1. Influences of Greek and Egyptian
Culture

2. Greek Influences on ART

3. Greek Influences on ART
•Greek influence is evident in the art,
architecture and religion at P & H. Greeks had
occupied the towns early in their history and
Romans generally had a fascination with all
things Greek.
•Frescoes on the walls of houses and public
buildings are an Italian practice, but they
incorporate Greek elements – Greek columns
and scenes related to Greek mythology and
religion. (FIND EXAMPLES)
Hercules, Nessus, And Deianira
III Style, House of the Centaur, Pompeii

4. Fresco from the villa of P. Fannio
Sinistore in Boscoreale, currently
located in the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, New York.
This extraordinarily well preserved
image makes remarkable use of
perspective and colour to create an
immersive.
It is unknown what the function of
the orb on the table is, perhaps it is a
glass bowl with a butterfly pattern
on it.

5. Greek Influences on ART
•Statues of Greek heroes and
gods – Apollo, Dionysus &
Hercules, also provide
evidence of Greek influence.
Many are thought to be copies
of Greek originals.
•Frescoes and Mosaics feature
aspects of Greek drama which
had been absorbed into Roman
culture – masks of comedies
and tragedies.
Comedy mask. Roman mosaic from the Casa del Fauno (VI
•Library of Greek works and 12, 2-5) in Pompeii.
copies of Greek statues found Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples)
in THE HOUSE OF PAPYRI

6. Theatre mask. Roman fresco from Pompeii.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples)
Female theatre mask. Roman fresco from Casa del
Bracciale d'Oro (VI 17, 42) in Pompeii.

7. Egyptian Influences on ART

8. Egyptian Influences on ART
• Once Egypt became part of the Roman Empire and Egyptian craftsmen began working
in Italy, Egyptian scenes and motifs became very fashionable
• Mosaics featured Egyptian plants and animals – THE NILE MOSIAC IN THE HOUSE
OF THE FAUN
THE NILE MOSIAC IN THE HOUSE OF THE FAUN

9. Egyptian Influences on ART
The spectacular ALEXANDER MOSAIC (ALSO FROM THE HOUSE OF THE FAUN)
was created by Egyptian craftsmen. It depicts the battle between Alexander the Great and
Darius III of Persia

10. Alexander the Great– Alexander Mosaic – House of the
Faun

11. Darius III – Alexander Mosaic – House of the Faun

12. Egyptian Influences on ART
• Statuettes and amulets have been found showing the Egyptian god BES, protector of women
and children. Used to ward off evil spirits.
• The Egyptian goddess ISIS was very popular in P & H. The goddess and her worship were
featured in frescoes and statues – HOUSE OF OCTAVIUS QUATRIO IN POMPEII
• Decorative use of Sphinxes and other Egyptian motifs in mosaics and frescoes
Roman fresco in the
temple of ISIS in
Pompeii. Io is
welcomed in Egypt by
ISIS.
BES

13. ARCHICTECTURE
• Temples reflect Greek influences – the TEMPLE OF APOLLO has a peristyle and use of
columns which are Greek, blended with a high platform and small cella which are Roman in
style.
Temple of Apollo - Pompeii

14. ARCHICTECTURE
• Public porticoes and buildings using columns, such as the basilica, used all 3 types of Greek
columns – DORIC, IONIC and CORINTHIAN

15. ARCHICTECTURE
• The peristyle structure – a columned portico around an internal courtyard –
is a Greek architectural feature which is common in large public complexes
such as the BATHS and PALAESTRA
Peristyle garden from Pompeii Peristyle ideas used in the PALAESTRA -
Pompeii

16. ARCHICTECTURE
• Theatres also reflect Greek influence, compressing the major elements of Greek theatre
design into one – theatron, orchestra and skene. The quadriporticus with DORIC colonnade,
built adjacent to the theatres was also of Greek design
quadriporticus

17. RELIGION
Temple of Apollo - Pompeii

18. RELIGION
• Greek influence evident in the older temples featuring Greek deities which were later
adopted into Romanised forms. Some retained their Greek names – APOLLO, or were given
Roman names but remained essentially Greek – Aphrodite became Venus, Dionysus became
Bacchus
Bacchus and Mt Vesuvius and Venus

19. RELIGION
• The Egyptian Goddess ISIS, popular among women and sailors, had a large following in both
towns. Dozens of household shrines to ISIS have been found in Pompeii. A shrine to ISIS,
SERAPIS and ANUBIS was found in the HOUSE OF THE GILDED CUPIDS

20. RELIGION
• There was a substantial temple to ISIS in Pompeii, which contained statues to ISIS, OSIRIS
and HORUS. It was a banquet hall and a small room for storing NILE WATER for
purification.

21. RELIGION
• The Temple of ISIS had been badly damaged in the earthquake of 62 but had been
fully reconstructed by the time of the eruption in 79