The Buried City: Unearthing the Real Pompeii

by Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Jamie Bulloch (translator)

The internationally bestselling behind-the-scenes tour of Pompeii

Pompeii reveals a whole world, frozen in time. It is a unique record of the catastrophe that destroyed the city on 24th August, 79 there are unmade beds, dishes left drying, bodies of victims encased in ash. Alongside the remnants of daily life, there are also captivating works of lifelike portraits, exquisite frescos and mosaics, and the sculpture of a sleeping boy curled up, just as children still do today when their blanket is too short. But this is only the beginning of what we know about Pompeii - remarkably a third of the site remains unexcavated.

In The Buried City, the director of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the city and reveals the new artefacts and remains that are now being unearthed in the biggest dig of the site in a generation. He reconstructs Pompeii as it would have been, revealing who lived here, what mattered to them and what happened in their final hours, while also reflecting on our role as keepers of this heritage.

The Buried City gives us a vivid sense of what Pompeii means for us today, connecting us to a past that is much closer than we think.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Archaeology, Audiobook, Travel, Ancient History, Ebooks

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 27, 2023

Reviews

[Larry (LPosse1) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review of Buried City by Gabriel Zuchtriegel

Oh my goodness, there are so many great archaeology-themed books I’ve read this year, and Buried City is definitely one of them. Not quite as good as Embers of the Hand, but a bit better than Dinner with King Tut.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to this book. At its best, Buried City shines when he focuses on the incredible discoveries his team has uncovered—the descriptions of frescoes, artifacts, and daily life frozen in time are simply breathtaking. I found myself wishing he had spent even more pages in this lane.

Where the book loses a little steam is in the sections where Zuchtriegel digresses into topics like high school dance classes or critiques of the media. Those moments distracted me from what I really wanted: more about the ruins themselves. Stick to the frescoes, please!

That said, I still loved this book. I’m a sucker for anything published by University of Chicago Press, and this one didn’t disappoint. Reading it has me even more excited for our upcoming family trip to Pompeii in early 2026—I can’t wait to walk the streets I’ve now read so much about.

A solid 4 stars.

[Fred Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book thinking it would be about Pompeii, which is at best partially true. There is some very good content on Pompeii, about Dionysus murals, for example, and about calculating the population of the ancient city. But a great deal of space is spent on Zuchtriegel talking about himself; his career, his family, his beliefs about archaeology and other things. A long digression on the Elgin Marbles, which had nothing to do with the price of bread. At times it seems to be self-justification or even confessional. I was educated in a much more austere brand of classics; I knew little about most of my professors' personal lives or their political beliefs. They stuck to their subject and that is how it should be.

I suppose that Zuchtriegel is entitled to write the book he wants. It is not the book I wanted. If it had been the first book that I read about Pompeii, I would have left confused and ill-informed. If you are looking for a book about Pompeii, read Mary Beard's Fires of Vesuvius or one of the numerous other passable introductions. Really the only reason this isn't going off to Half-Price Books forthwith is the quality of the illustrations. It has a large section of really excellent color plates for a book of this size and cost.

And a word about the University of Chicago Press. They used to produce really good quality academic books that were still readable. But that has not been my experience of late, with this one and the really execrable Populus. I will be much more reluctant to buy their books in the future.

[Elentarri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book that catalogues the archaeological discoveries of Pompeii, buried under volcanic ash and pumice in the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This is rather a behind-the-scenes tour given by Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park since 2021. Zuchtriegel provides an accessible and interesting broad overview of the archaeological history of Pompeii; some of the findings; artifact theft, the type of work he does in terms of director (things like fundraising, media communications, and trying to make the past relevant to the future - the example of giving local school teenagers the opportunity to put on a professionally organised play by Aristophanes at the amphitheater in Pompeii for a public audience was particularly novel); a bit about his personal experiences as an archaeologist; and then he examines specific topics such as sexual violence, cults, social hierarchy and population density using the mosaics, sculptures and tombs found at Pompeii. I feel this book would complement the general history books on Pompeii, rather than replace them. He doesn't rehash what is covered in other books, but extends what is known by discussing new findings (such as the Slave Room and the lives of ordinary people) and illustrating how archaeology is a multidisciplinary activity. A fascinating account, yet I wish there was more of it - more Pompeii, more archeological methods, more discussion of the findings.

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

sooo very insightful, not just on pompeii but on archaeology in general & our notion of antiquity

[soph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the multifaceted nature of this book; it doesn’t neatly fit into any one genre, instead spanning multiple, including classics, archaeology, art history, memoir etc! The personal stories woven into this study of Pompeii added to the power of the book and reminds the reader of the importance of personal relationships with history and culture in our understanding of it. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced proof copy.

[Spencer Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but a lot of waffle and left feeling like I didn’t learn a whole lot extra about Pompeii but I know a lot about the author.

[Julie J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENGLISH VERSION BELOW

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"Vom Zauber des Untergangs" von Gabriel Zuchtriegel ist ein interesanntes Werk, das neue und aufschlussreiche Perspektiven auf die antike Stadt Pompeji bietet. Zuchtriegel, seit 2021 Direktor des Archäologischen Parks von Pompeji, verbindet in diesem Buch historische Rekonstruktion mit modernen wissenschaftlichen Ansätzen. Er geht über die traditionelle Archäologie hinaus, indem er Themen wie sexuelle Gewalt in der antiken Mythologie, Postkolonialismus und soziale Hierarchien untersucht.

Der Autor stellt nicht nur die bekannten Aspekte Pompejis dar, sondern beleuchtet auch das alltägliche Leben der Bewohner, insbesondere derjenigen, die in Armut lebten. Durch die detaillierte Beschreibung von Werkstätten, Schenken und einfachen Wohnräumen vermittelt Zuchtriegel ein lebendiges Bild des antiken Alltags.
Ein Highlight des Buches ist die Darstellung des ersten freigelegten Sklavenzimmers, das neue Einblicke in die Lebensbedingungen und die soziale Struktur Pompejis bietet. Zuchtriegel schafft es, diese historischen Details in einer zugänglichen und fesselnden Weise zu präsentieren, was das Buch auch für Leser ohne Vorkenntnisse interessant macht.
Zusätzlich gibt es diverse Farbfotos im Buch.

Zuchtriegel bemüht sich auch viele aktuelle Themen in das Buch zu bringen. Dies empfand ich teils als zu gekünstelt und fast schon zwanghaft, jegliche Themen in das Buch bringen zu müssen.
Gut gefallen hat mir wiederum die persönlichen Aspekte rund um Zuchtriegels Leben.


Schön war es auch, das Buch am Weg nach Pompeji zu lesen :)

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“Vom Zauber des Untergangs” by Gabriel Zuchtriegel is an interesting work that offers new and revealing perspectives on the ancient city of Pompeii. Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park since 2021, combines historical reconstruction with modern scientific approaches in this book. He goes beyond traditional archaeology by examining topics such as sexual violence in ancient mythology, post-colonialism and social hierarchies.

The author not only presents the well-known aspects of Pompeii, but also sheds light on the everyday lives of its inhabitants, especially those who lived in poverty. Through the detailed description of workshops, taverns and simple living spaces, Zuchtriegel conveys a vivid picture of everyday life in antiquity.
A highlight of the book is the depiction of the first uncovered slave room, which offers new insights into the living conditions and social structure of Pompeii. Zuchtriegel manages to present these historical details in an accessible and captivating way, which makes the book interesting even for readers with no prior knowledge.
In addition, there are various color photos in the book.

Zuchtriegel also makes an effort to include many current topics in the book. At times I found this too artificial and almost obsessive, having to include every topic in the book.
On the other hand, I liked the personal aspects of Zuchtriegel's life.

It was also nice to read the book on the way to Pompeii :)

[Sarah Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an inspired history lover sifting through the ancient world and its excavations, I was so so excited to get stuck into The Buried City. Personally, I think Gabriel has unveiled the fabric of Pompeii and Ancient history exceptionally in this book. A buried city swimming with the ghostly remains of 79AD. Murmurs of interrupted lives, hidden beneath the pumice and ash. The gaze of frescoed women whose names we do not know, the sweat of slaves crammed into narrow quarters, stray dogs and children pottering along on cobbled streets. You can even feel the immediacy of a child’s toy dropped in haste or a kitchen hearth cooled too soon. The two thousand year old carbonised bread loaves we all recognise, are still haunting. A wealth of discoveries made and yet to be made.

I just love that Gabriel’s work feels like a rediscovery rather than what we already know. Rediscovering the importance of studying Pompeii and the reasons behind archaeology. The hardships, the less glamorous side of history, but above all the integrity of it.

He even highlights new discoveries—like the slave quarters in the Villa of Civita Giuliana. To me Gabriel weaves personal reflections, field experiences, and detailed site interpretations into a seamless narrative. Yes the majority of the book revolves around his work and academic perspective. Inviting us to think about what we choose to preserve and why. Pompeii isn’t just ruins and naughty graffiti- it held the yearnings and struggles of real people. Enslaved people, freedmen and women, merchants, children, and migrants. Each detail is tenderly held, never sensationalized, never stolen ✨

As the director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park and a leading archaeologist, Zuchtriegel is uniquely positioned to tell the story of the city’s past and its rediscovery with authority, nuance, and freshness. Such a fab read! ✨

[Chris]

The Buried City reads like a dear friend explaining his unwavering passion for his career. Zuchtriegel tells a personal story of the natural, archeological,political, and economic life of the unique time capsule of a city, Pompeii. He easily and understandably relates the changing climates of these aspects through the millennia, from the cities founding, its destruction, and the numerous stages of its uncovering.
I was able to visit Pompeii in 1970. I don’t think I’ve ever read or understood as detailed a description of Vesuvius’s eruption and burial of the city. I was fascinated to read here about how many discoveries have been made, excavations that altered the long-held suppositions about the city and it’s inhabitants, since 1970, and even, in the last few years.
Also of note is Zuchtriegel’s efforts to make Pompeii, not just a living museum and place of research, but a cultural touchstone for the current inhabitants—particularly young people—of Campania, the area around the city and its volcano.

[Kendrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a good book for an overview of Pompeii’s history. This is a great book if you are already familiar with the area and are interested in recent discoveries and analysis. Reads more like a series of anecdotes.

[Brendan Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps the title is misleading. There are fresh insights on life (and death) in Pompeii here, but Zuchtriegel’s real concern is the discipline of archaeology: its challenges, relevance and the motives compelling those who practice it. It’s a scattergun approach that is clever, perky and a touch slapdash.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

es geht um Pompeji, also musste das Buch nicht viel leisten, um mich zu begeistern. Vom aktuellen Direktor des archäologischen Park Pompejis geschrieben werden viele Geschichten erzählt, die ich nicht kannte, die neuste Forschung schön populärwissenschaftlich aufbereitet und das Fun Fact Wissen ausgebaut. Mich hat gestört, dass es keine richtige Struktur gibt und man nicht so wirklich weiß, was der Autor eigentlich sagen möchte und anhand welchen Inhalts. So war es mehr eine Art Charakterisierung von Pompeji, mit fehlte aber die Message. Inhaltlich wäre ich daher fast eher bei 3 Sternen - wegen des sehr schönen Covers und der Fotos im Buch 4!

[Lottie Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn’t just about the famous ruins, it’s a behind-the-scenes look at the newest excavations that have uncovered incredible finds like secret frescos. These discoveries make Pompeii’s ancient daily life much more vivid.

But beyond the archaeology, Zuchtriegel shares his personal journey managing this fragile site: from battling vandalism and looters to the constant challenge of securing funding to keep the site preserved and the work going.

If you’re into history, archaeology, or just love books that connect the past with the present in a thoughtful, emotional way, this is a must read!

[Oriente · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezt a pusztulás varázsa alcímet egészen biztosan a kiadó találta ki, és nyugodtan figyelmen kívül lehet hagyni. A legkevésbé sem olyan ez a könyv, mint amit egy ilyen kicsit gagyi, hatásvadász cím előrevetít.

A Pompeji Régészeti Park jelenlegi igazgatója mesél múltról és jelenről, ásatásokról és műemlékvédelemről, régészetről és tudománypolitikáról és egy kicsit önmagáról is, hogyan és miként került ebbe a pozícióba, milyen hétköznapi küzdelmeket kellett és kell megvívnia, és mindezt egy nagyon korrekt, közérthető, tényszerű és mégis személyes hangon teszi. Sokat tanultam is belőle, pedig hát magam is művelem az ókortudományt. Nagyon jó volt olvasni a legfrissebb ásatási eredményekről és ahogy Zuchtriegel kontextusba helyezi őket. Különösen tetszettek a város demográfiai jellemzőire, lakhatási körülményeire, az élelmezésre, közegészségügyre vonatkozó fejtegetések. De azok is izgalmas tartalmakat találhatnak, akiket inkább a híres freskók és a művészettörténet, vagy éppen a vallástudomány érdekel.

Kiemelkedik a könyv a szerző személyisége miatt is: igen kellemes olyan tollából olvasni, akivel bármikor leülnénk egy-két órát csevegni egy süti és egy kávé, vagy akár egy fröccs mellett. Kifejezetten tetszett például, hogy úgy tudott beszámolni az őt ért egészen méltatlan támadásokról, szakmai és emberi csalódásairól, hogy azt valahogy nem éreztem se tolakodónak, se kínos nyafogásnak - egyszerűen csak remekül megmutatta milyen nehézségekkel kell megbirkóznia egy ambiciózus embernek ezen a pályán.

A könyv egyetlen hibája, és ezt komoly szerkesztői hibának gondolom, hogy az illusztrációk nincsenek összekötve a szöveggel. A kiadványban két helyen is, fényesebb papírra nyomtatott színes fotóválogatást helyeztek el, amiket tényleg öröm nézegetni. A képaláírások rendben vannak, csakhogy ezek a képek egészen konkrétan a szövegben említett tárgyakhoz, helyszínekhez kapcsolódnak, miközben a szövegben egyáltalán nem történik utalás arra, hogy hahó, nem kell guglizni, 60-70 oldallal előre lapozva megtalálod a remek illusztrációt is. Sosem fér a fejembe, ha ilyet látok: hogy nem jutott senkinek eszébe, hogy ezekre a helyekre beszúrjon egy "Lásd 23. ábra" zárójeles megjegyzést??

[Eleanor Atterton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Very interesting to hear about the actual running of the archaeological park rather than the history. Half read/ half listened to. Glad i've also got the physical copy for the amazing photos!

[Sari]

interesting, about classical archaeology as a living contemporary field

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not a bad book by any means and in places was very interesting. But I feel the title and cover are a real deception: this was more meandering thoughts on art, its meaning etc, and the purpose of archaeology, than a book on Pompeii. The author used his work as director of Pompeii as the example and backdrop but that’s where it begins and ends. I wasn’t even sure what point he was driving.

[Agnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Instead of the "The Buried City" this book should be called "Auto biography of the current director of Pompeii and various pseudo philosophical ramblings" as that is what this book is. Very disappointing.

[Linniegayl · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me. I picked it up for a book group, although I had been meaning to read it for some time. While I tried to finish, I just couldn’t do so. It just wasn’t working for me, and I have far too many other books on my TBR pile that I am looking forward to. Clearly some people love this book, based on all the five and four star reviews here. It just isn’t for me. I guess I'm an outlier, so take what I write with a grain of salt.

It thought it would be a book about the recent discoveries at Pompeii (which I am very curious to know more about). Instead, it is a lot about the author’s feelings about museums and museum visitors, his thoughts about archaeology and his fellow archaeologists. We learn a lot about the author’s childhood and his family. It read more like an autobiography or memoir for much of the book. I rarely read autobiographies or even biographies, and when I do, I want them to be about someone I know or am curious to learn more about. I wasn’t curious to learn more about the latest director of the UNESCO World Heritage site at Pompeii. Sadly, we learn far too little about Pompeii and the recent discoveries.

I can’t figure out who this was written for. The author tosses off names such as Cicero and Ovid and terms such as neoclassicism with no explanations as to who or what they are, so clearly assumes some basic level of understanding about Roman history and literature. But it doesn't read like an academic book either.

The style of writing doesn’t suit me. I struggled to figure out if there was any order or sense to the book. The author seemed to jump around from thought to thought, almost as if he was telling stories to someone, out of any sensible sequence. I skimmed ahead hoping that eventually we got more about Pompeii. While we do, it’s still filled with information about the author’s own life and feelings and opinions. Perhaps I’ll pick this up again someday. But for now, on to something else.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A provocative dive into 21st-century archaeology, The Buried City challenges how we think about Pompeii—not just as a site of ruins, but as a living mirror to our present. Zuchtriegel explores the entanglement of politics, media, and heritage, asking: how do we keep ancient sites relevant, sustainable, and ethically interpreted for future generations?

The structure is scattered, with personal anecdotes and academic insights jostling for space. I found myself craving a tighter edit and clearer narrative arc. Still, the book shines when it reveals new excavations that reshape our understanding of slavery, burial practices, and population diversity in ancient Pompeii—and, by extension, ourselves.

Not quite what I expected, but it left me thinking: archaeology isn’t just about the past. It’s about the stories we choose to tell now. As Zuchtriegel writes, “we must realise that we’re the product of the past, the decisions people have taken, sometimes centuries ago but also that the decisions we make about telling history in a particular way construct the present and the future. Seen this way the past isn’t finished. We, who keep telling and discovering the past are in the middle of it. Interbeing, we would call it after the Zen Buddhist monk and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.” A powerful reminder that the past is not behind us—it’s within us.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein erfrischendes Buch von leichter Feder. Natürlich sehr subjektiv, aber mit offenem Standpunkt gut nachvollziehbar. Was man daraus lernen kann:
1. Wir sind mit unserer eigenen Kultur(geschichte) und unserem persönlichen Werdegang natürlich vorgeprägt, wenn wir archäologische Entdeckungen verstehen wollen und interpretieren.
2. Die überlieferte Geschichtsschreibung stammt aus der Feder der Gebildeten und der Herrschenden, kaum aus dem einfachen Volk. 3. Vor allem aber: nicht Kunst "sammeln und katalogisieren" sondern fragen, was empfinde ich, was empfand jemand damals ( in welchem Kontext), warum wurde es erschaffen.

Pompeji bietet durch seine Katastrophe und die Asche-Konservierungen ( bzw. deren mit Gips ausgefüllte Hohlräume) einen eher einmaligen Blick in die Alltagswelt. Klug und knapp formuliert.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutes Buch,
der Autor vermittelt seine Leidenschaften für die Archäologie indem er anhand der Entdeckungen in Pompeji in die tiefergreifenderen Bedeutungen und Arbeitsweisen eingeht, die einen normalen Touristen so nicht beschäftigen, wobei er auch verschiedene Probleme aufgreift.

Eine neue Sichtweise auf historische Orte im generellen - nicht nur Pompeji - und die Arbeit sowie die Leidenschaft die dahinter steckt.

[BLAISE HENDERSON · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a captivating and informative read. I loved not only getting a recount of the destruction of Pompeii but an insider look at life, and love, and religion, and politics that occurred at that time. It’s such a behind-the-scenes look at the destruction and at what archeology can tell us about this world. A truly insightful read - it asks us to transform our relationship with the past in a way that allows us to celebrate antiquity.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zuchtriegel makes me excited for the future of archaeology. He’s a good writer, and his descriptions of life in Pompeii and what it’s like to discover new things are fresh and fascinating.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In diesem Buch entwickelt Gabriel Zuchtriegel, der Direktor des archäologischen Parks von Pompeji, seine vielseitigen Gedanken zur Geschichte der Ruinen und des Parks, zur römischen Gesellschaft und Kultur, zum Verhältnis zwischen Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft, zur Geschichte seiner Disziplin und zu seinem Werdegang. Obwohl er auf sehr unterschiedliche Themen zu sprechen kommt, gelingt es ihm immer, elegante Überleitungen zu finden und interessante Anekdoten einzufügen, die den Fortgang auflockern. So fühlt sich die Lektüre an wie eine Reise durch die freien Assoziationen des Autors, die ein zusammenhängendes, vielschichtiges Bild ergeben und auf vielen Ebenen zum Nachdenken anregen.
Zuchtriegel vertritt die Auffassung, dass die (wissenschaftliche) Beschäftigung mit der Antike stets auch der Gegenwart und der gegenwärtigen Gesellschaft etwas zurückgeben sollte. Das ist einerseits vernünftig und ist eine Stärke des Buches, da er häufig eindrucksvoll die heutige Relevanz des Ganzen zeigen kann. Andererseits scheint er den Bogen zuweilen etwas zu überspannen, wenn er zu allgemeingültigen Aphorismen ausholt, die zuweilen recht bemüht und kalenderspruchartig anmuten, wie zum Beispiel in dieser Passage:

"Im Grunde kann es ohne Vergessen auch keine Geschichte geben, denn Geschichte heißt immer, auswählen, was man erzählt und was man weglässt, also vergisst. Man stelle sich einmal vor, es gäbe kein Vergessen: Dann wäre die Vergangenheit gar nicht Vergangenheit, sondern immer noch voll da, präsent, gegenwärtig.
Das gilt, glaube ich, aber nicht nur für Pompeji, sondern für jede und jeden von uns. Das, was war und sein wird, hat niemand im Griff, doch die Mischung aus Erinnern und Vergessen, mit der wir auf unsere Geschichte blicken, liegt in unserer Hand."

Ungeachtet dessen, empfand ich es als sehr gewinnbringend, mich mit der Perspektive und den Gedanken Zuchtriegels auseinanderzusetzen. Auch was den Hauptgegenstand selbst, den Park von Pompeji, betrifft finden sich viele interessante Hintergründe zur archäologischen Arbeit und zu den antiken Lebensbedingungen und -vorstellungen, samt einigen hochwertigen Fotografien der behandelten Funde und Kunstwerke.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating. I got so much more out of this book than I thought I would ⭐

[Lisa . · Rating 1 out of 5]

für wen is des?

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few weeks ago, I was sat around a campfire with a group of friends, discussing life, and politics, and history, and philosophy. We were essentially on the same page in terms of the fundamentals, but we had different backgrounds and experiences, and we certainly didn't agree on everything. We talked until the early hours of the morning, and it was one of the most memorable and enjoyable evenings I have had this summer.

This is also how it feels to read Gabriel Zuchtriegel's The Buried City. It is like having a good-natured intellectual discussion. More a thought-provoking musing on our relationship with archaeology and Classical Antiquity than an introduction to the site, the book nonetheless builds a vibrant picture of Pompeii through a series of snapshots: of the buildings, the people who inhabited them, and the history of the city, both pre-eruption and post-excavation. It can perhaps be best summed up in a line from the penultimate chapter: 'Pompeii as a place of encounters between people, some long vanished, others full of life - that's it.'

[Martin Riexinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leider ein geschwätziges Buch, indem die Selbstbeweihräucherung des Autors eine ebenso große Rolle spielt wie Pompeii und die Antike.
Ausführlich kommt der Autor nicht nur auf seinen Werdegang, seine Freunde und Vorlieben zu sprechen, sondern auch auf seine Kindheit als Sohn eine "Künschtler" in Oberschwaben oder die Nachkriegserfahrungen seiner Großeltern.

Dabei behandelt das Buch interessante Themen, wie die Ursprünge der "klassischen" antiken Religionen in agarischen Kulten, Bacchuskulte, die wissenschaftliche Kontroverse um die "Mysterienvilla", die unterschiedlichen Auffassungen zur Einwohnerzahl und damit zusammenhängend die Lebensverhältnisse der Unterschicht. Dass er sich dabei an ein Publikum wendet, bei dem er ein sehr begrenztes Basiswissen über die Antike voraussetzt möchte ich dem Autor nicht zum Vorwurf machen. Wohl aber dass er auch bei der Präsentation dieser Themen ins Private und Subjektive abgleitet und den Fokus verliert.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using recent excavations The Buried City offers a new perspective of Pompeii and its inhabitants. It explores not just the well known ruins but digs deeper revealing the less glamorous side of society, the slaves , the poor and the marginalized. It attempts to challenge the romanticized vision of the city.

There is something darkly romantic about a town which was basically a tomb. What happened on that fateful day in 79CE still draws people in, it piques our interest and curiosity. Although according to Gabriel Zuchtriegel most of us are just basically collectors and Pompeii is just one more thing to tick off.

“The need to tick things off is, of course, brilliantly sustained by social media. My grandparents would have thought it highly amusing that people film things before they even look at them.”

This is just one example of how we see Pompeii today, it is an aspect that Zuchtriegel addresses as he looks at the impact the city has on us today and how we perceive it. It might surprise you for example (or it maybe not) that the most visited site in Pompeii is the Lapanar (a brothel). I think however that tells us a lot more about ourselves rather than the 1st century Pompeiians.

And this is one of the fascinating themes of “The Buried City,” it challenges how we care for and interpret our past, enriching Pompeii’s story and demonstrating how archaeology can resonate today. It’s an attempt to reconnect with the people who lived there. Zuchtriegel attempts to bridge the gap between classical scholarship and the ‘collectors,’ the tourists. The Lapanor is a good example of the challenges he faces.

“One of the largest, but in day-to-day museum planning rather neglected, groups of visitors is children. Every year hundreds of thousands of children visit the ancient city and come face to face with sexual imagery, some of it so pornographic that it wouldn't last half an hour posted on Facebook.”

And the Lapanar isn’t the only place you are liable to find these images. The Pompeiians loved Greek mythology, and the art in Pompeii reflects this. However most of it is full of rape and sexual violence. Zuchtriegel explores the enduring significance of classical art as more than just aesthetic treasures. Viewing the sculptures, frescoes, and architectural flourishes not as relics, but as expressions of a society’s values, priorities, and experiences.

“The question we're grappling with is: How can we speak about such mythological images without playing down the more or less implicit sexual violence in them, but also without falling into a modern terminology that translates the myth into our time, thus robbing it of its historical context?

The Buried City is more than just a history book, it is an examination of archaeology and it is part memoir. Zuchtriegel frequently writes in the first person, incorporating his own experiences and opinions into the archaeology. He also discuses internal politics such as museum governance, staffing, and heritage administration - and theft. The theft of artifacts that often don’t just end up in private collections but in museums too and the thieves cause irreparable damage to the archaeological site.

I really enjoyed this book. It was much more than I expected. I loved the personal touch, the insights into archeology, the politics of managing Pompeii and the importance of our relationship with history and culture. The highlights for me however are the personal stories of the inhabitants of Pompeii. And on that point if I was to add a slight criticism it would be that I wanted more of that. The new archeological finds that the book is based on occupy less than half of the text. The book just wasn’t long enough. But what is here is well worth the read, it is absorbing, engrossing, engaging and informative.