The Roman town of Pompeii, destroyed during the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in ARCHLGY 79 CE, has captured the world's imagination for generations. The tragic story and exceptional preservation of the site, often seen as a community "frozen" in time, has made it one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. This course introduces students to the public and private buildings, artifacts, works of art, organic and skeletal remains of Pompeii and the various ways scholars have approached this material since the first systematic excavations in the mid-eighteenth century. Drawing on this rich body of material evidence, we will try to recover the lived experiences of the town's diverse residents and the social, political, and economic structures that shaped their lives. We will also consider the major questions and debates within the field of Pompeian studies, including how best to care for this World Heritage Site.
3-5 units · Letter (ABCD/NP) · GER: WAY-SI
The Roman town of Pompeii, destroyed during the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE, has captured the world's imagination for generations. The tragic story and exceptional preservation of the site, often seen as a community "frozen" in time, has made it one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. This course introduces students to the public and private buildings, artifacts, works of art, organic and skeletal remains of Pompeii and the various ways scholars have approached this material since the first systematic excavations in the mid-eighteenth century. Drawing on this rich body of material evidence, we will try to recover the lived experiences of the town's diverse residents and the social, political, and economic structures that shaped their lives. We will also consider the major questions and debates within the field of Pompeian studies, including how best to care for this World Heritage Site.
Offered in Winter 2026 at Stanford University.