Inside the lost city of Pompeii

Pompeii is eternally fascinating. The eruption of the volcano of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE destroyed the Roman city, but also preserved it.

For almost 300 years, excavations have been revealing what life was like in Pompeii. New excavations in the archaeological park set out to preserve, stabilise and better understand new areas of the ancient city.

Everyday life in an ancient city

Between 2018 and 2020, archaeologists made extraordinary new discoveries – large houses with elaborate frescoes and mosaic floors, household objects and a snack bar with food still in pots.

Pompeii is the first time these newly discovered objects have been seen outside Europe.

Visitors will see stunning frescoes, jewellery, sculptures, pottery and other intriguing objects representing everyday life.

Pompeii is an extraordinary new immersive experience that combines captivating soundscapes and large-scale digital projections with over 90 objects from the ancient city.

On show at the National Museum of Australia from 13 December 2024 to 4 May 2025.

photo: 

Fresco of a garden scene, painted plaster, 1st century CE, House of the Golden Bracelet. Parco Archeologico di Pompei, 40690B