Briefly outline Greek and Egyptian influences at Pompeii and Herculaneum. In your answer, use Sources A and B, and your own knowledge.

SOURCE A

Image of actors rehearsing a play, found in the House of the Tragic Poet at Pompeii

SOURCE B

The Temple of Isis in Pompeii

MODEL ANSWER

Pompeii and Herculaneum were heavily influenced by other cultures, particularly that of Greece. This influence manifested itself primarily in terms of religion, art and architecture. Egyptian influences were also evident.

Rome got many of its gods from the Greek pantheon. These included Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Apollo, Mars and Venus. All these gods, with the exception of Mars, had temples dedicated to them in Pompeii. The cult of Dionysis was also present. Another key area where Roman culture was influenced by Greece was the theatre. The mosaic in Source A shows actors rehearsing a play in Pompeii. The fact that the city had two theatres shows how important drama and comedy were to Pompeii’s cultural life. We also know that Herculaneum had at least one theatre. Other Greek influences were in the fields of history, philosophy, mythology, language, art and architecture. Herculaneum even got its name from the Greek god Herakles.

Egyptian influence was far less pervasive than that of Greece. The main influence was on religion. By the time of the eruption, the cult of Isis had established itself in Pompeii. It offered happiness, salvation and relief from suffering, so was popular with slaves. The fact that the Temple of Isis (shown in Source B) was fully restored following the earthquake of AD 62 suggests that the cult had a significant following. The other main Egyptian influence was in the realm of art. Mosaics and frescoes have been found depicting the Nile, Egypt’s iconic river.