Seismic Protection in Pompeii during the Age of Nero and Vespasian

Abstract

An earthquake of significant magnitude struck the Vesuvian area in common era (CE) 62. The earth tremors, originated by subterranean winds according to Roman seismology, provoked extensive damage to the buildings of Pompeii. By evaluating collapses and repairs, it was observed that wall overturning was the prevalent type of failure. Lucretius and Seneca dealt with such a masonry loss of equilibrium, which is illustrated in two bas-reliefs discovered in the house of Caecilius Jucundus (Regio V, Insula I, civic number 26) in Pompeii. The improvement of the bond among orthogonal walls; the constraint degree that was increased in the relevant constructive elements, such as the columns; and the widespread use of buttresses were some of the effective technical devices adopted after the CE 62 earthquake, which aimed at consciously mitigating the vulnerability of buildings under seismic action.