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Pompeii
Q43332Pompeii: Italian town at the foot of the Vesuvius, buried by the volcano's eruption in 79 CE.
History
- Near the mouth of the Sarno River, south of the Vesuvius
- s.VI: Greek settlement, perhaps from Cumae
- Remains from this early age: Doric temple on the Triangular Forum
- Later: Etruscan influence; temple of Apollo, center of an independent but small (nine hectares) town in the fifth century BCE; Oscan language
- s.IV: Campania sides with Rome in its conflict with the Samnites
- New wall, enclosing sixty-five hectares
- 90 BCE: Social War
- 80 BCE: colonia; Latin becomes the main language; a Capitol temple is built for the Roman gods
- 70 BCE: Amphitheater
- Town expands eastward; 10,000-15,000 inhabitants; and about the same number of people on the countryside
- 59 CE: Riot in the amphitheater; Senate punishes the town with a ten-year ban ongladiatoral contests
- 62 CE: Earthquake
- 79 CE: Destroyed by volcano; among the victims is Pliny the Elder.