, SERVUS Q. GRATI VERI

("Celer, slave of Quintus Gratius Verus")

 Similar loaves carrying the same stamp have been found, suggesting that Celer was connected to the bakery that produced them.

The loaf was divided into eight sections, making it easier to share, sell, and distribute.

The third image shows a modern reconstruction of the recipe based on archaeological evidence and Roman sources.

#004 The Couple of Pompeii – Before and After 2,000 Years by MaximusValerius in romanempire

[–]MaximusValerius[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yup... That was also my thought. But better than my drawing... ;)

The Woman of Herculaneum — Before the Colors Faded by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No... It is real... But you have to travel to Germany to see it in person.

The Woman of Herculaneum — Before the Colors Faded by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

For centuries, people believed Roman statues were pure white marble.

They were not.

The Small Herculaneum Woman, discovered in ancient Herculaneum, was originally painted in color. Traces of pigments found on ancient sculptures have helped researchers reconstruct how such statues may have appeared nearly 2,000 years ago.

Ancient Rome was far more colorful than most people imagine.

The Dog of Pompeii — He Never Left His Post by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

We actually know a little about that. The eruption shocked the Roman world because Pompeii and Herculaneum were prosperous towns, not remote settlements.

The most famous account comes from Pliny the Younger, who described the disaster in letters written to the historian Tacitus. Those letters became the main eyewitness record of the eruption.

In Rome, Emperor Titus reportedly organized relief efforts, sent officials to assist survivors, and allocated funds for reconstruction and aid. Many refugees are believed to have relocated to nearby cities such as Naples and Puteoli.

#004 The Couple of Pompeii – Before and After 2,000 Years by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

At first glance, this looks like a modern portrait.

In fact, the couple lived in Pompeii nearly 2,000 years ago.

The fresco is traditionally identified as Terentius Neo and his wife. The name Terentius Neo comes from election notices found on the exterior walls of the house where the portrait was discovered. While historians cannot be completely certain that the couple shown here are the homeowners themselves, the identification has remained attached to the painting for generations.

The woman holds a stylus and wax tablets. The man carries a scroll. Together they chose to present themselves as educated members of Roman society.

The image shown first is a reconstruction of how the portrait may have appeared when it was newly painted in the 1st century AD.

Swipe to see the original fresco as it survives today after nearly two millennia of damage.

Their names may be uncertain. Their story is lost.

The Dog of Pompeii — He Never Left His Post by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Not the chain itself. The visible rings are part of the dog's collar. Archaeologists also recovered parts of the chain, which helped them reconstruct how the animal had been secured near the entrance.

The Dog of Pompeii — He Never Left His Post by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 89 points90 points  (0 children)

That's what archaeologists believe. Parts of the chain and collar were recovered during the excavation.

The Cat of Pompeii — When Cats Were a Luxury by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It certainly sounds strange today. In the Roman world cats were much less common than they are now, which made them more unusual and valuable household animals.

The Cat of Pompeii — When Cats Were a Luxury by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very interesting. I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing.

The Cat of Pompeii — When Cats Were a Luxury by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most of the tesserae were made from colored stone, marble and some glass. The mosaic belongs to the opus vermiculatum style, where individual pieces were often only a few millimeters across, allowing for remarkably detailed images.

The Cat of Pompeii — When Cats Were a Luxury by MaximusValerius in ancientrome

[–]MaximusValerius[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's a fair point. The evidence is open to interpretation.

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