What graffiti was left behind, what does it tell us and how was it left behind?
Graffiti was found everywhere in Pompeii, most of it is silly and immature (still quite funny) but gives us insight to what these people were like.
"Weep, you girls. My penis has given you up. Now it penetrates men's behinds. Goodbye, wondrous femininity!" - This was found scratched into the outside wall of a brothel, and as I said before, it may sound immature and silly but it tells us that even in the first century there were gay men and it wasn't completely unheard of in that society either otherwise the man wouldn't have risked putting it there.
"Weep, you girls. My penis has given you up. Now it penetrates men's behinds. Goodbye, wondrous femininity!" - This was found scratched into the outside wall of a brothel, and as I said before, it may sound immature and silly but it tells us that even in the first century there were gay men and it wasn't completely unheard of in that society either otherwise the man wouldn't have risked putting it there.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/8/9/26893467/495140102.jpg?354)
"The city block of the Arrii Pollii in the possession of Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius Maius is available to rent from July 1st. There are shops on the first floor, upper stories, high-class rooms and a house. A person interested in renting this property should contact Primus, the slave of Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius Maius."
However, not all graffiti was pointless, an example above shows this. This second piece of evidence which was inscribed on a building named the House of the Olii, shows us that to advertise something all you had to do was write it on a random wall, so buisness was much simpler back then. And it tells us what a typical Roman property for rent entailed. Also, take note that a person of high rank (or at least a Plebeian) was known by four names put together whereas a slave only had a singular name along with the name of the master.
Most graffiti was scratched into the walls but some was also meant to be temporary as some inscriptions were found written in red chalk which we are still able to see because the volcanic ash preserved it.
However, not all graffiti was pointless, an example above shows this. This second piece of evidence which was inscribed on a building named the House of the Olii, shows us that to advertise something all you had to do was write it on a random wall, so buisness was much simpler back then. And it tells us what a typical Roman property for rent entailed. Also, take note that a person of high rank (or at least a Plebeian) was known by four names put together whereas a slave only had a singular name along with the name of the master.
Most graffiti was scratched into the walls but some was also meant to be temporary as some inscriptions were found written in red chalk which we are still able to see because the volcanic ash preserved it.
What insight does this give us on their daily lives?
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/8/9/26893467/450950447.jpg?190)
Because the majority of graffiti talks about sex and people's relationships, we can see that their daily lives (this mostly applies for men) included a lot of activities with the women, it wouldn't have always been sexual but most of the time it seems as though that was the case. It also tells us what the prices for certain foods and objects were for the Ancient Romans. For example, some graffiti was found near a bar saying: "...some nuts...?coins; drinks: 14 coins; lard: 2 coins; bread: 3 coins; three meat cutlets: 12 coins; four sausages: 8 coins. Total: 51 coins."
The graffiti also shows us that the Ancient Romans were quite creative people - art was everywhere, not only professionally but in the graffiti too. I am quite confident to write that at least most of the Ancient Romans enjoyed art and creativity just by looking at some examples of what they scratched onto the walls of their city.[1]
The graffiti also shows us that the Ancient Romans were quite creative people - art was everywhere, not only professionally but in the graffiti too. I am quite confident to write that at least most of the Ancient Romans enjoyed art and creativity just by looking at some examples of what they scratched onto the walls of their city.[1]
How is this evidence significant?
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/8/9/26893467/428137369.jpg)
If the city had survived Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79AD most of the graffiti would have been erased from the walls as the Roman empire changed their religion to Christianity and new buildings reconstructed in the place of old ones. So in a way, it was quite fortunate for the volcanic ash to have preserved and buried the cities because without it, most if not all graffiti would be lost to us meaning that we wouldn't have the insight on this civilization that we do now.
REFERENCES
[1] http://www.pompeiana.org/resources/ancient/graffiti%20from%20pompeii.htm
[1] http://www.pompeiana.org/resources/ancient/graffiti%20from%20pompeii.htm