An ancient Roman city near Naples, Italy, that was buried under volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
The name Pompeii comes from Latin, possibly derived from Oscan (a pre-Roman language). The exact origin is debated, but the city was inhabited long before Roman times.
When Vesuvius erupted, the ash was so hot it instantly killed people—but it also perfectly preserved the city, creating a time capsule of Roman daily life. We know details like what people were eating, what graffiti they wrote, even body positions, making Pompeii one of archaeology's greatest treasures.
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