Pompeii: The Forum

 In any Roman town, the forum was the urban center with the town's civic, religious, and commercial institutions. The Pompeii forum is number 6 on the map. All the stars aligned for this photo - the clouds, the blue sky, the time of day shadows, just the right placement of people. It looks just like the photo out of a book.

 I'm standing with my back to the administrative buildings here, looking toward the Temple of Jupiter. If I'm not mistaken, that's Mt Vesuvius in the background.

 Taking a few steps forward from the prior shot and turning left, this is what is seen. Before the 2nd century BC, the forum was primarily a market place, except for the Temple of Apollo which has been there since the 6th century BC. After the 2nd century BC, more temples were added and law courts were built.

 Swinging the camera a little to the right we see this view. Somewhere in the city was scrawled this note: "I detest beggars. if somebody asks for something for free, he is an idiot. Let him pay his cash and get what he wants."

 ..and even more to the right...and there is the Temple of Jupiter.

The Temple of Jupiter is at the north end of the forum. It was erected in the mid 2nd century BC at the same time that the Temple of Apollo was being renovted. Roman influence over Pompeii was increasing, so Jupiter, the Roman's ruler of gods and protector of Rome, was superseding the Greek Apollo as the town's highest god.

Roman rule led to alterations in Pompeii's architectural style. When influence from the previous Samnite occupiers dwindled, the Roman view on the importance of architecture in civic and religious life took over. The Romans transformed Pompeii into a much more public and open place where public areas dominated the city.