As the ancient saying goes: there ain’t no party like a Pompeii party, ‘cuz a Pompeii party ends in everyone getting covered in 20 feet of lava. But before a volcanic eruption wiped the Ancient Roman city from the map, Pompeii was a straight up party town. Basically, it was Rome’s version of Las Vegas, full of residents and tourists who liked to go on and on and on ‘til the breaka breaka Mt. Vesuvius. Don’t believe us? In honor of the upcoming action packed disaster movie, Pompeii, which hits theaters Feb. 21, check out the breakdown below for some striking similarities between the world’s two biggest party cities, separated only by an ocean and a couple of millennia.
Water Works – Pompeii, like Vegas, had to have water brought in. Pompeii’s was done by way of Agrippa’s Aqua Augusta aqueduct, while Vegas’s comes via the Las Vegas Valley Water District. You may think water isn’t an important part of partying, but just try making your favorite libations—or surviving a “morning after”—without it.
Villas vs. Hotels – Pompeii was also famous for its luxurious, elaborately designed villas that might even make Steve Wynn weak in the knees. Like their contemporary Vegas counterparts, the Villas had notable names, such as Casa del Fauno (“House of the Faun”) or Casa del Poeta Tragico (“House of the Tragic Poet”).
Arena Shows – Pompeii had its own 20,000 seat arena, where residents and visitors took in live entertainment. The Bellagio Theater, which currently houses the super popular Cirque de Soleil show “O”, can hold 1,800.
Bathhouses – One would think bathhouses would be harder to find in present day Vegas, but they’re there alright, including one in a very prominent resort hotel right off the strip that shall remain nameless. Odds are, Pompeii bathhouses (aka the “Suburban Baths”) were much more lascivious, based on the fact that they were not only unisex, but decorated with some very graphic erotic art.
Brothels – The Romans called brothels “lupanars”, meaning “wolf dens”, and the ladies who worked their “lupas”, meaning—you guessed it—“wolves”. As for our current Sin City, prostitution is actually illegal in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located. But there are a number of other counties in Nevada where it’s totally legit, and Nevada currently has 19 “lupanars” in total—just north of half of the 35 believed to have been active in Pompeii during its height.
To relive the adventurous, outrageous life of a Pompeian, be sure to check out Pompeii when it hits theaters on Feb. 21. For more on the film, and to check out its trailer, visit the official site here. And don’t forget to check out Pompeii: Ashes to Ashes in your app store for an awesome, volcanic mobile gaming experience where destruction is the goal!
