The start of the war, 90 BC (B1)
B1 Appian, Civil Wars 1.39
When the revolt broke out in Asculum, all the neighbouring peoples joined in showing that they were ready for war: the Marsi, the Paeligni, the Vestini, the Marrucini; in addition, the Picentines, the Frentani, the Hirpini, the Pompeians, the Venusini, the Apulians, and the Samnites, all peoples who had been hostile to the Romans before. . . They sent ambassadors to Rome complaining that they had done everything to help the Romans with their empire, but the Romans did not think that those who had helped them deserved citizenship.
Siege of Pompeii, 89 BC (B2—6)
In dealing with certain aspects of the Italian War, Velleius (B2) mentions the leading generals on either side, and pays especial attention to his own maternal ancestor, Minatius Magius of Aeclanum. Titus Didius was killed in taking Herculaneum on 11 June. Appian’s notice (B3) relates to the episode when Lucius Cluentius, one of the allies’ military leaders, came to help the besieged Pompeians, but after an initial success was defeated by Sulla somewhere between Pompeii and Nola. Nearby Stabiae was sacked on 30 April 89 BC. The testimony of the fifth-century Christian historian, Orosius (B4) must be treated with caution.
At Pompeii itself, traces of Sulla’s presence may be seen in a graffito (B6), in notices organizing the Pompeians’ resistance (B5), and in the damage left in the town fortifications by the bombardment of Sulla, some of whose missiles have even been found alongside the northern stretch of the walls.
B2 Velleius Paterculus 2.16.2
In this war he {Minatius Magius} showed such loyalty to the Romans that with a legion which he had enlisted from the Hirpini, he captured Herculaneum with Titus Didius and attacked Pompeii with Sulla.
B3 Appian, Civil Wars 1.50
Lucius Cluentius contemptuously encamped 600 metres from Sulla who was encamped near the Pompeian hills.
B4 Orosius, Histories against the Pagans 5.18.22
In the 66lst year from the founding of the city {= 93 bc}, the Roman army went to besiege the Pompeians. Postumius Albinus, an ex-consul, at that time was a commander of Lucius Sulla. He had aroused the hatred of all the soldiers towards him by his unbearable arrogance, and was stoned to death.
A series of Oscan inscriptions painted upon the outer walls of houses near street corners came to light once their overlying plaster had peeled off after excavation. Examples have been found at VI. ii.4, VII. vii, VI. xii.23-25 (House of the Faun), VIII. v/vi (Street of Abundance), III. iv.1-2 (east end of Street of Abundance). They are thought to relate somehow to military operations, from the time when Sulla was besieging Pompeii. They are usually taken to be notices relating to individual urban districts giving the location of mustering points in case of an emergency. The Salt Gate mentioned in B5 is the Oscan name for what is now known as the Herculaneum Gate.
B5 Vetter (1953) no. 23
Go by this route between the 12 th tower and the Salt Gate, where Maras Atrius, son of Vibius, gives instructions.
Traces of Sulla at Pompeii (B6)
Sulla’s name appears twice (CIL IV 5385, 10217a) in graffiti on the first tower to the west of the Vesuvian Gate (Tower 10). One of these texts is written on plaster next to a window in the lower part of the tower.
B6 CIL IV 5385
L. Sula
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