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PompeiiLocated just outside of present-day Naples, Italy, Pompeii was a thriving ancient Roman city until the year 79 CE, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the town under roughly 20 feet of volcanic ash. The eruption lasted for two days, accompanied by several earthquakes, and covered the city in a thick blanket of debris. While some have disputed the primary cause of death, experts generally agree that most of those who died in Pompeii perished from suffocation or by being crushed under collapsing buildings. Rediscovered in the 16th century and excavated starting in 1748, its remains revealed stunning frescoes, preserved household items, and eerie plaster casts of victims caught in their final moments. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pompeii offers an unparalleled glimpse into Roman life, while nearby Mount Vesuvius remains an active threat.Explore Pompeii
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A fresco from ancient Pompeii featured an 'ancestor of modern pizza'A team of archaeologists discovered a fresco from 79 CE featuring what appears to be a proto-pizza: a pita topped with fruit, spices, and other toppings. One archaeologist in the PBS documentary below calls it an "ancestor of modern pizza in the sense that it's a very simple, poor kind of food." PBSArchaeologists discovered over 11,000 examples of graffiti in ancient PompeiiResidents drew various figures and announcements on homes, temples, and walls, much of it preserved by volcanic ash. While some were clearly intended to be artistic, scholars have noted that the ancient graffiti has more in common with social media than with the tags and murals we associate today with the art form. Smithsonian MagazineThe art and architecture of the devastated PompeiiLong buried under feet of ash, the city of Pompeii's discovery millennia later sparked a world of imagination and tragedy. See a collection of paintings, buildings, and photographs from the city all in one easy-to-browse gallery. Google Arts & CultureSee unused gladiator helmets discovered in PompeiiEarly excavations at Pompeii uncovered pristine gladiator helmets and armor, showing no signs of combat wear, which were likely used only in ceremonial processions. Many are now displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Pompeii in PicturesA recently discovered fresco in Pompeii depicts gladiators fightingArchaeologists uncovered a gladiator combat fresco beneath a shop staircase in Pompeii. Its location suggests it decorated a low-end tavern near the gladiator barracks—possibly a hangout for fighters themselves. Pompeii SitesHow did people survive the eruption in Pompeii?In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompeii under roughly 20 feet of volcanic ash. This deadly eruption killed much of the city’s population, but archaeologists recently discovered evidence of survivors. In this podcast episode, classicist Steven Tuck challenges the popular belief of total annihilation and explains how people may have survived, and how they continued to live after the disaster. RadiolabPompeii ExplainedBuried under 20 feet of ash in 79 CE, Pompeii preserved villas, street-food shops, frescoes, and victims’ casts in extraordinary detail. Excavated from 1748, it offers a rare glimpse into Roman life, still overshadowed by the active Mount Vesuvius. 1440The fast food shops of ancient PompeiiResearchers have unearthed a frescoed thermopolium (a sort of hot food and drink shop) in Pompeii, the ancient Roman city frozen in time after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. This fascinating discovery provides a glimpse into Roman culinary practices and the daily life of Pompeii's citizens. Sci.NewsExplore Pompeii with an interactive map packed with 60+ key sitesThis tool provides detailed information on major landmarks—from the Villa of Mysteries to the House of the Tragic Poet—and suggests themed walking routes based on visit length. A companion app adds virtual reconstructions and a full audioguide. Planet PompeiiPompeii had cafés, nightlife, public baths, and even local electionsThis BBC History guide highlights how recognizably modern Pompeii was, from its cafés and bustling public bathing complexes to its theaters, bars, and active voting culture. Historian Mary Beard reveals the city’s surprisingly contemporary feel. HistoryExtraPompeii’s ruins expose the brutal realities of Rome’s sex tradeDrawing on graffiti, slave collars, brothel art, and the story of “Eutychis, a Greek lass with sweet ways,” this piece reconstructs the violent, coercive world of Pompeii’s enslaved prostitutes—and how their owners controlled, renamed, and exploited them. AeonA nearby town proved even more archaeologically important than PompeiiHerculaneum, buried under five times more ash than Pompeii, was sealed so completely that food, furniture, and entire buildings survived. This BBC documentary reveals how its discoveries have transformed scholars' understanding of the diets, work, and social mobility of ordinary Romans. Melan MendoSee haunting images of the plaster casts of Pompeii’s victimsThe plaster casts preserve victims’ final moments in striking detail—from their poses to the expressions frozen on their faces. This piece explains how 19th-century archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli devised the method long after the bodies had decomposed. Pompeii SitesVesuvius has erupted nearly 40 times since PompeiiWith a 17,000-year history and dozens of eruptions since 79 CE, Vesuvius sits atop volatile geological forces that make it an unusually explosive volcano. This explainer breaks down why the volcano remains dangerous today. Science Museum of VirginiaExplore the archaeological treasures of PompeiiExcavations revealed stunning finds—a wooden bed, a horse’s saddle, and vivid frescoes—while also suggesting the eruption may have occurred in October, not April. See the discoveries from the EU’s $140M Great Pompeii Project. Smithsonian MagazineRead the only firsthand account of the Pompeii disasterIn two letters to historian Tacitus, Roman official Pliny the Younger describes the eruption from afar—earth-shaking, sky-darkening, and seawater retreating—and recounts how his uncle, Pliny the Elder, died while attempting a rescue. York UniversityA 3D animation brings Pompeii’s final day to lifeThis animation recreates the city from a rooftop vantage point, showing how an ordinary day turned deadly as Vesuvius erupted. The most chilling moment comes when a 900-degree cloud of toxic gas engulfs Pompeii in seconds. Zero OneA 101 on PompeiiVesuvius’ eruption in 79 CE preserved an entire Roman city in ash, leaving future archaeologists an unprecedented gift: the most complete glimpse to date into the daily life of ancient Romans. The encyclopedia entry, originally written by one of the site’s leading archaeological scholars, is a one-stop shop for all things Pompeii, including what several generations of archaeologists have discovered over centuries of excavation. Encyclopaedia BritannicaExperts reconstruct Pompeii’s daily life—and whether disaster could strike againThis documentary utilizes archaeology, X-rays, and 3D reconstructions to reconstruct what the streets, homes, and rituals of Pompeii looked like before 79 CE. Scientists also use satellite imaging to track landslide risks that could damage the site today. Real HistoryPompeii's buried secrets are still being revealedDespite digging for decades, archaeologists are still uncovering new insights into life before the blast that buried Pompeii. Follow a journalist's footsteps as they explore the ruins of Pompeii in this article. The ruins were discovered in the 1700s, and formal excavations throughout the 19th and 20th centuries revealed temples, mansions, and entire streets, while a third of the city remains to be excavated. The New YorkerCeren: The Maya Pompeii (sans all the bodies)The Maya village of Ceren in El Salvador was preserved by volcanic ash from 1,400 years ago, revealing insights into ancient Maya commoners' lives. Ceren villagers had autonomy in their daily activities, and excavations reveal evidence of communal decision-making and event hints at the presence of a community sauna. Dive into more of the archaeological finds on how businesses were run, how they prepared for disaster, and more. National Science FoundationExplore the collection of vivid frescoes Pompeii left behindThis gallery showcases remarkably preserved frescoes depicting food, daily life, landscapes, and myth. Tools abandoned during the eruption reveal how ancient artists worked, offering insight into Pompeii’s visual culture before Vesuvius buried the city in ash. ArtNetA collection of ancient graffiti from Pompeii, HerculaneumFrom cavemen to marker-wielding children, humans have always wanted to leave their mark. Read some of the graffiti left by ancient Romans here. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum feature exquisite levels of preservation due to the nature of their demise. Viewers can see the surviving graffiti by clicking through the site's featured collections, which include topics such as poetry and love. AGPExplore the British Museum's Pompeii and Herculaneum collectionThis video tour utilizes the British Museum’s collection—featuring frescoes, tools, cookware, jewelry, and even carbonized food—to reconstruct daily life in Pompeii and Herculaneum, offering an expert view of how people lived before the eruption transformed both cities. British MuseumExplore a database of ancient graffitiTake a look at thousands of pieces of graffiti from the walls of Herculaneum and Pompeii, including name tags, crude jokes, and crude drawings. The database, maintained by classical scholars, allows you to explore maps of the cities and images of the original inscriptions. Ancient Graffiti'Graffiti' comes from the Italian for 'a scribbling'The word was first used in 1851 to describe the ancient inscriptions on Pompeii's walls. "Graffiti" is the plural form of "graffito," which means "a scribbling." EtymonlineThe ancient Greeks were known to take vacationsHistorians trace the vacation back to at least ancient Greece, where many people traveled to festivals and athletic events, including the Olympic Games. BBC BitesizeResearchers think most of its residents escaped with their lives—but how?With only a few hundred bodies recovered, evidence suggests most Pompeiians fled. This TED-Ed animation follows the stories of three hypothetical residents—one who stayed inside, one who ran, and one who fled by sea—to illustrate how their survival ultimately depended on the choices they made. TED-EdNew evidence suggests the eruption's victims died as their blood boiledWhile most Pompeii victims suffocated or were crushed, spectroscopic analysis of bones from a nearby town indicates something more extreme: exposure to superheated gas that instantly boiled blood and caused deadly internal trauma. Popular Science