The homes and public buildings that have been excavated from the volcanic ash that buried Pompeii all offer tantalising glimpses into the lives of the Romans living in the city before the terrible eruption of AD 79 – but so do the streets. With a new BBC TV series about Pompeii in the offing, Sophie Hay looks back 100 years to a dig that transformed our understanding of Roman daily life
10 Fascinating Facts About The Ancient City Of Pompeii
After the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79, the entire city of Pompeii in the Bay of Naples was buried and forgotten until the mid-18th century. Today, Pompeii is one of the most iconic archaeological sites and it holds a special place in the imagination of the general public.
When the volcanic gas and ashes reached Pompeii and sealed its fate, the city was “paused” in time. When the site was rediscovered, its excellent state of preservation became apparent. In terms of volume of detailed archaeological data, no other site can rival Pompeii.