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Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum
The author shows us the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, their arts and trades, religion, public and private life, their squares and temples, pubs and brothels, bringing them to life once more, after nineteen hundred years frozen in death.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
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About the author
Mary Beard
74 books4,177 followersWinifred Mary Beard (born 1 January 1955) is Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge and is a fellow of Newnham College. She is the Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement, and author of the blog "A Don's Life", which appears on The Times as a regular column. Her frequent media appearances and sometimes controversial public statements have led to her being described as "Britain's best-known classicist".
Mary Beard, an only child, was born on 1 January 1955 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. Her father, Roy Whitbread Beard, worked as an architect in Shrewsbury. She recalled him as "a raffish public-schoolboy type and a complete wastrel, but very engaging". Her mother Joyce Emily Beard was a headmistress and an enthusiastic reader.
Mary Beard attended an all-female direct grant school. During the summer she participated in archaeological excavations; this was initially to earn money for recreational spending, but she began to find the study of antiquity unexpectedly interesting. But it was not all that interested the young Beard. She had friends in many age groups, and a number of trangressions: "Playing around with other people's husbands when you were 17 was bad news. Yes, I was a very naughty girl."
At the age of 18 she was interviewed for a place at Newnham College, Cambridge and sat the then compulsory entrance exam. She had thought of going to King's, but rejected it when she discovered the college did not offer scholarships to women. Although studying at a single-sex college, she found in her first year that some men in the University held dismissive attitudes towards women's academic potential, and this strengthened her determination to succeed. She also developed feminist views that remained "hugely important" in her later life, although she later described "modern orthodox feminism" as partly "cant". Beard received an MA at Newnham and remained in Cambridge for her PhD.
From 1979 to 1983 she lectured in Classics at King's College London. She returned to Cambridge in 1984 as a fellow of Newnham College and the only female lecturer in the Classics faculty. Rome in the Late Republic, which she co-wrote with the Cambridge ancient historian Michael Crawford, was published the same year. In 1985 Beard married Robin Sinclair Cormack. She had a daughter in 1985 and a son in 1987. Beard became Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement in 1992.
Shortly after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, Beard was one of several authors invited to contribute articles on the topic to the London Review of Books. She opined that many people, once "the shock had faded", thought "the United States had it coming", and that "[w]orld bullies, even if their heart is in the right place, will in the end pay the price".[4] In a November 2007 interview, she stated that the hostility these comments provoked had still not subsided, although she believed it had become a standard viewpoint that terrorism was associated with American foreign policy.[1]
In 2004, Beard became the Professor of Classics at Cambridge.[3] She is also the Visiting Sather Professor of Classical Literature for 2008–2009 at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has delivered a series of lectures on "Roman Laughter".[5]
Mary Beard, an only child, was born on 1 January 1955 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. Her father, Roy Whitbread Beard, worked as an architect in Shrewsbury. She recalled him as "a raffish public-schoolboy type and a complete wastrel, but very engaging". Her mother Joyce Emily Beard was a headmistress and an enthusiastic reader.
Mary Beard attended an all-female direct grant school. During the summer she participated in archaeological excavations; this was initially to earn money for recreational spending, but she began to find the study of antiquity unexpectedly interesting. But it was not all that interested the young Beard. She had friends in many age groups, and a number of trangressions: "Playing around with other people's husbands when you were 17 was bad news. Yes, I was a very naughty girl."
At the age of 18 she was interviewed for a place at Newnham College, Cambridge and sat the then compulsory entrance exam. She had thought of going to King's, but rejected it when she discovered the college did not offer scholarships to women. Although studying at a single-sex college, she found in her first year that some men in the University held dismissive attitudes towards women's academic potential, and this strengthened her determination to succeed. She also developed feminist views that remained "hugely important" in her later life, although she later described "modern orthodox feminism" as partly "cant". Beard received an MA at Newnham and remained in Cambridge for her PhD.
From 1979 to 1983 she lectured in Classics at King's College London. She returned to Cambridge in 1984 as a fellow of Newnham College and the only female lecturer in the Classics faculty. Rome in the Late Republic, which she co-wrote with the Cambridge ancient historian Michael Crawford, was published the same year. In 1985 Beard married Robin Sinclair Cormack. She had a daughter in 1985 and a son in 1987. Beard became Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement in 1992.
Shortly after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, Beard was one of several authors invited to contribute articles on the topic to the London Review of Books. She opined that many people, once "the shock had faded", thought "the United States had it coming", and that "[w]orld bullies, even if their heart is in the right place, will in the end pay the price".[4] In a November 2007 interview, she stated that the hostility these comments provoked had still not subsided, although she believed it had become a standard viewpoint that terrorism was associated with American foreign policy.[1]
In 2004, Beard became the Professor of Classics at Cambridge.[3] She is also the Visiting Sather Professor of Classical Literature for 2008–2009 at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has delivered a series of lectures on "Roman Laughter".[5]
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 26, 2012
I was pleasantly surprised at what a good book Michael Grant's Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum turned out to be. When he was at his peak, Grant was a superb classical historian; and this book was evidently a labor of love. The text is well-integrated with the frequent and well-chosen illustrations; and ample footnotes are provided for those who want to track down his sources.
Most books about Pompeii and Herculaneum fall under the categories of either academic hackwork or popularized pseudo-historical fluff. In Cities, Grant concentrates on providing a well formulated description of the layout of the cities; their public, trade, and domestic architecture; the paintings, mosaics, decorations, and furniture; and finally a short chapter on politics and sexual practices.
In a brief epilogue is to be found a quick survey of the archeology of Vesuvius, which is only right as it is too big a topic in its own right and would leave a muddy impression of what Grant makes crystal-clear.
Most books about Pompeii and Herculaneum fall under the categories of either academic hackwork or popularized pseudo-historical fluff. In Cities, Grant concentrates on providing a well formulated description of the layout of the cities; their public, trade, and domestic architecture; the paintings, mosaics, decorations, and furniture; and finally a short chapter on politics and sexual practices.
In a brief epilogue is to be found a quick survey of the archeology of Vesuvius, which is only right as it is too big a topic in its own right and would leave a muddy impression of what Grant makes crystal-clear.
July 1, 2022
The book is still quite “fresh“, albeit quinquagenarian. In contrast to Pompeii: The Life Of A Roman Town by Mary Beard, written in much leisurely style, Grant’s style is rather conservative and closer to scientific. The most prominent, and for me, the most interesting and important pars were author’s architectural and archaeological descriptions of particular objects and of their value. Moreover, in quite an easy manner, Grand spoke about temples, distinguish private villas, their frescoes and mosaics, the structure of baths, trades and daily life in Pompeii. Thus, the book is quite in conjunction with Beard’s “Pompeii” and just as informative.
April 15, 2022
I thought it was pretty good maybe more like 3.5. He makes some weird and tastless cultural comments regardi g the world as it was in 1980 that definitely didnt add to learning about pompeii and herculaneum lmao
August 12, 2022
I found this at the back of my book shelf. I probably bought it after my first trip to Pompeii in the 1990’s or after I returned in 2007. This filled in some gaps in my knowledge and allowed me to revisit the fascinating place, which I probably will not see again. There have been several beautiful museum shows about Pompeii in the past few years concerning the food, wine and culture of the city. This book is still accurate in its description of the classes who lived in Pompeii, the influences on its architecture, the religion and, of course, the volcanic eruption that buried the city.
February 21, 2017
It was a bit dry, but very informative and uncluttered without losing the ability to paint vivid pictures. it has rekindled my desire to go back to Pompeii and Herculaneum to see them anew.
August 19, 2021
This book is by Michael Grant, and I've had my copy since the 1970s. I'm a bit cross that Mary Beard gets top billing in the recent edition. Presumably, she writes an introduction??
April 26, 2016
A brief overview. Published originally in 1971; somewhat dated.
Good description of local economy, and home layout:
Atrium - entrance hall, usually open to the sky in the center, with a pool beneath the opening; perhaps originally a courtyard; served to let in light and air; became a richly furnished sitting room. Peristyle - garden, usually colonnaded on most sides. Tablinum - originally, the central room; used as owners' reception room, and dining room before advent of separate dining rooms; usually behind, and open to, the atrium, in the center. Wings (alae) - usually at either side of the rear of the atrium; originally contained images of early family members, later served a variety of purposes. Dining rooms - two or three - summer, winter, garden; small, barely large enough to hold the customary three couches. Kitchen - small, primitive; placed wherever a bit of extra room allowed; room for a sink, a raised hearth, and a bronze heating device; no chimneys. Little glazing; in winter, windows were covered by fabric, shutters or blinds, resulting in poor lighting and air circulation. Lots of lamps and braziers, of questionable efficiency and high fire potential. Little furniture, but of good design and workmanship; bronze and rare wood inlays. Walls were frescoes, floors mosaic. Curtains on walls; never carpets. Town homes had few exterior windows (high incidence of theft) and faced inward; country villas took full advantage of the view and the breeze. Upstairs were haphazard, with staircases placed at random.
Good description of local economy, and home layout:
Atrium - entrance hall, usually open to the sky in the center, with a pool beneath the opening; perhaps originally a courtyard; served to let in light and air; became a richly furnished sitting room. Peristyle - garden, usually colonnaded on most sides. Tablinum - originally, the central room; used as owners' reception room, and dining room before advent of separate dining rooms; usually behind, and open to, the atrium, in the center. Wings (alae) - usually at either side of the rear of the atrium; originally contained images of early family members, later served a variety of purposes. Dining rooms - two or three - summer, winter, garden; small, barely large enough to hold the customary three couches. Kitchen - small, primitive; placed wherever a bit of extra room allowed; room for a sink, a raised hearth, and a bronze heating device; no chimneys. Little glazing; in winter, windows were covered by fabric, shutters or blinds, resulting in poor lighting and air circulation. Lots of lamps and braziers, of questionable efficiency and high fire potential. Little furniture, but of good design and workmanship; bronze and rare wood inlays. Walls were frescoes, floors mosaic. Curtains on walls; never carpets. Town homes had few exterior windows (high incidence of theft) and faced inward; country villas took full advantage of the view and the breeze. Upstairs were haphazard, with staircases placed at random.
April 19, 2011
Michael Grant provides all sorts of useful information for someone like me planning to visit these places. I learned some things about Roman mosaics that I didn't know. For example, mosaics mounted on marble trays were prefabricated and probably imported readymade from Greece. Although elite Romans knew about carpets from the East, they preferred intricate mosaics on their floors. The transfer of mosaics from floors to walls in the early Byzantine period had already begun on a small scale in Pompeii and Herculaneum before the eruption of Vesuvius. Around courtyards in niches surrounding fountains, mosaics from cubes of glass paste and marble were installed to reflect the dazzling summer sunshine.
Suffice it to say that I liked this book well enough to check out another by Michael Grant. This one is entitled THE TWELVE CAESARS.
Suffice it to say that I liked this book well enough to check out another by Michael Grant. This one is entitled THE TWELVE CAESARS.
September 25, 2011
A good overview of the layout, architecture, and artworks of the excavated towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii, along with some discussion of town life. The scholarship may be dated, and the pictures are regrettably all black-and-white, but still a nice introduction.
March 29, 2016
This classic book - originally published in 1971 - is still a great read not only about the dramatic end of the two Roman towns in AD 79, but also about what we can learn from modern-day excavations about the people that lived there. Excellent illustrations.
Want to read
August 29, 2017937.7 CLAY-HQ; NCLS-COVTN
April 27, 2015
Molto istruttivo ma un po' noioso.
November 13, 2025
Dated but interesting. Poor photo reproduction.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews