Pompeii was built on the slope of a hill formed from volcanic lava.
Situated on the warm waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, it was a thriving port city that received enormous amounts of money from trade, allowing it to grow without disruption.
We do not know what the social organization and hierarchy were in those times, but it seems that such a large enterprise had to be supervised by someone.
No traces of living quarters for the elite have been found, no graves with luxury goods, and no traces indicating differences in food quality.
A Theater, Amphitheater and Palestrina were built on the outskirts of the city.
Pompeian houses were decorated with magnificent mosaics. One can see inscriptions on the facades of the buildings, which may have been something like advertisements.