\n\tIn 87 B.C. Pompeii became a municipality <\/em>as most of the cities of Italy and shortly after in the 80- it was colony<\/em>. This double origin of the inhabitants of Pompeii was reflected initially in the institutions until to be unified.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe old democracies have a big difference with today: they are not universal and therefore very few individuals are involved. The number of electors of Pompeii would be very small. With the city and the surrounding countryside there were an estimated 36,000 people, of which half were slaves; half of the remaining half would be women who did not vote; there were also the children. We may think that they could vote 2,500 people in the city and 5,000 in the field. So we think that family relationships,friendship would be determining. <\/p>\n
\n\tIn cities such as Pompeii they were chosen some charges similar to then of the "urbs", the "city", Rome<\/em>, with responsibilities relating exclusively to your local office.<\/p>\n \n\tSpecifically the aediles<\/em>, like the aediles of Rome and like our present councilors<\/em>, also annual, and duoviri <\/em>or more important local magistrates, like the Roman consuls<\/em>, were elected by the citizens, for annual term.To be Duovir <\/em>it was necessary to have been before aedile<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tThe deputies, the aediles, took care of the municipal police, streets, public buildings, water, assigning positions in the market, to raise local taxes and municipal properties leased, etc.. In some inscription they are called "duoviri charged of streets and public and sacred buildings"<\/p>\n \n\tThe ancient duoviri made the “ordo decurionum<\/em>”, similar to the Senate<\/em>, for life, elected by themselves.<\/p>\n \n\tThe seviri augustales<\/em> or priests of Augustus<\/em>, were chosen in turn by the ordo decurionum<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tEvery five years the quinquenales <\/em>(for five year) duoviri <\/em>played local functions similar to the censors <\/em>of Rome<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tIt seems that for duoviri <\/em>it was only two annual candidates, ie, as many as charges. We could raise a question about real democracy in Pompeii, but it bear in mind that to be duunvir<\/em>, it had to have been before aedile<\/em>, and only two councilors were elected each year, so the list of possible candidates was very small. So the closest elections were of aedile, Elections would be held in March or April and the term would begin in July.<\/p>\n \n\tThe vote (suffragium<\/em>) was expressed in writing (per tabellam<\/em>) in a wax tablet on which candidate’s name was engraved with a stylus<\/em>. The tablet was deposited in a box (arca<\/em>) or basket (cista) in your district, overseen by representatives from other districts, usually three. The process was chaired and supervised by the proposed by the electoral assembly duovirum<\/em>, generally greatest in old, sitting in the stands (suggestum<\/em>) assisted by his collaborators, as the specialist Staccioli, RA <\/em>says in his Manifesti elettorali nell'antica Pompei<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tThe description corresponds in its entirety to the current process: districts, ballot boxes, ballot papers, agents and representatives, president of the board of elections …<\/p>\n \n\tAn important element of the process was the electoral propaganda<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tWe have many testimonies of election posters in Pompeii<\/em>: the 25,000 inscriptions or graffiti appearing on walls of houses, some on the outside and others inside, tenth, about 2,500 are election posters that provide us a lot and sometimes curious information.<\/p>\n \n\tIt should be made some general consideration. First such registration implies a certain level and development of reading ability of Pompeian people; some famous paintings and mosaics also reflect the literacy rate. \n\tCIL 04, 03775<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tNeighbours beg you to elect Lucius Statius Receptus duumvir with judicial \n\tL(ucium) Statium Receptum \n\tMost are written in red and black. They are written into capital (uppercase<\/em>) letter and in italics and reflect spoken Latin, Vulgar Latin<\/em> as some call …<\/p>\n \n\tThey are usually very formulaic and respect a formula that is repeated constantly (also current ads are very formulaic and do not vary in its general form of a campaign to another, they do not lack in, for example, VOTE <\/em>…). That is, in general they are very monotonous and uncreative and they use abbreviations profusely, O <\/em>for “oro, orant (to beg)<\/em>; V <\/em>for vobis (to you)<\/em>, F <\/em>for faciatis (made)<\/em>; ROG <\/em>for ROGo, rogant; DRP<\/em> for Dignum rei publcae <\/em>(ideal for Public Affairs<\/em>).<\/p>\n \n\tThe general formula is: name of the candidate in the accusative and office which is demanded in abbreviated, AED (ILEM), II VIR (um)<\/em>. Then the name whose proposes or endorses asking the vote in nominative and Formula ROG (at \/ ant, propose, ask, or O (ro) V (os) F (aciatis) (I ask you to do).<\/em> The indicate in general way:<\/p>\n \n\tMrs so-and-so asks you to do (duunvir) to Mrs. So-and-so ..<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tEver they have a little more originality, as in the following example where the message is interspersed between the letters of the candidate (CIL, IV 07868)<\/em>:<\/p>\n \n\tI beg you to elect Lollius, suitable for roads and public and sacred buildings.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \n\tLollium d(ignum) v(iis) a(edibus) s(sacris) p(ublicis) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) \n\t \n\tGenerally each poster is dedicated to one a candidate and rarely both names appear.<\/p>\n \n\tThe posters are not cleared after each campaign, but they are accumulated on each other; sometimes the old posters are covered with a layer of plaster to register new top of them. Some advertisements correspond to the time of creation of Pompei as a Roman colony <\/em>in 80 BC, but most correspond to the last years of the city, between the earthquake of 62 DC and the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD that destroyed the city.<\/p>\n \n\tConsidering that some are superimposed on other advertisements that were not deleted, it has been tried to set a timeline of the candidates, but it is a very difficult and challenging task.<\/p>\n \n\tSome have certainly been directly commissioned by the candidate concerned, other are given by members of the family, others show anonymous support or of certain social groups (fullers, dyers, millers, poultry, harvesters, carpet makers or matting makers, ointments vendors, fishermen , muleteers, onion sellers, jewelers, hairdressers, barbers, bakers, hatters, ..),or religious brotherhoods (devotees of Venus, devotees of Isis, …); or groups of friends (ball players, checkers players, comrades, friends amphitheater shows, the workers and the poor, prostitutes …); or of certain influential people. So one resorts to the authority of Suedius Titus Clemens, agent of the emperor Vespasian. Naturally, the owner of the building in which the graffiti appears would support the candidate.<\/p>\n \n\tCIL 04, 01147<\/em>: \n\tA(ulum) Vettium Firmum \/ aed(ilem) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) d(ignum) r(ei) p(ublicae) o(ro) v(os) f(aciats) pilicrepi facite<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 09932<\/em> \n\tModestum aed (ilem)[prole]tari et pauper[es] facite<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tNote: others read [unguen] tari (i) perfumers<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \n\tCIL, IV 00202<\/em> \t \n\tM HOLCONIVM \n\tM(arcum) Holconium \/ Priscum IIvir(um) i(ure) d(icundo) \/ pomari universi \/ cum Helvio Vestale rog(ant)<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tIn any case there are no formal political parties and others are who ask to vote for the candidate.<\/p>\n \n\tEver, few times, the name of a woman appears, as for example Tedia Secunda<\/em>, who turns out to be the grandmother of Lucius Popidius Secundus<\/em>, with him she appears next to. Anyway, grandmothers before as now have a weakness for their grandchildren and this would be proud of the political career of his grandson.<\/p>\n \n\t(CIL 04, 07469)<\/em> \n\tL(ucium) Popi[dium] S[ecun]d[u]m aed(ilem) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) \/ Taed[i]a secunda cupiens avia rog(at) et fecit<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tOn several occasions the girls of a tavern are the support for a candidate, in jest or seriously, we do not know …<\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 07863<\/em> \n\tNote<\/em>: Aselina’s girls<\/em> would be prostitutes.<\/p>\n \n\tC(aium) Lollium \/ Fuscum IIvir(um) v(iis) a(edibus) s(acris) p(ublicis) p(rocurandis) \/ Asellinas(!) rogant(!) \/ nec sine Zmyrina<\/em><\/p>\n \t \n\tIt is striking the support to candidate of a group of women who just do not vote or participate in politics. \n\tThe names of four women, Aselina, Egle, Smyrna and Mary<\/em>, who may belong to the same inscription, appear on the outer wall of a tavern in Via dell'Abbondanza<\/em>; they probably are waitresses or prostitutes. Maybe it's the maids; for example, Greek names Egle<\/em> and Smyrna<\/em> seem slave name; maybe some horny put the names of the maids next to the electoral advises jokingly completing the ad. Perhaps the interested Gayo Juiio Polybius, did not like it because it appears erased the name of Smyrna <\/em>with a layer of lime, as if he wanted to remove that support … or maybe i was the concerned girl who covered it.<\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 7862<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tI beg you to elect Cn. Helvius Sabinus aedile, worthy of public office. Aegle \n\tCn(aeum) Helvium Sabinum \/ aed(ilem) d(ignum) r(ei) p(ublicae) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) Aegle rogat<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 7866<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tI beg you to elect Cn. Helvius Sabinus aedile, worthy of public office. Maria \n\tCn(aeum) Helvium Sabinum \/ aed(ilem) d(ignum) r(ei) p(ublicae) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) Maria rogat<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tSo too it has been deleted the name Cuculla <\/em>from the inscription, perhaps because the candidate did not like him or his "election committee":<\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 07841<\/em> \n\tC(aium) Iulium Polybium. (duo)vir(um) Cuculla rog(at)<\/em><\/p>\n \n\t \n\tMarcus Cerrinius Vatia<\/em> is supported by numerous individuals and groups such as pomari <\/em>or apple sellers, (CIL, IV 00149), or by the saccari <\/em>or boots bags (CIL, IV 00274), or by the campanians <\/em>(CIL, IV 00480), or by coronarii<\/em>, the manufacturers of crowns (CIL, IV 00502) and by all seribibi<\/em> or "drinking late into the night"<\/em> (CIL, IV, 00581<\/em>), which I reproduce below:<\/p>\n \n\tThe late drinkers all ask you to elect Marcus Cerrinius Vatia aedile. Florus \n\tM(arcum) Cerrinium \/ Vatiam aed(ilem) o(rant) v(os) f(aciatis) seribibi \/ universi rogant \/ scr(ipsit) Florus cum Fructo<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tNote<\/em>: some commenter thinks that the names of the clerks are fictitious.<\/p>\n \n\tAnd they who sleep with<\/em> … (do not know with whom):<\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 00575<\/em> \n\tVatiam aed(ilem) rogant \/ Ma cerio(m!) dormientes \/ universi cum \/ [<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tAnd thieves<\/em>:<\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 00576<\/em> \n\tVatiam aed(ilem) furunculi rog(ant)<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tAnd fugitive slaves<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 07389<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tMarcus Cerrinius Vatia. All fugitive slaves<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\t[M Cerrinium Vatiam?] drapetae omnes<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tThey all seem examples of counter-propaganda<\/em> or unwanted support.<\/p>\n \n\tIt is funny one in which the artist adds some harvest<\/p>\n \n\tCIL IV 07621<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tCaius Julis Polybius for aedile for looking after the roads [and] the sacred [and] public buildings. Lantern carrier, hold the ladder.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \n\tC(aium) Iulium Polybium \/ aed(ilem) v(iis) a(edibus) s(acris) p(ublicis) p(rocurandis) \/\/ lanternari tene \/ scalam<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tThere is not program or campaign promises; it seems to prevail the moral status of the candidate. Sometimes the initials DRP (Dignum Rei Ppublicae)<\/em> and adjectives related to your dignity and honesty appear. "Dignus<\/em>" actually means “suitable, adequate<\/em>”. Other laudatory adjectives that can be used sometimes are virum bonum (good man), virum probum (honest man); iuvenem (Young), iuvenem probum (honest young) adulescentem probum (honest teenager), verecundissimum (very respectable)<\/em>, adding so any reason to vote for him.<\/p>\n \n\tCIL 04, 06626<\/em> \n\tSi pudor in vita quicquam prodesse putatur \/ Lucretius hic Fronto dignus honore bono est<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tIt is said about Gaius Julius Polybius<\/em> that "shows (or bring) good bread<\/em>" without knowing if he is the baker or someone who makes a deal of free bread.<\/p>\n \n\t(CIL.IV 00429)<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tI beg you to elect Gaius Julius Polybius aedile. He brings good bread.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tC(aium) Iulium Polybium \/ aed(ilem) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) panem bonum fert<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tIt is said about Brutius Balbus<\/em> that "he does not squander money in town<\/em>" and this may mean that it is a good manager or that he spends their own money<\/p>\n \n\t(CIL, IV 03702)<\/em>:<\/p>\n \n\tBrutius Balbus for duumvir. This will save the public purse. Genialis asks it.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tBruttium Balbum \/\/ IIvir(um) \/ hic aerarium conservabit \/\/ Gen[ialis] \/ rog(at)<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tCasuistry is huge in 2500 ads. I reproduce some more with some curious detail, so:<\/p>\n \n\t(CIL, IV, 02887)<\/em> \n\tQuintio(m) si qui recusat, assidat ad asinum”<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tNote<\/em>: Unlike most, this does not call for the vote butt announces evils for those who do not provide. With "sit on a donkey<\/em>" it seems to refer to heavy and constant work with which the asses were circling the mill wheel; to it the poet Catullus <\/em>refers in his poem 97, v, 10<\/em>: "et non Pistrino asino atque traditur?<\/em>" (and is he not sent to the mill as a donkey<\/em><\/strong>. It could also mean "to ride on a donkey to serve. derision and mockery.<\/em><\/strong> "<\/p>\n \n\t
\n\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.antiquitatem.com\/imgs\/arts\/pompeya1.jpg\")
The graffiti<\/em>, generally well calligraphed, are made by professional sign makers who make any kind of registration; they are as conscious of his art that they sometimes initialed his name. For example a certain Celer <\/em>reports that "Aemilius Celer, his neighbor, wrote it,<\/strong><\/em>" and in anticipation that someone erased, he added: "If you have the evil to erase it, I wish something wrong for you.<\/em>" This Celer is the author of other graffiti announcing a gladiatorial show.<\/p>\n
\n\tpower, a worthy man. Aemilius Celer wrote this, a neighbour. You jealous
\n\tone who destroys this, may you fall ill.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\tIIvir(um) i(ure) d(icundo) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) vicini dig(num)
\n\tscr(ibsit) Aemilius Celer vic(ini)
\n\tinvidiose
\n\tqui deles
\n\tae[g]rotes<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\t L OD LV LA IS VP M OVF<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.antiquitatem.com\/imgs\/arts\/pompeya_2_reducido.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\tI ask that you elect aedile Aulus Vettius Firmus, worthy of public things, ask you to elect him; ball players elect him.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n\tModestus for aedile (city councillor). The underprivileged and the poor elect him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\tAll sellers of apples with Helvius Vestalis propos Marcus Holconius Priscus for duunvir (major) (II vir) in charge of justice (iure dicundo)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.antiquitatem.com\/imgs\/arts\/pompeya_3_reducido.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\tPRISCVM .II VIR . I. D.
\n\tPOMARI. VNIVERSI
\n\tCVM HELVIO VESTALE ROG…<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\t I beg you to make Lucius Popidius Secundus aedile. His anxious grandmother Tedia Secunda ask it and he did him.<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n
\n\t[Make] C.Lollius Fuscus duumvir for looking after the roads [and] the sacred [and] oublic buildings. Aselina’s [girls?] ask you, not without Zmyrna.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.antiquitatem.com\/imgs\/arts\/pompeya_4_reducido.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\tSometimes irony can be glimpsed, such as when certain not advisable groups seem to show support for a candidate or maybe it's also an example of counter-propaganda. See below the comment to a graffiti referred to Helvius <\/em>…<\/p>\n
\n\tasks this.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\tasks this.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\tCaius Julis Polybius for duunvirum. Cuculla beg it.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.antiquitatem.com\/imgs\/arts\/pompeya_5_reducido.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\tand Fructus wrote this.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n\tAll those asleep and Macerius ask for Vatia as aedile.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\tThe little thieves ask for Vatia as aedile.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n\tIf integrity in life is thought to be of any use,
\n\tThis man, Lucretius Fronto is worthy of great honour.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n\tIf reject Quintius, , sit on a donkey<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n