Pompeii - Euergetism

a neologism to describe voluntary gift‐giving. Subjects of Greek and Roman cities saw such philanthropy as a cardinal virtue. Benefaction by wealthy citizens (including women) became a characteristic from the 3rd C. BC until late antiquity, and can be seen in thousands of honorific inscriptions memorializing donors. In Greece the origins of euergetism go back to the aristocratic ideal of liberality found in Homer and echoed by Aristotle. Aristotle saw munificence in office as a cynical device of rich oligarchs. Civic euergetism was a mixture of social display, patriotism, and political self‐interest. It was not charity, since its main beneficiary was the citizen body.

Building	Benefactor	Comments
Amphitheatre	Gaius Quinctius Valgus and Marcus Porcius Caius. Also Cuspius Pansa and his son (of the same name)	The first two financed the original building. They were quinquennial duumvirs. The latter two both held important civic offices, including those of duoviri and were honoured for having restored the amphitheatre after the earthquake of AD62
Central Baths	?	?
Forum Baths	Marcus Nigidius Vaccula and Gnaenus Melissaeus Aper Marcus Staius Rufus	Vaccula donated large bronze brazier and three bronze benches. The later two donated marble basin
Stabian Baths	Gaius Uulius and Publius Aninius	Inscriptions state they reconstructed the palaestra and the porticoes and created a laconicum for sweat baths and a destrictarium for cleansing the body.
Suburban Baths	?	?
Basilica	?	?
Building of Eumachia	Eumachia, daughter of Lucius	She donated the chalcidicum, the crypta and the porticus with her own money and dedicated the same to Concordia Augusta and to Pietas
Comitium	?	?
Gladiators' Barracks	?	?
Large Palaestra	Gaius Uulius and Publius Aninius	See Stabian Baths
Large Theatre	Marcus Holconius Rufus and Marcus Holconius Celer	Many inscriptions found throughout the building testify to their benefaction
Macellum	?	?
Municipal Offices	?	?
Odeion	Marcus Oius Verus	Donated marble paving for the Orchestra
Samnite Palaestra	Vibius Vinicius	This was an Oscan inscription Benefactor used money which Vibius Adiranus had left for the good of Pompeii's youth
Doric Temple	?	Was built in the sixth century BC, when Pompeii was under the influence of the powerful Greek state of Cumae and recontructed by the Samnites. Probably abandoned in Roman times
Temple of Apollo	?	?
Temple of Asclepius	?	?
Temple of Fortuna Augusta	Marcus Tullius	Inscription continues ..the son of Marcus, duumvir with judiciary authority for the third time, quinquennial duumvir, augur and military tribune by the choice of the people, erected this temple to Fortuna Augusta on his own ground and at his own expense
Temple of Isis	Numerius Popidius Ampliatus	The father paid for the reconstruction after the eathquake. His four year old son was subsequently elected a councillor
Temple of Jupiter	?	?
Temple of the Lares Public	?	?
Temple of Venus	?	?
Temple of Vespasian	Mamia, daughter of Publius	This may in fact have been a temple to the worship on Augustus. Inscription continues built this on her own land at her expense
Triangular Forum	Lucius Sepunius Sandilianus and Marcus Herennius Epidianus	Inscription continues with duumvirs with judiciary authority, caused the seat and sundial to be made at their own expense