Cities of Vesuvius

The Bay of Naples was an international cultural crossroads in antiquity. Prominent in Classical mythology and first colonized by the Greeks at Cumae and Neapolis, the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Baiae later flourished there, favored by the rich and powerful. We will study the history, arts, politics, religion, and commerce of these various cities, 800 BCE - 100 CE. Readings will include ancient authors in translation and secondary sources. The environment (geology, seismology) will receive special emphasis as it led to the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE, which doomed Pompeii and altered the landscape forever. 3 hrs. lect.