Unguided Tour of Pompeii

In A.D. 79 Mt. Vesuvius erupted, spitting half of itself as well as countless tons of volcanic ash onto the nearby Italian countryside. Pompeii, one of the most prosperous of the local cities, was quickly covered.

Since Pompeii was rediscovered in the mid-eighteenth century, it has been systematically looted, excavated, and looted some more, until nearly two thirds of the city was uncovered. Today archaeologists are still trying to understand this remarkably intact ancient city.

In the summer of 1994 I spent a month working in and exploring Pompeii. I took photos of many of the oddities I stumbled across. This article is an effort to share some of those images. They represent my ramblings across a ruined city; in no way are they a structured tour of the city. Go to your library if you want that.

To begin your exploration, click on one of the areas on the map below.

Welcome to Pompeii.


(If your browser does not afford you the pleasure of clickable maps, do not despair. Instead visit Pompeii via my List of Sites.)