ABSTRACT
The fortifications and their construction would stimulate Pompeii's urban genesis and foster an early communal identity. Pompeii lies on a strategic elevated plateau formed by the remains of a prehistoric volcanic edifice, or dome. The Pomerial Street provided effective communications, and Pompeii had strong natural defenses along its plateau. Fortifications carried a symbolic component that connected with the identity of a community and its image. The widespread use of Pappamonte throughout early Pompeii must have created a unified image because building materials and techniques are the common denominators that unite the appearance of a settlement. The fortifications and the sanctuaries complemented each other, with the defenses protecting the gods and the settlement, thereby stressing the strength of the city and its relationship with the territory. Whether the construction of the wall is the result of a political transformation or a deliberate shift in military tactics or both is unclear, but the implications are the same.