They Spent Much Time During
The Day In Forum, Temples, Thermes, Tennis-Court, Or Intervened To
Public Sports, Religious Functions And Meetings.
.
. . Few houses only
had windows. The sunlight and ventilation to the ancients was given
through empty spaces in the roofs. . . . Hoofs knocked under the weight
of materials thrown out by Vesuvius; it is undoubted, however, that
roofs were provided with covers or supported terraces. In the middle of
the roofs was cut an ouerture through which air and light brought their
benefits to the underlaid ambients. . . . Proprietor disposed the locals
according to his own delight. . . . So that, there were bed, bath,
dining, talking and game rooms." In the peristyle "the ground was
gardened, the area shared in flower beds, had narrow paths; herbs,
flowers, shrubs were put with art well in order on flower beds,
delighted from time to time by statues of various subjects," as may be
noted in the actual restorations of some of the Pompeian houses,
As for their spiritual life, "Pompeian's religion, like by Roman people,
was the Paganism. Deities were worshipped in the temples with prayers,
sagrifices, vows, and festivities. . . . Banquets to the Deity were
joined to prayers. In fact, dining tables were dressed near the altars,
and all around them on dining beds, _tricli-nari,_ placed Divinities
statues as these were assembled to own account to the joyous banquest."
Auspices or auguries "gave interpretation to thunders, lightnings,
winds, rain crashes, comets, or to bird songs and flights. . . .
Horuspices inquired the divine will on the animal bowels, sacrificed to
the altar; they took out further indications by fleshes and bowels
flames when burnt on the altar."
An important feature of Pompeian social life was the bath, which "was
one of the hospitality duty, and very often required in several
religious functions. . . . Large and colossal edifices were quite
furnished with all the necessary for care and sport. Besides localities
for all kind of bath - cold, warm, steam bath - didn't want parks, alleys,
and porticos in order to walk; lists rings for gymnastic exercises,
conversation and reading rooms, localities for theatrical
representations, swimming stations, localities for scientific
disquisitions, moral and religious teachings. The most splendid art
works adorned the ambient."
When we pass to the popular amusements we are presented with the
materials of pictures vividly realized in _The Last Days of Pompeii,_
but somewhat faded since. "In the beginning gladiators' rank was made by
condemned to death slaves and war prisoners. Later also thoughtless
young men, who had never learned an advantageous trade, became
gladiators." In the arena they engaged in sham fights till the
spectators demanded blood. Then, "sometimes one provided one's self nets
for wrapping up the adversary, who, hit by a trident much, frequently
die. When the gladiator was deadly wounded, forsaking the arm, struck
down and stretching the index, asked the people grace of life. The
spectators decided up his destiny, turning the thumb to the breast, or
toward the ground. The thumb turned toward the ground was the unlucky's
death doom, and he had without fail the throat cut off."
Such, dimly but unmistakably seen through our Italian author's
well-reasoned English, were the ancient Pompeians; and, upon the whole,
the visitor to their city could not wish them back in it.
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