Pompeii

On August 24 A.D. 79, Mt Vesuvius erupted, blanketing towns in Campania, most notably, Pompeii and Herculaneum. While houses collapsed and people and animals died, the blanket kept them remarkably preserved until excavations began in the 18th century.

Archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli (1823-1896) divided the city into 9 regions, numbered the blocks, and the Houses and doorways within each. But these are impersonal and require a map to locate. The alternate names of the houses in Pompeii are anything but obvious. Some names reflect members of the archaeological investigating team. Others refer to graffiti on the premises or identified objects found beneath the debris. Some names refer to artwork. Here is a look at major buildings in Pompeii and their statuary, mosaics, and frescoes.

Mary Beard's 2008 book The Fires of Vesuvius provides an often humorous look at what we think we know about how the people of ancient Rome lived and the basic information for this Pompeiian photo gallery.