Kitchen utensils, counter top “stove,” and other dining ware left in tact from the Pompeii catastrophe
The Pompeii ruins preserve a snapshot of Roman life in 79 AD; houses, public buildings, temples, theaters, and urban infrastructure offer valuable insights into culture, art, and architecture in ancient Rome. What appeals to me most about Pompeii is the emotional layer behind this city’s catastrophic ending. The mosaics, sculptures, furniture, and other everyday objects preserved in the homes offer a comprehensive view of how people lived, what they valued, and how they spent their final moments. This physical reminder of despair and chaos contributes to the fascination and sense of connection I feel for the ancient residents whose lives were abruptly cut short.
This is a great example of how ruins give an insight into the lives that inhabited the space. I also focused on an example of ruins in my response that felt frozen in time, with lots of objects and details still in place.
The reason why this example is particularly fascinating to me is because the interior elements provide such intimate details about how the dwellers relied on their space, and how they moved through their most routine mornings, afternoons, and nights. In lecture this week we learned how such discoveries inspired an entire movement. Neo-classicism focused heavily on a renewed interest of the past, particularly that of classical domestic Roman life (Kive, Lecture 4M). Archeology has afforded us incredibly accurate details and it’s not hard to see how impactful these discoveries were when looking at photos such as the one you included in your post.
Along with this renewed appreciation of the past comes a sense of nostalgia or glorification of such, known as Romanticism (Kive, Lecture 4W). I would argue that the example of Pompeii furthers that because of the tragic way that this society ended. The ruins allow us to understand how instantaneous and unexpected this catastrophe was, and in the same way that we’re able to appreciate the details of their everyday lives, we’re able to appreciate the details of how their lives ended. This is where the notion of sublime comes into play.
I agree that the ruins of Pompeii are a preservation of the lifestyle, art, and culture of that time. On top of this, people also remember the devastating story of how the city had come to an end. In class, we have learned the importance and historical impact of Pompeii, as we saw how Peraissi created new art pieces using broken Pompeii artifacts as an inspirational starting point. I personally think that the reason why Pompeii holds this type of significance and fascination for collectors and historians has to mostly do with the story of how the city and its people died, glorifying the volcano.
The Pompeii ruins are a great example of Neoclassical ideals because it is an active archeological site that displays accurate historical details, depicts artistic styles unique to this period, and captures immense feelings of nostalgia.
Claude Nicolas Ledoux’s work tells us that Neoclassism is a visionary and revolutionary experience that expresses a unique character (Lecture 4W, Kive). His designs, particularly the golden ornament depicting the soldiers seeking refuge in the woods, perfectly encapsulate personal stories and special narratives to promote empathy and human connection. Likewise, Piranessi’s works romanticized past lives and dismantled composition (Lecture 4W, Kive).
Although Pompeii was not specifically designed as a nostalgic artwork for the 21st century to enjoy, the site is preserved with relics in their original positions at the time of the disaster. When walking through the houses and seeing the everyday items still on the counters, its hard not to empathize and relate to these people of the past. Walking through the site is a melancholic experience that encourages us to celebrate old memories.
I agree that the Pompeii ruins are incredibly fascinating and offer a glimpse into the past Roman settlements. The diverse objects and structures provide insight into Pompeii’s emotional and cultural aspects. It is fascinating how the city is frozen in time; of course, this is due to the tragic events caused by Mount Vesuvius. However, these events leave a layer of historical significance and provide an interesting case study into the Roman life in 79 AD. The artifacts and everyday objects found within the ruins offer a tangible link to the past, allowing us to understand not only how people lived but also what they valued and cherished.
When it comes to this class, ruins like that seen in Pompeii are very useful for understanding the domestic interior. The preserved buildings are often from places and showcase the lives of the highest classes. Such ruins serve as invaluable references for correct details and spatial design.