Pompei 90468 222362106 2008-06-28T23:12:18Z JForget 1064243 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/66.41.196.150|66.41.196.150]] ([[User talk:66.41.196.150|talk]]) to last version by ClueBot {{dablink|For the Roman ruins, see [[Pompeii]]}} {{Infobox CityIT | img_coa = Pompei-Stemma.png| official_name = Comune di Pompei| region= [[Campania]] | province = [[Province of Naples|Naples]] (NA) | elevation_m =| area_total_km2 =12| population_as_of = [[december 31]], [[2004]]| population_total = 25751| population_density_km2 =2146| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]], [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]+1 | coordinates = {{coor dm|40|45|N|14|30|E|}}| frazioni = Messigno, Pompei Scavi| telephone = 081| postalcode = 80045, 80040| gentilic = | name=Pompei| mapx=40.75| mapy=14.5| saint = Beata Vergine del Rosario| day = [[May 8]]| mayor = Claudio D'Alessio| website = [http://www.comune.pompei.na.it/comune/Homepage.asp www.comune.pompei.na.it] }} [[Image:Pompei (47).jpg|left|thumb|150px|Street in Pompei]] '''Pompei''' is a city in the [[province of Naples]] ([[Campania]], [[Italy]]). ==History== [[Image:Pompeiii.Europa.iFresco.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Fresco in the excavations of Pompei portraying [[Europa (mythology)|Europa]] and the bull.]]The ''gens'' Pompeia, who gave the name to the ancient city, was of [[Oscan]] origins. A settlement probably first appeared in this area around the 7th century BC, on what was an important crossroad between [[Cumae]], [[Nola]] and [[Stabiae]]. According to [[Strabo]], Pompei was also captured by the [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscans]]. Recent excavations have shown the presence of Etruscan inscriptions and a 6th century necropolis. Pompei was captured by the Greek colony of Cumae, allied with [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]], between 525 and 474 BC. Pompei was caught up in the [[Samnite Wars]] (4th century) and forced to accept the status of ''socium'' of Rome. It did manage to maintain linguistic and administrative autonomy. Pompei remained faithful to Rome during the [[Second Punic War]]. In the 4th century BC the city was fortified. Starting in the 2nd century BC intensive agricultural activity, including olive and wine production, caused Pompei to flourish. In 91 BC, Pompei sided against Rome in the [[Social War (91–88 BC)|Social War]] and was later stormed by [[Sulla]]. In [[80 BC]] a Roman general transferred a colony of military veterans to the city. ==Destruction== [[Image:Pompei (42).jpg|left|thumb|200px|Pompei and Vesuvius]]In AD 79 it was destroyed by the eruption of [[Mount Vesuvius]]. The famous Roman naturalist [[Pliny the Elder]] died while trying to save those trapped in the city. His nephew [[Pliny the Younger]] wrote an eyewitness account. The city was largely forgotten until the mid 18th century, and has been under more or less constant excavation since then. ==Main sights== [[Image:Pompei (15).jpg|left|thumb|200px|Theatre in Pompei]][[Image:Pompei (29).jpg|right|thumb|150px|Interior of Home]] The city is mainly famous for the ruins of the ancient city of [[Pompeii]], located in the ''[[frazione]]'' of Pompei Scavi. The central [[basilica]], dedicated to [[Madonna del Rosario di Pompei]], has become a site for [[Catholic]] [[pilgrimage]]s in recent years. It houses a canvas by [[Luca Giordano]]. According to Claire Weiss, an area supervisor in the archaeological Anglo-American Project at the ruins of ancient Pompeii, while the rest of the world thinks of the city mainly in connection with the Roman ruins, "in Italy is better known for being home to the [[Cathedral of Pompei]]" ([http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/~cweiss/claireinpompeii/2004/06/pompeii-faqs.html]). ==External links== *[http://www.comune.pompei.na.it/ Official website] *[http://wikitravel.org/en/Pompeii Pompeii Travel Guide from Wikitravel] *[http://www.pompeiturismo.it Pompei Tourism Info] {{Province of Naples}} [[Category:cities and towns in Campania]] {{Campania-geo-stub}} [[de:Pompei]] [[fr:Pompei]] [[it:Pompei]] [[he:פומפי]] [[hu:Pompei]] [[pl:Pompei]] [[ro:Pompei]] [[tr:Pompei]]