The earliest date for which the day of the week is known. A graffito in Pompeii identifies this day as a dies Solis (Sunday). In modern reckoning, this date would have been a Wednesday. However, according to the system of astrological hours that was originally used to designate the days of the week, a day that was dies Solis according to its sunset hour would have been dies Mercurii (Wednesday) according to its sunrise hour, the convention that finally won out. Accordingly, we know that the currently used cycle of weeks has extended unbroken since at least this date.

The Seven-Day Week: A Fundamental Unit of Time

A week is a fundamental unit of time, precisely defined as a period equal to seven days. This consistent cycle serves as the standard period for cycles of rest and work days across most parts of the world. While widely integrated into daily life and modern calendars, the seven-day week operates independently and is not strictly an intrinsic component of the Gregorian calendar, which primarily dictates the arrangement of months and years based on Earth's orbit around the sun.

Origins and Naming Conventions of the Days

The origins of the seven-day week are ancient, tracing back to astronomical observations in Mesopotamia, particularly the Babylonians, who observed seven celestial bodies visible to the naked eye: the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. This astrological significance influenced the concept of a seven-day cycle.

In many languages, the names assigned to the days of the week directly reflect this ancient practice, being named after classical planets or the deities associated with them from various pantheons. This tradition is clearly observable in English, where the days are:

This sequence, where the days are named after celestial bodies or their mythological counterparts, is often referred to as a "planetary week."

The Biblical and Jewish Week: A Numbered System

In contrast to the planetary week, another significant arrangement, particularly prevalent in Abrahamic traditions, numbers the days. This system is deeply rooted in the Jewish week, as described in the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Old Testament in the Christian Bible). This framework served as the basis for the week in the New Testament, where the seven days are simply numbered, with the "first day" (often aligned with Sunday) being a Christian day of worship, and the "seventh day" being a sabbath day (Saturday).

The Hebrew Bible provides a profound theological explanation for this structure, detailing God's creation of the world in six days, followed by a day of rest. Consequently, in Hebrew, the first six days of the week are literally named after their ordinal numbers:

However, the seventh and final day deviates from this numbering convention. Instead of being called "Seventh" (שביעי, Shevi'i), it is named Shabbat (שבת), derived from the Hebrew word לשבות (lishbot), meaning "to rest." This nomenclature is directly linked to the biblical narrative where God rested from the work of creation on this day. Thus, Shabbat, equivalent to Saturday, became the designated day of worship and rest within Jewish tradition, serving as the last day of the week, with the following day, Sunday, marking the commencement of the new Hebrew week. Thousands of years later, these Hebrew names continue to be used for the weekdays, and this ancient week construct remains central to Jewish observance.

Global Variations in the Start of the Week

Despite the prevalence of the seven-day cycle, there is no universal consensus on which day marks the beginning of the week. This leads to interesting regional variations:

Beyond the Standard Seven Days: Expanded Meanings of "Week"

The term "week" is occasionally expanded beyond its strict seven-day definition to describe other time units comprising a few days, particularly those defined by specific activities or historical contexts:

Frequently Asked Questions About the Week

How many days are in a standard week?
A standard week consists of seven days.
Is the week part of the Gregorian calendar?
While commonly used alongside it, the week is an independent time cycle and not strictly an inherent part of the Gregorian calendar, which organizes days into months and years.
Why do some countries start the week on Sunday and others on Monday?
The difference stems from cultural, historical, and religious traditions. Many countries with Christian roots historically start the week on Sunday (the "Lord's Day"), while the international ISO 8601 standard, widely adopted in Europe and for business, designates Monday as the start for practical and secular reasons.
What is the significance of "Shabbat"?
Shabbat is the Hebrew name for the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and worship in Jewish tradition, based on the biblical account of God resting on the seventh day after creation.

Pompeii: A City Frozen in Time by Vesuvius

Pompeii, an ancient Roman city, is located in what is now the comune of Pompei, near the bustling city of Naples in the Campania region of southern Italy. This thriving urban center, along with its neighboring town Herculaneum and numerous opulent villas scattered across the surrounding area (such as those found at Boscoreale and Stabiae), met a cataclysmic end when it was violently engulfed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The city was buried under an astonishing 4 to 6 meters (approximately 13 to 20 feet) of volcanic ash and pumice, effectively preserving it for nearly two millennia.

The Catastrophic Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79

On a fateful day, traditionally believed to be October 24, AD 79 (though some scholars suggest a later autumn date based on archaeological evidence like seasonal fruits), Mount Vesuvius, a powerful stratovolcano, erupted with devastating force. Unlike Herculaneum, which was overwhelmed by superheated pyroclastic flows, Pompeii was primarily buried by a steady fall of ash and pumice. This gradual yet relentless burial, lasting over 18 hours, led to the collapse of roofs under the weight of the volcanic debris and the asphyxiation of many inhabitants who chose to remain. The deep layers of ash provided an exceptional, albeit tragic, form of preservation, sealing the city and its contents almost perfectly.

A Frozen Moment in Time: Life in Ancient Pompeii

Largely preserved beneath the thick volcanic blanket, the excavated city of Pompeii has offered an unparalleled "snapshot" of Roman life, literally frozen at the precise moment of its burial. While some of the minute, everyday details of its inhabitants' lives may have been lost during early, less scientifically rigorous excavations, the city nonetheless reveals an astonishing amount about Roman society. Pompeii was a prosperous town, boasting an estimated population of approximately 11,000 in AD 79. Its wealth was reflected in its many impressive public buildings, including an amphitheater, forum, temples, and bathhouses, as well as luxurious private houses. These residences were adorned with lavish frescoes, intricate mosaics, elegant furnishings, and exquisite works of art, which were significant attractions for early excavators. The exceptional preservation even extended to organic remains; wooden objects, foodstuffs, and even human bodies, initially entombed within the ash, left behind voids as they decayed over time. These voids became invaluable archaeological treasures.

Unearthing History: Archaeological Discoveries and Techniques

The unique preservation conditions at Pompeii enabled a groundbreaking archaeological technique. Archaeologists discovered that the voids left by decayed organic matter could be used as natural molds. In the mid-19th century, Giuseppe Fiorelli, a pioneering archaeologist, perfected the technique of pouring plaster into these cavities. This innovative method allowed for the creation of hauntingly lifelike plaster casts, capturing the final moments of Pompeii's inhabitants, often depicting their expressions of agony and their exact positions as death overtook them. These unique and frequently gruesome figures offer a deeply poignant connection to the individuals who perished.

Linguistic Treasures: The Graffiti of Pompeii

Beyond the structural remains and the poignant casts, the walls of Pompeii yielded an extraordinary linguistic treasure trove: countless pieces of graffiti. These informal inscriptions, carved by ordinary citizens on public walls and inside private rooms, provide a wealth of examples of Vulgar Latin. This was the colloquial, spoken form of Latin used by the general populace, offering a vivid contrast to the more formal, literary Latin preserved in the works of classical writers. The graffiti offers invaluable insights into the daily lives, thoughts, humor, political opinions, and even personal relationships of the Pompeiians, detailing everything from simple greetings and declarations of love to political endorsements and witty insults.

Preserving a Legacy: Pompeii Today

Today, Pompeii stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its outstanding universal value. It remains one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions, drawing approximately 2.5 million visitors annually who come to explore its remarkably preserved streets, homes, and public spaces, gaining an unparalleled insight into the Roman world. The management of the site has evolved significantly over time. Following extensive excavations prior to 1960 that uncovered the majority of the city but unfortunately also left much of it vulnerable to decay due to exposure, major new excavations were largely curtailed. Instead, focus shifted to conservation, restoration, and targeted interventions in prioritized areas. This strategic approach led to exciting new discoveries in 2018 within previously unexplored sections of the city, demonstrating the enduring potential for further revelations about this extraordinary ancient metropolis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pompeii

Where is Pompeii located?
Pompeii is located in the Campania region of Italy, near the city of Naples, at the base of Mount Vesuvius.
What happened to Pompeii?
Pompeii was buried under meters of volcanic ash and pumice in the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
How was Pompeii so well preserved?
The city was rapidly buried by fine volcanic ash and pumice, which sealed structures and organic materials, protecting them from decay and the elements over centuries.
What are the famous plaster casts of Pompeii?
The plaster casts are replicas of the voids left in the hardened ash by the decomposed bodies of Pompeii's victims. Archaeologists filled these voids with plaster, revealing the exact forms and often the final moments of the people and animals caught in the eruption.
Is Pompeii still being excavated?
While large-scale excavations are rare due to conservation concerns, targeted and prioritized excavations continue, leading to new discoveries, as recently as 2018.