Geography of Pompeii

In my blog, I am aiming to discuss the geography of Pompeii, centring the town around the time of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD and the effect this had on the town, and indeed our understanding of Roman society today. Today I will be discussing briefly the early history of Pompeii and the factors which influenced settlement in this area, and how Pompeii became an industrious Roman colony; thus impacting it's infrastructure and rich architecture.


Located in the Campania region of Italy, close to modern-day Naples, Pompeii was originally founded by the Osci in 6th century BC. The site provided it's inhabitants with fertile volcanic land and a fresh source of water from the River Sarno. Much of Pompeii's early history remains uneventful until 89BC and the Siege of Sulla. This paved the way for Pompeii to become a Roman colony in 80BC.
From this crucial point in the history of the town, Pompeii then became a main trading point for many Roman goods, linking both Rome and much of Africa as well as becoming an important stop along the Appian Way. For obvious reasons, the establishment of Pompeii as a main trading port coincided with the most fruitful period the town had ever experienced in terms of trade and agriculture. Nearby sailors would often stop and rest at the nearby Thermopolium, a form of inn, which would thus feed the thriving economy further. This profitable period the town was experiencing led to many of the towns inhabitants ignoring the warning signs that were conveyed from the stirring Vesuvius.