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4.2

4.2.1 Politics and trade
4.2.2 Support for Vatia
4.2.3 Negative campaigning

4.2.1 Politics and trade

Historical background

Painted on walls all over Pompeii are more than 2,500 painted notices supporting candidates in Pompeii’s local elections. These are called programmata and are found on the outside walls of houses and public buildings, along major roads and at busy junctions, inside buildings, and even on tombs! The candidate’s name was usually written in larger lettering than the rest of the message. Programmata were painted by professionals on behalf of a range of different people in society; the supporter(s) who commissioned the ‘poster’ are usually identified in the body of the message. There are examples of programmata created on behalf of men, women and even slaves; however only the free men could actually vote!

Evidence

Many notices identify individuals or groups as a candidate’s supporters. The most common kind of endorsement is that from a group of tradespeople, examples include chicken-keepers, mule-drivers, carpenters, bread-bakers and grape-pickers. The real Amarantus declared his support for Quintus Postumius Proculus on the front wall of his bar.

Here you can also see a picture of numerous programmata on the front of the laundry (fullery) of Stephanus. In the one picked out and translated the laundry workers (fullers) are endorsing a candidate for duumvir.

4.2.2 Support for Vatia

Historical background

Painted on walls all over Pompeii are more than 2,500 painted notices supporting candidates in Pompeii’s local elections. These are called programmata and are found on the outside walls of houses and public buildings, along major roads and at busy junctions, inside buildings, and even on tombs! The candidate’s name was usually written in larger lettering than the rest of the message. Programmata were painted by professionals on behalf of a range of different people in society; the supporter(s) who commissioned the ‘poster’ are usually identified in the body of the message. There are examples of programmata created on behalf of men, women and even slaves; however only the free men could actually vote!

Evidence

We have several examples of programmata relating to Marcus Cerrinius Vatia when he stood for aedile, including one apparently written on behalf of Vatia himself!

In addition to groups of tradespeople, a group from a certain area or neighbourhood might support a candidate. We can see here that the 'Salinienses' – those ‘around the Salt Gate’ (Herculaneum Gate today) – endorsed Vatia.

Most notices are the work of the same specialist sign writers who produced signs for games. They worked in teams at night; one man might prepare the whitewash background whilst another did the actual lettering. Sometimes they signed their work or added their support to the candidate. In these examples the sign writers give their names as Florus, Fructus, Infantio and Sabinus.

4.2.3 Negative campaigning

Historical background

Painted on walls all over Pompeii are more than 2,500 painted notices supporting candidates in Pompeii’s local elections. These are called programmata and are found on the outside walls of houses and public buildings, along major roads and at busy junctions, inside buildings, and even on tombs! The candidate’s name was usually written in larger lettering than the rest of the message. Programmata were painted by professionals on behalf of a range of different people in society; the supporter(s) who commissioned the ‘poster’ are usually identified in the body of the message. There are examples of programmata created on behalf of men, women and even slaves; however only the free men could actually vote!

Evidence

Whilst most notices recommend a particular person for election, some seem designed to harm a candidate’s chances.

In these notices – found clustered together on one stretch of the ‘Street of the Augustales’ – Vatia is the subject of some funny, negative campaigning. They are a play on the more usual endorsement by a certain named group of people such as a trade or neighbourhood.

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