19th Century Archaeologists of Pompeii and Herculaneum

Katrina, Michael, Annabel

Michael Arditi

• Directed excavations: 1810-1838• Topographical drawings of Pompeii which allowed

later archaeologists to make successful excavations. • He excavated temples, two theatres, a section of

aqueduct and a 400-yard stretch of road lines with funeral monuments just outside the Herculaneum gate. Also a skeleton in full armour ( a sentry who had remained at his post)

• Court of Naples lost interest in the excavations after his death.

Carlo Bonucci

• Nearly completely exposed The House of the Faun between October 1831 and May 1832

Giuseppe Fiorelli• In charge of excavations from 1863- 1875• Giuseppe Fiorelli’s method of excavation was innovative. He first

cleared the streets of any pumice or debris to preserve walls and to stop them from collapsing. He then divided Pompeii into a regular grid pattern and nine regions. Fiorelli also was famous for his plater casting of the victims of the eruption. He filled up empty cavities with a plaster, waited till it set, and then revealed a solid cast of the body that once created that cavity. This was done with human bodies, doors, animals, and tree roots.

• Excavated: House of Siricus (1862), House of the Hanging Balcony (1862), Marine Gate (1863), Vicolo del Lupanare (1863), House of M. Lucretius Stabia (1871), Temple of Venus, House of Epidius Sabinus, House of the Citharist, House of Epidius Rufus

Michele Ruggerio

• Directed excavation between 1875-1893• Architect• Uncovered many insulae and houses• Uncovered areas REGIO V, REGIO VIII and REGIO IX• Restoration work on over 500 fresco paintings found on the walls of the houses• Excavated: House of L. Caecilius Jucundus (1875-76), Central Baths (1877-78),

House of Centenary (1879-80), House of the Silver Wedding (1891-93), Tombs along via Nolana (1886-87), Tombs along the Stabian Way (1889

• The first deep samplings (1884, 1888, 1889) in the Doric Temple and Forum• First investigations to identify the ancient coastline (1878)• Consolidation and restoration of over 600 paintings• Because his work was done with greater care, it was also slower. He also

decided to leave decorations in situ to try and conserve them and also headed the conservation and restoration of over 600 paintings in situ.

August Mau• Started investigating: around 1860• Namer of the 4 roman wall painting style categories- ‘First Style’ (‘

Incrustation’ 3rd century – circa 80 BC), “Second Style” (‘Architectural’circa 8—20/10 BC), “Third Style” (‘Ornate’ circa 20/10 BC – AD 50/60), and “Fourth Style” (‘Intricate’ AD 50/60 – 79 AD)

• Wrote an account of the daily life of the inhabitants of Pompeii in 1886

• Published Pompeji in Leben und Kunst- a projection of the city as it might have been, based upon the archaeological record of the time

• First to advance hypothesis that Roman art was not dependent on Greek origins but rather should be seen as a high achievement on its own

Giulio de Petra

• Directed excavation: 1893-1901, 1906-1910• Excavated: House of the Vettii (1894-95),

House of M. Lucretius Fronto (1895), House of the Golden Cupids (1895, 1903-5)

• Recreated gardens, covered atriums, restored rooves

Sources

• Harris, Judith. 2007, Pompeii Awakened: A story of rediscovery. I.B.Tauris

• August Mau. Viewed 29th October 2010, <http://www.dictionaryofarthistorians.org/maua.htm>

• Tim Anderson, August Mau. Viewed 29th October 2010, <http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/information/biography/klmno/mau_august.html>

• CITIES OF VESUVIUS II ARCHAEOLOGISTS. Viewed 30th October 2010, <www.ancienthistory.com.au/.../CITIES%20OF%20VESUVIUS%20II%20ARCHAEOLOGISTS.ppt