2.4 Local Political Life

Pompeii and Herculaneum were Roman colonies so both cities had to follow the laws of the Roman senate. The imperial government, however, only interfered in matters of imperial security such as the Cult of Bacchus and the Gladiator Riots. The cities were ordered under a democracy; it was divided into wards (VICI) which became voting districts.

Graffiti around Pompeii shows that the town was enthusiastic about elections. Cicero stated that it was harder to get a seat on Pompeii’s council than on the Roman Senate. Graffiti such as “I beg you to elect Marcus Epidius Sabinus senior magistrate with judicial power, a most worthy young man” often advertised candidates as honourable and “worthy” (Bradley: Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum: 2013). The shows that the citizens of Pompeii wished their leaders to be respectable and noble (Cartwright: Pompeii: Graffiti, Signs and Electoral Notices: 2012). Some women were able to influence political elections by scratching graffiti on walls in favour of political candidates.

The social structure and political life of Pompeii and Herculaneum were closely linked with each other. A person's social standing determined how politics affected them and a person’s involvement in politics was determined by their position in the social hierarchy.

Duumviri: ‘the two men’. They operated as co-mayors of Pompeii and could only serve one year. Elections took place each year in the spring. They were also in charge of justice.

Aediles: Two citizens were elected to this position each year. They were described as ‘ two men, for taking care of streets, buildings, temples and public buildings’.

Political Structure:

• At its foundation in c. 80BC, the Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum was given a lex (or charter), that set out the political and administrative structure still in use at the time of the eruption in 79AD.

• There were 3 political institutions at Pompeii:

• The comitium or ‘people’s assembly: Made up of all adult, male citizens of the town, including freedmen. It functioned to elect magistrates and to vote honours.

  • The ordo decurionum also known as the Curia or Council: The legislative body of Pompeii, able to make decisions on any matter that concerned the colony as a whole. Its members were called ‘decurions’. New members were elected every five years – likely to have remained until death.

  • The magistracy: Two duumvirs and two aediles (junior magistrates), who were responsible for the judicial system, administration, public works, and buildings, municipal cults and games-giving. The magistrates presided over proceedings in the ordo and elections in the comitium. Every 5 years the duumvirs held a census to revise the list of ordo members and were given the title quinquennial duumvirs. This was a special post to achieve because of the power they held during that year. A candidate for magistracy must be male, free-born, over 25, have a fortune above a certain level and have an unblemished reputation. To become duumvir a candidate first had to be elected aedile.

  • Honours

  • Other honours: The most prestigious honour to be bestowed on a citizen was that of ‘patron’ of the town. A patron was formally selected by the town council to represent and protect the interests of the community at Rome. E.G. Marcus Holconius Rufus and Marcellus. Another rare, purely honorific title was that of ‘military tribune’; this was awarded to a citizen of popular demand, presumably in return for services to the community. E.G. Marcus Tullius and Marcus Holconius Rufus.

• Herculaneum: Political set up similar to Pompeii, however it did not suffer the imposition of a colony after the Social War of 91-87BC. Surviving inscriptions demonstrate that Herculaneum was run by two annually elected duumvirs. Aediles, also attested, would have supervised the markets, roads and public buildings. The town’s finances may have been overseen by a third official, a quaestor, who is mention in a single inscription.

• Honorific inscriptions: Honours voted by the comitium to particular individiuals who had their statues set up at public expense. In the Forum, 41 bases for standing statues along the poritcoed sides and 16 equestion bases can still be seen. Aulus Umbricius Scaurus was honoured with an equestrian statue. Mamia was honored with a tomb paid for by the town because ofthe Imperial Cult building she set up in the forum. This also shows that even though women could not hold official positions (except religious roles,) they were able to complete public duties and were recognised for that by powerful leaders of the town.

• • • Dedications: Found on public buildings and record who or what the building is dedicate to and who paid for it.

Most of the political buildings are in the south end of the Forum including the following:

Comitium. People’s Assembly met here. People’s Assembly – elected magistrates – town divided into precincts – winner had to have majority of precincts – vote was by ballot.

Judiciary and law courts were held in the Basilica – with the judge on a raised podium at one end. A long central hall with colonnaded aisle on each side and five doors leading to the Forum. Duumviri were the judges.

Municipal Offices was where the duuumviri were located when not serving as judges in the Basilica.

What do sources reveal about the nature of local political life in Pompeii and Herculaneum?

Past HSC Question 2017

Describe the key features of political life in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Refer to Sources B and D and your own knowledge. (6 marks)

(Source B: Painted notice on a water tower near a public fountain atr Herculaneum

The aedile Marcus Alficius Paulus states: anyone who wants to throw away excrement in this place is warned that it is not allowed. If someone shall denounce this action, free citizens will pay a fine of [...] denarii and slaves will be punished in their dwellings by [...] lashes.)

(Source D: Dedicatory inscription, Pompeii

Caius Quinctius Valgus, son of Gaius, and Marcus Porcius, son of Marcus, quinquennial duumvirs, for the honour of the colony, saw to the construction of the amphitheatre at their own expense and gave the area to the colonists in perpetuity.)

Four images of the Basilica in Pompeii

Examples of electoral graffiti: