Amedeo Maiuri

1. Amedeo Maiuri By Sahara, Sarah, Danijela and Amanda 

2. Who was he? • Renowned Neapolitan Archaeologist, who investigated the Roman City of Pompeii • He was Pompeii’s site director between 1924 and 1960 • HISTORICAL CONTEXT: He followed the political line by excavating glorious monuments such as the House of the Menander. He was influenced by Mussolini and his Fascist party to see and reveal the archaeological remains of Italy as evidence of Italy’s greatness in the past and the inevitability of her future greatness. He benefited from enormous funding to enable him to conduct excavations on an large scale. • Politically motivated • More interested in the revival/ restoration of the site rather then the study of the area and what it can illuminate.

3. When was he around? • January 7, 1886 - April 7, 1963 • Archaeological career 1924-1961 (during WWII archaeological excavation was suspended.)

4. Their contribution to archaeology at Pompeii • New excavations considerably extended our knowledge both of the Roman city of the imperial times and of the earlier pre-Roman levels of early city. Find out a lot more about the site by going to the pre-Roman levels of the early city. • He proposed several theories one of which he argued that the earthquake of AD62 damaged the homes of the elite enough that they plunged into financial crisis. He also saw the mixture of residential and commercial as a sign of economic decline, with workshops moving into what was previously a wealthy area. (Maiuri has said) He believed during Mt Vesuvius eruption in AD79 Pompeii was in economic decline. This has been debated by others. • He excavated insuae blocks and he uncovered 140metres of the road to the amphitheatre. He also excavated the Palaestra. He worked on the house of Menander and the house of the surgeons and the Villa of the Mysteries and the House of the Bicentenary. • Investigated the city wall • He discovered an ivory statuette of the Indian goddess Lakshmi, goddess of fertility, wealth and beauty- house of the four styles. • He was criticised for allowing older buildings to e ignored, unprotected and unrecorded. • Wanted to uncover as much as possible but is leaving others that have been excavated to deteriorate.

5. What they did/methods • Part of Maiuri’sapproach was the idea of an open air museum to display the finds in some of the buildings to illustrate daily life. Unfortunately these displays barely outlived Maiuri and Herculaneum was gradually dismantled, with the finds being taken to storage for protection. • He unearthed the Palaestra and amphitheatre. • He excavated the pre Roman levels • He concentrated on the Via dell’Abbondanza • He investigated the city wall to expose the sequence of construction.

6. Evaluation • Positives: • He has contributed to the discussion of the economic position of Pompeii in AD79. He suggested there was evidence of economic and social change. • Opened up a lot more of the site of Pompeii- the wall gave info about the levels of occupation of Pompeii prior to AD79 • Palaestra, amphitheatre were unearthed • Negatives: • Lack of documentation and publishing of his excavation • Influenced by his surroundings and context- politically motivated • Lack of awareness of preservation. While opening up new areas he neglected older buildings and excavation sites. • Displaying for tourists- creating romantic view of Pompeii by displaying objects rather than being concerned about the historical significance. • Just wanted to open up the site – fame from opening up more and discovering more. • The publication on the House of Menander lacks detail and scientific precision.