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“Pompeii” it stands on a plateau of volcanic formation, on the southern slope of Vesuvius, about 30 meters above sea level and a short distance from the mouth of the Sarno river, in a suggestive position, praised in Roman times also by Seneca. The lack of springs or watercourses on the plateau prevented its population in the most remote times, even if during the 8th century BC. C. in the nearby Sarno valley some settlements had formed, as evidenced by numerous pit tombs.
The population who founded Pompeii was certainly Oscan, but it is doubtful whether the name of the city itself derives from Greek or Oscan.
The city's fortune was linked from the beginning to its position on the sea, which made it the port of the centers of the Campania hinterland, in competition with the Greek cities of the coast. Naturally, Oscan Pompeii could not escape Greek influence, which extended in the Gulf of Naples to the Sorrento peninsula, also including the islands of Capri and Ischia. However, Greek hegemony on the Campania coast was soon threatened by the domineering advance of a new, formidable power: that of the Etruscans, who also conquered Pompeii; in fact, the Temple of Apollo and the Stabian Baths date back to that period.
At the same time, however, a slow but unstoppable descent of the Samnite populations from the mountain areas began, conquering during the 5th century BC. all of Campania, with the exception of Neapolis and unified it under their dominion.
Pompeii had to undergo notable urban and architectural transformations, in carrying out which the Samnites were unable to ignore the Greek influence. Finally, in the 2nd century BC. with Rome's dominion over the Mediterranean which facilitated the circulation of goods, the city experienced a period of great economic growth, especially through the production and export of wine and oil.
This state of well-being is reflected in a remarkable development of public and private construction: at this time the Temple of Jupiter and the Basilica in the Forum area were built, while on a private level a stately home like the Casa del Fauno competes for greatness and magnificence. The economic situation remained flourishing for a long time and important new public buildings were created, such as the Amphitheater and the Odeon.
The imperial age opens with the entry into Pompeii of new pro-Augustan families of which the Building of Eumachia and the Temple of Fortuna Augusta are a clear example. In 62 AD a disastrous earthquake caused serious damage to the city's buildings; the following years were spent in the impressive renovation work, still underway at the time of the fatal eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, when Pompeii was completely and definitively buried by a thick rain of lapilli.

Pompeii covered almost 64 hectares and its population was around 20,000 people.
The geometric regularity plan of the city was basically derived from the Greek architect and urban planner Hippodamus of Miletus. But the plan of Pompeii does not conform to the rigid arrangement according to right angles, and the blocks do not have constant dimensions that generally distinguished the works of Hippodamus. However, despite the lack of accuracy, Pompeii constitutes the first example of systematic urban planning in Italy. Architects, designers and builders had their happiest moment in the time of Nero, as a result of the earthquake of 62 AD. In fact, during the last seventeen years of the city's life they were called not only to expand the area of ​​Pompeii, but also to rebuild the numerous buildings that the earthquake had destroyed or damaged. However this took a long time and the builders did not complete their work; the grandiose projects for the reconstruction of public buildings in many cases had not even been started when the Vesuvian eruption of 79 AD. caused its total cancellation.
Visitors are always surprised to discover how narrow most of the streets of the time were. In Pompeii they were 2.4 or 3.6 or 4.5 meters wide, and the widest of all measured just over seven metres. On both sides of the main roads there were raised areas (sidewalks) but, since there was drainage water in the middle, large stones were placed between them to allow pedestrians to pass from one side of the road to the other. At many intersections there are fountains decorated with carved stones surmounting the rectangular stone basin. The fountains, as well as numerous buildings, were fed by lead pipes arranged under the pavements and which took the water from large cisterns; it reached the cisterns from the hills of the interior via an aqueduct that began from Serino, near the today's Avellino, 26 kilometers inland. The walls of Pompeii represent one of the most important fortification systems of a pre-Roman Italic city that have come down to us. No fewer than four construction phases can be seen in them. During the 2nd century BC. the defenses were further strengthened and eventually, around 100, twelve towers were added.
Pompeii had seven gates, five of which communicated with important external roads. Immediately outside the walls there were large areas mainly used as cemeteries, since burials and cremations were prohibited within the city. The relationships between the living and the dead were very intimate; some of the larger tombs were equipped with a dining room and even a kitchen for the annual banquets foreseen in the wills of those buried there.