In 79 CE, Mt. Vesuvius erupted on a massive scale, burying a large swath of the prosperous Bay of Naples area under meters of rock, ash, and mud. Cities such as Pompeii and Herculaneum were snuffed out, preserved for millennia until they were rediscovered in the modern era. Almost overnight, Pompeii became one of the most visited tourist sites in the world.

Want to learn more? Join the Archaeological Institute of America Central Indiana Society on Saturday, February 11, 2:00-5:00 for Pompeii Day just down the road at IU-Bloomington (Ballentine Hall, Room 110). We will be bringing together leading (and local!) scholars to debate some of the hottest topics in Pompeian archaeology:

• Dr. Steven Ellis (University of Cincinnati) directs the Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia) and the Pompeii Quadriporticus Project, and was the co-editor of The Making of Pompeii: studies in the history and urban development of an ancient city (2011).
• Dr. Pedar Foss (DePauw University), co-editor of The World of Pompeii (2007), has recently published Pliny and the Eruption of Vesuvius (2022).

Virtual options will also be available(receive Zoom instructions by registering via this link). Full schedule below!

(Approximate) Schedule:

2:00: “Presenting hidden treasures from Pompei to the greater public – The Metamuseum Project” by Gabriele Guidi, IU Bloomington

2:45: “Fixing the Date: the AD 79 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius” by Pedar Foss, Depauw University

3:45: “Roman Retail Revolution” by Steven Ellis, University of Cincinnati