Pompeii

Pompeii was an ancient Roman city in Campania, near modern Naples, Italy, that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

Pompeii was an ancient Roman city in Campania, near modern Naples, Italy, that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Its remains are among the world’s most important archaeological sites and are part of a UNESCO World Heritage property with nearby Herculaneum and villas at Torre Annunziata.

History

Pompeii developed as an ancient settlement in southern Italy and later became a Roman city. It was destroyed and buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, which preserved much of the urban fabric beneath volcanic deposits.

Archaeology and preservation

The burial of the city created unusually detailed preservation of streets, houses, public buildings, artwork and inscriptions. This makes Pompeii a key source for the study of Roman daily life, economy and urban design. Archaeological excavations began in the 18th century and continue today.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Pompeii forms part of the Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The property is recognized for its outstanding testimony to Roman society at a specific historical moment.

Modern significance

Pompeii is a major archaeological destination and one of Italy’s most visited heritage sites. Ongoing excavations and conservation work continue to produce new information about the ancient city. Pompeii is widely studied in Canadian archaeology, classics and history programs, and its preservation is often used in Canadian museums and classrooms to illustrate Roman urban life and volcanic disaster archaeology.