1. UsingSource D, Source G and your own knowledge,explainwhyarchaeological evidence is
important for reconstructing diverse social status in Pompeii and Herculaneum
Archaeological evidence fromPompeiiismostimportantforreconstructingadiverse culture that
was basedonsocial status,for itenablesaspectsof dailylifetobe understood.AccordingtoWallace
Hadrill insource D “the extentof anyhouse andthe __ of it’sdécorprovide anindex of the wealth
and statusof itsinhabitants”.Thisisdemonstratedthroughthe extensive archaeological evidence
foundinthe House of the Faun whichisone of the largesthousesinPompeii andprovidesaninsight
intothe extensivewealthanddistinctionbetweenclasses. The House of the Faunaccordingto
scholarsisone of the bestexamplestodemonstrate wealthforitheldone of the mostextensive
mosaicsto be foundinPompeii,the Alexandermosaic.Thismosaicisan immediateindicatorof
status,for the mosaicisdemonstrative of Greekinfluence andgives archaeologistsandhistorians
the abilitytoextrapolate it’smeaningandpurpose. One scholarinterpretsthe Alexandermosaicto

2. Using Source D, Source G and your own knowledge, explain why archaeological evidence is
important for reconstructing diverse social status in Pompeii and Herculaneum
Archaeological evidence from Pompeii is most important for reconstructing a diverse culture that
was based on social status, for it enables aspects of daily life to be understood. According to Wallace
Hadrill in source D “the extent of any house and the __ of it’s décor provide an index of the wealth
and status of its inhabitants”. This is demonstrated through the extensive archaeological evidence
found in the House of the Faun which is one of the largest houses in Pompeii and provides an insight
into the extensive wealth and distinction between classes. The House of the Faun according to
scholars is one of the best examples to demonstrate wealth for it held one of the most extensive
mosaics to be found in Pompeii, the Alexander mosaic. This mosaic is an immediate indicator of
status, for the mosaic is demonstrative of Greek influence and gives archaeologists and historians
the ability to extrapolate it’s meaning and purpose. One scholar interprets the Alexander mosaic to
be commissioned to commemorate a family member who was believed to have taken part in the
war. Due to its Greek origin, we can concur that the people who owned such a mosaic was of a high
social status, possibly apart of the elite for the extensive architecture and greatness of the house.
With such interpretations in mind, it is possible to say that the owners of the house of the faun were
incredibly wealthy, as proven by the inclusion of the Alexander Mosaic.
Source G is a tabernae which shows thermopolia which are cases that held food. There was no social
distinction amongst shops, however the goods that were sold at the specific shops would be able to
determine the different social groups that were able to buy these items. The archaeological evidence
shown in source G is important for reconstruction social class as it is usually freedmen who ran the
tabernae or other sources of economic wealth, such as fulleries. Stephanus the fuller was a
freedmen according to archaeological evidence found in his fullery. Freedmen are especially
important in Pompeian society as these people ‘ran’ the town as their businesses were ran by their
patrons. The patron client relationship was most significant in the towns of Pompeii and
Herculaneum as it was the basis of how social class was structured. The house of Julius Polybius
demonstrates this relationship as he was a patron and the fact that his atrium, the place where
business was conducted, was under renovation when the eruption happened. It was most important
that a patron upheld his status in society. This is seen in the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum as
programmata, which is a testimony of political elections taking place in the city.
Using source F and your own knowledge, outline the ways how a study of the House of Julia Felix
informs historians about life in Pompeii.
The House of Julia Felix informs historians about life in Pompeii due the fact she was first of all
women to own a house and her house was the most extensive, which was interesting and different
in Pompeian society. The fact that this house was owned by a woman immediately raises numerous
questions as to how a woman in the time of Pompeii, a patriarchal society, owned such a grand
home. The property is one of the largest in Pompeii with grand gardens occupying most of the space.
The large estate was spread out over two insulae, further demonstrating that this was particularly an
indication of wealth. According to Wallace Hadrill, the most valuable piece of evidence that was

3. be commissionedtocommemorate afamilymemberwhowasbelievedtohave takenpartinthe
war. Due to its Greekorigin,we canconcur that the people whoownedsuchamosaicwas of a high
social status,possibly apartof the elite forthe extensivearchitecture andgreatnessof the house.
Withsuch interpretationsinmind,itispossible tosaythat the ownersof the house of the faunwere
incrediblywealthy,asprovenbythe inclusionof the AlexanderMosaic.
Source G isa tabernae whichshowsthermopoliawhichare casesthatheldfood.There wasno social
distinctionamongstshops,howeverthe goodsthatwere soldatthe specificshopswouldbe able to
determine the differentsocial groupsthatwere able tobuythese items.The archaeologicalevidence
showninsource G isimportantforreconstructionsocial classasit isusuallyfreedmenwhoranthe
tabernae or othersourcesof economicwealth,suchasfulleries.Stephanusthe fullerwasa
freedmenaccordingtoarchaeological evidencefoundinhisfullery.Freedmenare especially
importantin Pompeiansocietyasthese people‘ran’the townastheirbusinesseswere ranbytheir
patrons.The patron clientrelationshipwasmostsignificantinthe townsof Pompeii and
Herculaneumasitwas the basisof howsocial classwas structured.The house of JuliusPolybius
demonstrates thisrelationshipashe wasa patron andthe fact thathis atrium, the place where
businesswasconducted,wasunderrenovationwhenthe eruption happened.Itwasmostimportant
that a patron upheldhisstatusinsociety.This isseeninthe streetsof Pompeii andHerculaneumas
programmata,whichisa testimonyof political electionstakingplace inthe city.
Usingsource F and your own knowledge,outline the ways how a study of the House of JuliaFelix
informshistorians about life inPompeii.
The House of JuliaFelix informshistoriansabout life inPompeii due the factshe wasfirstof all
womentoown a house andher house wasthe mostextensive,whichwasinterestinganddifferent
inPompeiansociety. The factthatthis house wasownedbya womanimmediatelyraisesnumerous
questionsastohow a womaninthe time of Pompeii,apatriarchal society,ownedsuchagrand
home. The propertyisone of the largestinPompeii withgrandgardensoccupyingmostof the space.
The large estate wasspreadoutovertwo insulae,furtherdemonstratingthat thiswasparticularlyan
indicationof wealth. AccordingtoWallace Hadrill,the mostvaluablepiece of evidence thatwas
foundwasthe inscriptionasittellshistoriansof “whoowned the house”.ThisEpigraphical evidence
ismost useful because housesin79 ADwere usuallyrunandownedbythe PaterFamilias. The vast
array of frescoespaintedonwallsthroughoutthe house depictscenesof everydaylife andluxury
itemsenjoyedbythe household,indicativeof wealthasthe scenesof everydaylifewhichthen
enable historianswithanideaof whatlife was like,whatwasimportant/valued.
One of the elaborate piecesinthe house is70cmhighand 31m long.It isa frieze depictingthe
commercial activitiesinthe Forum,showingshopkeeperssellingvegetables,cloth,bronze pansand
shoes.Thisrevealsthatthese itemsthatare displayedare significantinthe livesthatwere livedin
Pompeii.Clothcanbe extrapolatedtodetermine thatthere wasspecialisedlabour,socialstatus
dependinguponcolourandquality,amountetc. Source Fdemonstratesthatwithinthe house of
JuliaFelix she hadmosaics thatdepictedfood,suchasfruit.The fruitshowninthe frescocan
provide evidence astowhattypesof products were grownandavailable tothe people of Pompeii in
theirdailylives,aswellaswhattheirdietsconsistedof,thusleadingontopossible sourcesof

4. economicwealthforthe town. The house isfamousforitsextravagantdecorationandattractive
gardens. Due to furtherinvestigation andarchaeological evidence, itappearsthatthe house wasin
fact rebuiltafterthe earthquake in62.AD.Thisfact demonstratesthatthiswomanmusthave being
veryimportantintermsof statusas archaeologistsandscholarsagree thatPompeii leftnumerous
mainbuildingssuchastemplesandeventhe publicforumuntouchedaftersuchadisaster.
The estate containedalot of unusual additionsforahouse.The private quarterscontainedabathing
establishment,shopsandevenapartments.The amountof architectural additionsthisplace had
stronglyrepresentswealth. Wallace-Hadrill commentsthatwithoutthisEpigraphical evidence,one
wouldnotsuspectthat the elegantlydecoratedgardenandnymphaeumattachedtothe bathswere
for commercial use againhighlightingthe factthat life forJuliaFelix wasfilledwithluxury. The
private bathingfacilitywaselaborate andintendedforthe elite–upperclasspeople whowere high
instatus – not necessarilywealthy.Howeverinthe case of JuliaFelix she musthave beingawealthy
womanwhichthen introducesthe conceptof womenhavingthe powertoattainhousesandrun
them. Onanothernote,the wallsof the diningroomcontainedscenesfromthe Nile.Thisthen
enablesarchaeologiststodeterminethatthe Egyptianculture wasmostinfluential tothe Italianlife
and possiblylifestyle,especiallyinartsandreligion.Thisinfluence canfurtherprovide theoriesasto
whyit isso common to have such exoticinfluences.
Howeverthe House of JuliaFelix representsaverylimitedviewof the livesof womeninapatriarchal
societyasthere isno inclusionof freedwomenandslaveswhocertainlydidnoenjoysuchluxuries,
freedomandeconomicindependence suchasJuliaFelix.Therefore all evidence providedbythe
House of JuliaFelix leadshistorianstoaverywealthydepictionof lifeinPompeii.