The Pompeian Prayer is an ancient prayer that originated in the city of Pompeii. It was found on the wall of one of the houses in Pompeii, following the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. The prayer is one of the most important archaeological finds related to the religion of ancient Rome.
History of discovery
The story of the discovery of the Pompeian prayer is interesting and full of unexpected twists and turns. The prayer was discovered in 1709 by Italian archaeologist Francesco la Vega. La Vega was one of the first explorers of Pompeii to embark on the research after the discovery of the city in 1599 by Italian Domenico Fontana.
La Vega discovered the Pompeian prayer during one of the many excavations he was conducting in Pompeii. He found it on the wall of one of the houses that had been destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The house was one of many that were discovered in Pompeii at the time, but La Vega quickly realized that his discovery was particularly important.
La Vega was the first to notice that there was a religious inscription on the wall, which was a unique find related to the religion of ancient Rome. He quickly realized that the discovery provided invaluable information about the religious beliefs and practices of the people of Pompeii.
La Vega published his discovery in 1709, in the book "Pompeiana: La descrizione di Pompei," in which he described his research and discoveries in Pompeii, including the Pompeian prayer. The book became an important source of information for other archaeologists and scholars of antiquity who were interested in Pompeii and the religion of ancient Rome.
Contents of the prayer
The Pompeian prayer is a prayer addressed to various deities that were worshipped in ancient Rome. The words of the prayer express a request for protection and help for the inhabitants of the house where it was found. The prayer includes requests for protection from dangers, healing, fertility and good luck in business.
The text of the Pompeian prayer is as follows:
"Deae Sanctae, vos rogo et obsecro, ut quidquid ex mea familia est, domo, servis, ancillis, omni familia, in hac ipsa domo, in hac area, in hac villa, in hac fundione, in omni loco, ubicumque sunt, sanos, incolumes, felices, valeant, floreant. Ego vos exoro ut quidquid est apud me, quod vobis placet, id habeam, id teneam, id retineam, id conservem, id amplificem."
Translation:
"God's saints, I ask and implore you that everything that comes from my family, my house, my servants, my slaves, my entire family, in this same house, on this property, in this village, in this steel mill, in every place, wherever they are, be healthy, not injured, happy, flourish. I would ask you that everything that is with me, that you have enjoyed, that I have had, that I have kept, that I have maintained, that I have protected, that I have expanded."
The significance of the discovery
The Pompeian prayer is also important for the study of the culture and religion of ancient Rome. It gives us a better understanding of the religious beliefs and practices of the city's inhabitants and how they were related to their daily lives. The prayer includes requests for blessings on the family, health, fertility and business success, which shows how important these issues were to the people of Pompeii.
The Pompeian Prayer has helped research the language of ancient Rome. It contains many words and grammatical forms that are no longer used in modern Latin, allowing for a better understanding of how the language evolved over the centuries.
The Pompeian prayer is used in the field of research on the history of Pompeii. The find dates back to the period when the city was one of the most important commercial and cultural centers in ancient Rome. By studying the Pompeian Prayer, archaeologists can better understand what the daily lives of the inhabitants of Pompeii were like, what their needs and interests were, and what their relationships were with other cities and cultures of the period.
It is worth mentioning that the Pompeian Prayer is one of the few finds from Pompeii that are religiously related. Many other religious inscriptions that have been found in Pompeii have been destroyed or lost. This is why the Pompeian prayer is so valuable to the study of ancient Roman religion and is one of the most important surviving sources of information on the subject.
The Pompeian prayer is also important for research into the history of natural disasters. The find dates back to the period when the city was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius, which allows a better understanding of the scale and consequences of the disaster and what the inhabitants' reactions to the situation were.
In conclusion, the Pompeian prayer is an important archaeological find that originated in the city of Pompeii. It was found on the wall of one of the houses that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This prayer allows us to better understand the religion of ancient Rome and the art of the time, giving us a unique insight into the daily life of the inhabitants of Pompeii. The find is still being studied by archaeologists who are trying to understand its full significance.
