Around 14 miles southeast of Naples, Italy, lies the once-grand city of Pompeii. Not far away stands Mount Vesuvius, the mountain that showered volcanic debris all over Pompeii on 24th August 79 CE, effectively burying the luxurious city under a thick layer of ash, rocks and pumice and freeing it in time. Years after the eruption and the destruction of both Pompeii and Herculaneum, archaeologists and historians have carried out excavations to reveal many intricate details about this ancient city. Pompeii has always remained alive in our collective memory through the many movies and stories that have been created based on it. Today, almost 2000 years later, we are still trying to find out more about Pompeii and life as it was then.
Here’s what we know so far:
The Pompeii ruins were first discovered in the late 16th century by architect Domenico Fontana.
In 1763, we found an inscription that identified the site as Pompeii.
By the 1990s, two-thirds of the city had been excavated.
In 2025, excavations are ongoing and we still have much left to discover. Most recently, researchers have unearthed a large private thermal complex from the Regio IX section of Pompeii.
“We have here perhaps the largest thermal complex in a private house in Pompeii,” said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park. “The members of the ruling class of Pompeii set up enormous spaces in their homes to host banquets.”
These private bath houses were well decorated with elaborate mosaics and spa-like facilities. Having a luxurious bath allowed them to host public gatherings to discuss matters of state importance, and in the process display their belongings. These bathhouses tell us about the day-to-day practices at Pompeii.
Additionally, in the Salerno province in Italy, researchers have uncovered footprints of Pompeii and Herculaneum citizens trying to escape the Mount Vesuvius eruptions. These footprints possibly belong to men, women, children and livestock- some barefoot, some wearing footwear- as they tried to escape. Along with this, further excavations revealed the remains of an ancient village and the community, including pottery, plates and other structured ceramics. What started as a part of a gas pipeline project ended up providing much information regarding this ancient settlement.
Even after nearly two millennia since Mount Vesuvius buried Pompeii, discoveries continue to emerge, proving that the study of ancient civilizations is far from obsolete. Each excavation uncovers new details about the city's social, cultural, and political life, reinforcing the relevance of historical research. As archaeologists piece together Pompeii’s past, these findings not only deepen our understanding of ancient societies but also highlight how history continues to shape our present.
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