Before the volcano: life in ancient Pompeii

In the first episode of our Sunday Series of podcasts exploring the final days of Pompeii and Herculaneum, historian Jess Venner introduces the cities wiped out by Vesuvius in AD 79

Published: June 16, 2026 at 9:00 AM

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In AD 79, Pompeii and Herculaneum were subsumed by the eruption of Vesuvius, buried and preserved under metres of volcanic ash. Today, they are among the most famous ruins of the ancient world – and in this four-part Sunday Series, we’ll be exploring their secrets.

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In this first episode historian Dr Jess Venner, author of The Lost Voices of Pompeii, guides Kev Lochun through daily life in Pompeii and Herculaneum. They explore the myths surrounding the ‘mountain’, why pomegranates mean we can’t precisely date the disaster and how – implausible as it may seem today – the residents of these Roman cities had no idea they were living in the shadow of death.

Watch now or listen to the full episode below:

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Want to know more about the story of Pompeii? HistoryExtra's Kev Lochun has curated a selection of essential reading from the HistoryExtra archives to help you explore the story of the cataclysm, the Roman way of life and the nature of the Roman empire. Go beyond the podcast.

Authors

Kev LochunDigital editor (audience and video)

Kev Lochun is digital editor (audience and video) at HistoryExtra

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