Pompeii is nestled in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, whose massive eruption in 79 AD simultaneously destroyed and preserved this bustling Roman town under 4 to 6 m of volcanic ash and pumice.
One of the world’s most iconic sites, it is a city frozen in time that has revealed more about everyday Roman life than anywhere else. Objects buried beneath Pompeii were well-preserved for almost 2,000 years. Once excavated, the site provided a wealth of source material and evidence, giving detail into the lives of the Pompeiians.
But despite centuries of research and endless scrutiny, Pompeii still has its secrets.
A staggering one third of the site has never been excavated and very little is known about who the bodies in the casts actually are.
Episode Length: 01:30:00
Year: 2010
Episode: 1