2.3 Evidence | Amarantus

2.3

Historical background Pompeii squeezed a lot into quite a small city; it was just over a kilometre long and half a kilometre wide. Its streets were laid out on a grid system, with main roads crossed by smaller roads to create blocks (insulae). Main roads might be wide and were probably very busy, but the backstreets can be narrow, winding and almost certainly far quieter. We refer to the streets by modern names, we do not know how the Romans referred to the roads. The main street is known as the Via dell’ Abbondanza (Street of Abundance) which ran east to west across the city. This main road borders the northern end of Amarantus’ insula. Roads were paved in stone with pavements alongside, and were lined with shops, houses and other businesses. Evidence In the picture you can see the crossroads of two main streets – Via dell’ Abbondanza and Via Stabiana – lined with many shops, and with a fountain and water tower. Water came in via an aqueduct from a spring 26 miles away. It was distributed via lead pipes which ran beneath the pavements to fourteen water towers usually built near crossroads. Water was forced up into lead tanks on these towers due to the pressure in the pipes. The fountains provided water to the businesses and households around them, and were probably good places to catch up with your neighbours.	Crossroads of two Via dell’ Abbondanza and Via Stabiana Public water fountain. Lead water pipes going along the pavement and up a wall

Historical background Pompeii squeezed a lot into quite a small city; it was just over a kilometre long and half a kilometre wide. Its streets were laid out on a grid system, with main roads crossed by smaller roads to create blocks (insulae). Main roads might be wide and were probably very busy, but the backstreets can be narrow, winding and almost certainly far quieter. We refer to the streets by modern names, we do not know how the Romans referred to the roads. The main street is known as the Via dell’ Abbondanza (Street of Abundance) which ran east to west across the city. This main road borders the northern end of Amarantus’ insula. Roads were paved in stone with pavements alongside, and were lined with shops, houses and other businesses. Evidence The forum had a network of drains but generally water flowed down the streets and out beyond the city walls. Raised ‘stepping stones’ provided people with a way across the road without getting their feet wet. There are also examples of small pieces of polished marble set in amongst the stone slabs in a road near the forum. Historians think these acted as ‘cats eyes’ to help people walking in the dark.	Stepping stones, raised curbs and ruts made by cart wheels Small pieces of reflective marble between the flagstones

Historical background Pompeii squeezed a lot into quite a small city; it was just over a kilometre long and half a kilometre wide. Its streets were laid out on a grid system, with main roads crossed by smaller roads to create blocks (insulae). Main roads might be wide and were probably very busy, but the backstreets can be narrow, winding and almost certainly far quieter. We refer to the streets by modern names, we do not know how the Romans referred to the roads. The main street is known as the Via dell’ Abbondanza (Street of Abundance) which ran east to west across the city. This main road borders the northern end of Amarantus’ insula. Roads were paved in stone with pavements alongside, and were lined with shops, houses and other businesses. Evidence Many main roads have ruts in them caused by the large volume of wheeled traffic passing along them. Goods for trade would have been moved around in carts pulled by oxen or mules. You can see a plaster cast of a cart wheel in the picture, the metal rim explains those ruts!	Ruts in the road Plaster cast of a cart wheel with metal rim