Pompeii: Life Before Disaster | New Feature Documentary

The story of Pompeii’s destruction is renowned across the world. In 79 AD, this prosperous Roman town was destroyed by a massive, volcanic eruption. Pompeii became frozen in time, only to be rediscovered c.1500 years later.
Vesuvius’ eruption has preserved Pompeii in its final moments. The wealth of archaeology that has been unearthed over the past few centuries here is extraordinary. From gladiator graffiti to political adverts. And amidst all of this archaeology, we even have the names of actual Pompeiians surviving. The stories of everyday people - men and women - who lived and worked all around the town some 2,000 years ago. Not emperors, empresses and generals. But bakers, barmen and prostitutes whose stories are usually lost to history.
Tristan Hughes explores the stories of some of these men and women who called Pompeii home. Wealthy villa owners such as the entrepreneurial businesswoman Julia Felix, who owned a luxurious estate near the amphitheatre and converted part of her property into a restaurant. The plucky bar owner Sextus Amarantus, who imported wines from as far away as Gaza to sell at his establishment. Or the famous freeborn gladiator Marcus Attilius, who defeated a great champion in his very first arena fight.
This documentary explores the lives of the people that made up Pompeii. With access to some of the site’s most extraordinary buildings and interviews with leading experts, it’s a story about everyday life before the eruption.
Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsely, Mary Beard and more. Watch, listen and read history wherever you are, whenever you want it. Available on all devices: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast, and iOs & Android.
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#historyhit #romanhistory #pompeii

[@deepthinkingopinion]

Love the content but I do not understand why the images of nudes and depiction of sex acts on Pompeii's ancient murals are being censored. ??? this is a documentary, not a storybook for kids. Censorship has no place in art and history, especially in an informative program like this.

[@PeachysMom]

The channel wants to earn money, and they aren’t doing sponsorships, like selling products, so the video has to be “advertiser friendly “ or else YT will suppress and demonetize the video. It’s all about the money.

[@mariacampos-moran6200]

@@PeachysMom

[@Bearwithme560]

@@PeachysMom Yes, money KZbin is eager to hang on to. I don't quite understand how it works, but de-monetised channels seem to be at risk of disappearing. If you can't use words related to "unaliving" someone, who knows what they'll do with genital (am l allowed to say THAT?) displays.

[@petrasbirthdaygoblinhoney4565]

Bc if they don’t KZbin will likely demonetize them and take all the money the video makes off stuff like advertising for themselves. It’s not their fault but KZbin’s policies.

[@4got102c]

I'd suspect Julia Felix (wealthy Pompeiian business woman) was attempting business contact building in Egypt & the middle East with her decor (her Nile dining room mural). Meaning her dinner guests may have likely been from the East (Egypt, the Middle East) and the familar Nile scene(s) on her walls were to make them feel at home, feel at ease.

[@stephanprommer347]

Absolutely fantastic stories that truly bring these people from Pompeii alive and make it much more palpable. Thank you History Hit for providing us with such amazing free content.

[@maxschaffels2164]

Could not second this more. So sick of AI generated images fronting deep quality content on (social) media!

[@danielfredich1530]

Especially the blurred frescoes! Fantastic!

[@obiwan-in-a-pudding2909]

Wow, that arial view, I didn't realize until now how big Pompeii is.

[@agnieszkakowalska7564]

A good film, source based, without sensational rambling. However blurring erotic frescos is irrational and damaging the understanding of everyday reality of the ancient culture and religion. Is that Puritan rigour of YT forces you to do that?!?

[@PeachysMom]

Yes KZbin will suppress or demonetize the video if even cartoon people’s genitals show. It’s not so much Puritan on YT’s part, as it is “advertiser friendly.” It’s all about the $

[@AT1972ASDF]

Please don't use AI for thumbnails. It makes the show look so much cheaper and lazier than the content deserves. Edit: They changed it now. For the better.

[@battery781]

Very true

[@kellswitch]

So the AI is only in the thumbnail? Not the video itself?

[@obcl8569]

I second this wholeheartedly. Had to do a double & triple take to make sure it WAS from HHTV with that thumbnail.

[@wakandaforever4291]

I'm so sick of AI!!!

[@annettedelorean706]

the humans looks so fake. one looks like an AI cara delevigne in a cheapo way.

[@dandy193]

I went to Pompeii last year. Me and my wife book a holiday in Amalfi and we took a taxi (not cheap) from Amalfi to Pompeii and back again, its a sight that blows you away. A place well worth the visit that for sure, especially if you're in Napoli, its but a stones throw. I have seen detractor giving the place some bad reviews but I promise if you go its one amazing place and you'll not be disappointed

[@missdiamar3897]

Amazing storytelling. We've just been to Pompeii yesterday and Herculanum today. This video has brought to life what we've seen in both cities. Than you!! To those that plan on visiting Pompeii - highly recommend going to Herculanum as well. Its excavated part is way smaller, but so much better preserved!! Pompeii gives you scale, Herculanum really makes you feel the city as it was in those days.

[@slopermarco]

I agree, Herculaneum deserves as much and perhaps more than Pompeii, if only because it is better preserved. The reason is that while Pompeii was buried by lapilli of burning lava, and therefore burned, Herculaneum was buried by a mud flow which preserved it over time, including the wooden parts.

[@paulief3817]

I thought Herculaneum was more interesting as the second storey of the buildings was often intact as well as bits of the furniture. It was excessively hot during our visit to the Amalfi coast and Herculaneum provides more shade. Pompeii is very hot and dusty. Still very impressive in scale. It's impossible to see all of it in one day

[@jillwanlin9558]

Thankyou HH for this very compelling documentary. I had no idea as to the size and scale of Pompeii. A beautiful place with such a tragic history.

[@MelEveritt]

Love watching Tristan on History Hit shows. Great content as usual and I get all of this information in outback Queensland, Australia. Ahhh, the magic of technology beats Encyclopaedia Britannica anyday.😅😊

[@Mossyz.]

I am watching this in bed due to ill health ..I would love to visit this wonderful site there is so much more to learn about this area . Thank you for over an hour of History .

[@lisaborsella5412]

Hope you are feeling better

[@reaperx2657]

So well done. Great job by Tristan and everyone else at History Hit.

[@K8E666]

It always makes me wonder how many more ancient cities are buried out there beneath the sands and seas just waiting to be discovered.. to be clear, I’m not talking about imaginary cities like Atlantis, but actual lost cities that have been lost to the earth’s ever changing landscape. There’s got to be hundreds or thousands of them…

[@paulohara8750]

well done documentary but i can not understand why you would blank out topless paintings but you are quite happy to say fucked?

[@Robinwhiteart]

Please Do Not Block Out the sexual aspects of Roman Art. It is offensive and demeaning to block out Art in such a way!

[@Bearwithme560]

It might be because the mighty gods of KZbin, in their puritanical zeal, will strike the channel with thunderbolts of wrath worthy of Zeus. You're not allowed to use the common word for "unaliving" yourself now, ffs at risk of censure.

[@IamRyanLPs]

Visiting Pompeii 2 years ago will hopefully be stuck in my mind until I die. What an incredible place to visit and enjoy.

[@Contessa6363]

I visited in 1986! Fascinating

[@Sabatta]

Blurring out frescos is wild!!

[@jc2604]

It's pathetic.

[@michaelweber7848]

Dumb.

[@k.edwards3138]

This was such an interesting documentary. It does tickle me though how you can say someone f**ked here but can't show artwork showing boobs etc. KZbin being hypocritical at its finest 😂😂😂

[@kb-tu2kf]

wine from Gaza in Pompei ! 17. 35

[@jenniferlyons4150]

The people are not forgotten. Their lives were not much different than ours. They were business people taking care of their families and building their business connections, although some were despicable, in my opinion.

[@Contessa6363]

For all those who are bagging the AI thumb Nails Get Over it! You are rude I LIKE THEM!!

[@ksimpp]

AI thumbnails are objectively awful and I definitely avoid clicking on any video with them

[@PamCarpenter-s4d]

Best documentary about Pompeii I have seen. Really brings to life what it was like to live before the eruption. I have been to Pompeii and now want to go back to see Julia's villa. Amazing.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was a wonderful historical coverage documentary about Ancient Pompey city.. documentary focused on important figures of that infamous Ancient city...thank you 🙏 ( history Hit) channel for sharing

[@ffdv7458]

Censoring a 2000 year old painting shows how our society is regressing.

[@jsonija]

The blurring of the sexual pictures is irritating, where are we going as a civilization when ancient civilizations art must be blocked

[@yannicknaets9621]

I can’t believe they blurred the brothel fresco…!😮

[@blackfoxstudioX]

Due to demonetization...but for real these kind of things should be protected under educational content rules. This small part really ruins documentary for those who watch today and many many years in the future.

[@jc2604]

Yes, how absurd and childish.

[@steveinthemountains8264]

Fascinating video, well presented.

[@cdfdesantis699]

Literally a Classical Roman time capsule. BTW, Vesuvius isn't the only active volcano on the European mainland. The supervolcano, Campi Flegrei, Vesuvius' nextdoor neighbor & possible partner-in-crime, is active around the city & Bay of Naples region.

[@FRAME5RS]

In vino veritas = if a drunk says horrible things, know that its what they are thinking but not saying when sober.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I visited Rome last year and took a day trip to Pompeii. I'll never forget it. I only saw a portion of the town, as it's really large. I wish I'd visited Julia Felix's house.

[@lynnedelacy2841]

Next time you go make sure you visit the museum in Naples where the portable finds from Pompeii are housed you could spend days there exploring the treasures

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

@@lynnedelacy2841 that's very optimistic of you! I'm 70 and have so much of the world yet to see. It's unlikely I'll return to Italy any time soon. But you never know.

[@davejohnson6738]

@@lynnedelacy2841we visited Naples few weeks ago, we were only able to do city tour, due to time constraints , I am planning to visit Pompeii in future.

[@benjalucian1515]

Hopefully it will still be there. Campi Flegrei is acting up and may erupt.

[@gregmacdonald7710]

Lucky you!👍💯

[@melodysadventure5466]

My family was just talking about Peter Capaldi and Doctor Who!

[@jonni2317]

"Modern Art!" just rewatched this episode, its such a wonderful one, full of wonderful easter eggs

[@javasrevenge7121]

WOWsers, what a great upload. Thank you Team.

[@angietyndall7337]

I've never been to Pompeii, but I did see the aftermath in person years later of what Mount St. Helen's, WA., U.S.A did. It was shocking and amazing, but sad as well.

[@BarbaraEllis-si2rs]

Why are they blanking the sex scenes. This is the 21at century and we have seen it all before on other programmes of Pompeii?

[@danielfredich1530]

Watching the blurred frescoes with my friends and we can't stop laughing!

[@bluemoon5411]

I loved this, but there are too many advertisements which is very annoying and distracting....

[@davidevans3227]

thankyou for saying it

[@natalieeis9284]

I didn't see that many and suppose it depends when and which country you are watching from

[@kittymarshmellow9703]

Excited to watch, just starting!

[@addie.86]

me seeing this on my subscription list just as I'm currently reading the last book in The Wolf Den Trilogy 🥺🥺

[@cookingartguy2170]

Well done. I've been to Pompeii. And that guy host is hot 🔥🔥🔥 Lol.

[@orlaithchops]

Amazing documentary and I’ve seen a great many on Pompeii. I visited April last year and Herculaneum, the most amazing experience of my life (with the exception of my children, because I have to say that 😂😂) ❤

[@CurtisWebb-en5kh]

It does get warm there. Global warming has not made it any warmer yet.

[@FRAME5RS]

I lived there in the early 80s, actually near Pisa. It was hot, even hotter near Naples.

[@bobm5500]

One of the best docoes I have seen on Pompeii .

[@saradepetrini4886]

Drink every time they mispronounce "campagnia" 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@primrosed2338]

I visited in 2013. Since then they have uncovered more. I was caught in summer drench during my visit, it got dark so quickly, and seeing how quickly the weather changed and Mount Vesuvius in the distance really made everything quite impactful.

[@patriciakeogh5008]

I saw and heard Dawn French when they were sitting in the restaurant.

[@TravisBrady-wn8fr]

I tried to warn them of the impending doom. Their response: "Wine. Good."

[@senses70]

A very nice documentary, but why masking the sex scenes and paintings? We’re not in the Victorian’s time anymore and there are many other great documentary out there showing it. We are not children and these were different times where sexuality wasn’t taboo as it seems to be here. Also, you don’t mention the facts that men could have sex with other women than their wives but also with other males, as long as they were of a lower rank and were not the “receiver”. The word homosexuality did not exist in antiquity. Sex was viewed as a normal part of life, and represented everywhere. Except for those poor women abused in the lupanars of course. However, I did learn more about Roman lives, so thank you for that.

[@mikepxg6406]

Never understand why they wanted to lay on their side. Very uncomfortable and not practical to eat.

[@blackfoxstudioX]

"The reason for this lifestyle is to show wealth in front of the lower social groups. Lying down while eating was something that mostly the rich and powerful did to show that they were more important and that they should always be comfortable with whatever action they performed." "This trend, which began in the 7th century BC, was inherited from the Greek ancestors. It was often practiced during feasts or banquets, where a variety of food and drinks were served to those belonging to a higher social class, and their only reason to get up was to go to the restroom to make more space for food.” Source: Medium

[@Thewholetree]

​@@blackfoxstudioXnot a great source to cite. Literally anyone can write for them.

[@vickywitton1008]

That was wonderful!

[@sqrd3536]

I am wondering if Julia was royalty. Why is she wearing something that looks like a crown? Where did servants and workers live? I would think they lived next to their master's residence. That brothel must have been something else 🫣

[@2Bluzin]

Blurring out historical artwork? Afraid to ask what you would do to the statue of David. FAIL.

[@kriskat40]

Wouldn’t it make more since if the dining room didn’t look a lot like a bath? Water trickling down to it, mural depicting river culture and maybe last but not least a drain at the bottom of the “table”.

[@jamesbrown5739]

This was absolutely fantastic one of the greatest education videos I’ve had in a long time and learning from one of my favorite cities of the ancient world 👏🏿💯

[@soilofk]

AMAZING doc!!! love the history of Pompeii

[@danbethel3195]

I am always amazed by how obtuse tour guides and archaeologists can be. Having amphorae from around the Mediterranean didn’t necessarily mean they had brought wine to Pompeii directly. With the abundance of vineyards in the area it’s more likely that the exotic wines had been delivered elsewhere than the containers used wherever until they were broken or worn out.

[@dodgingbullets3503]

🪔How barbaric we are...The Arena!...We are just one step away from, filling the Arenas again🪔...

[@user-ut9vp9ph4m]

Thank you for a very interesting film, was Pliny The Younger really that good looking? Wish I’d met him!

[@xray5043]

Its about 18 miles from pompeii to Misenum across a bay... Pliny was doing a lot of lying about hearing screams 😂😂

[@Zombie-fb5zf]

Excellent Really enjoyed

[@77cns]

17:23 From Gaza! You don’t say

[@cupsoflove1245]

I like to daydream that i was a rich woman during this time with a fleat of boats and wagons and save as many dogs and slaves as humanly possible with gladiator assistance of course ...

[@rrizo6846]

why don't they sell the pompeii volcano pumice to tourist... that should bring in millions of dollars

[@antonellacastelli6770]

Io non userei il termine saccheggiare Pompei da parte dei romani. Credo(parere mio ovviamente) pensassero che Pompei ormai era perduta e fosse un peccato perdere la sua ricchezza .

[@cupsoflove1245]

My dream is to be prosperous enough someday to spend a month in southern Italy spending most of it in pompeii.

[@iammyriad71]

Why did the sea rescind? The volcano was bang smack where they were.

[@seancasey4221]

Of course it’s a woke focus on business owners. Zero evidence of venture capital

[@marciano98]

Fantastic story! However some recent Discoveries point to some survivors of Pompeii

[@barrypritchard1782]

I wonder how many Michelin stars it would’ve got

[@collectivesartori]

Why does the presenter insist that Pliny the Elder was merely "determined to have a closer look" while omitting the basic fact that as commander of the Roman navy based at Misenum it was his duty and responsibility to order the ships under his command to both investigate the situation and rescue any survivors of the unfolding disaster. He wasn't just 'some bloke' with a fatal case of curiosity. If the presenter is relying on the representation of Pliny by Suetonius he should know better since that later author is famous for his gossip-laden, fanciful and contradictory representations of the characters of other famous Romans, in particular the Emperors. This so-called historical documentary is full of misleading representations, half-truths and basic omissions. Why?

[@benjalucian1515]

He didn't know it was a disaster. It looked just like smoke from their vantage point. it was only when he got a message from a friend's wife, describing the danger that he got the whole navy ready to go to the rescue.

[@collectivesartori]

@@benjalucian1515 Its the confusing and snide observations made by the presenter, characterising Pliny as a mere 'adventurer' that I objected to, not the idea that he was unsure about what he was dealing with when he ordered his squadron to leave Misenum for Stabia on that fateful day in 79. Just very lazy and disingenuous film making.

[@benjalucian1515]

@@collectivesartori It's not the best documentary I've seen on the subject.

[@collectivesartori]

@@benjalucian1515 very much agree. It was beautiful and there were some very good academic guests, but the grab for eyeballs and sensationalist sound bites is a massive turnoff unfortunately. The dumbing down of popular history is really depressing.,

[@RowdyProwdy]

It’s actually has me angry in a way to be honest.

[@Antinoustheartist]

OK when he was talking about the people you can have sex with for men he left out that men could have sex with other men

[@deepthinkingopinion]

well he called the life of prostitutes "horrendous", I think we can imagine the life of prostitutes not being enjoyable although Romans had a very different view of sexuality than we do today. Also, censored most depictions of nudity and sex from the murals. ??? The documentary was done trying to keep it overly sensitive and prude.

[@Antinoustheartist]

@@deepthinkingopinion I’m confused what this has to do with my comment but OK I guess

[@williamvanessen1604]

Please refrain from using AI thumbnails, it makes History Hit appear as lazy and unscholarly when it’s anything but!

[@Sameasbefore88]

Dumb comment

[@98Zai]

History hit is just a company that buys old docus.

[@Contessa6363]

​@@Sameasbefore88 Why don't you stop being a hypercritical Narcissist huh???😮😮😮

[@samuelmarveelouz]

Clark Frank Johnson James Lopez Brian

[@liammc546]

I never realised the scale of Pompeii. Fantastic hosting by Tristan.

[@miastupid7911]

"Για ιδεστε τον αμαραντο σε τι βουνα φυτρωνει." line from Greek traditional song. Αμαραντος = amarantus = wild flowers = symbol of eternal love and connected to the myth of Helen and Paris.

[@flayful]

I play Assassin's Creed: Origins and it made me curious to watch documentaries for these wonderful ancient empires and regions. Thank you for all the hard work of our archaeologists and historians. ❤

[@zannabings2707]

Best documentary so far on Pomphei. I felt like i was in Pomphei, thanks for the excellent documentary 💯 ❤

[@bread_dawg]

Please stop using AI art. It really cheapens the image of what you're putting out which is otherwise really good

[@hori166]

It's a conundrum that today men and boys still relish combat and bloodshed, but in a virtual world. That basic instinct to maim and admire has remained intact over the millennia. Even animal sport and gambling persist. Here, the only difference today would be the horror and revulsion experienced by a certain sector of the population.

[@levij4]

I really enjoyed this documentary! Towards the end I heard something that I've never heard before. The documentary says that the Romans dug down into the forum shortly after the disaster to recover Marble and limestone blocks out of the forum. I have been unable to find this information anywhere else on the web. Can someone provide sources for that claim? I would love to read more about that. Thank you!

[@darlingmawo]

How fascinating this history is. Even though I'm in Zimbabwe, it felt like I was walking on the floors of the city. Too bad that it got lost through nature's vengeance.

[@98Zai]

I really like the presenter! He should have worn a beard though, but I guess it wouldn't be suitable for Rome in 79 :P

[@Rachaelann59]

Gosh, I love History Hit! Never thought we would get quality channels again since 2015 rolled in.

[@redouteshabby2024]

How did Pliny the Younger know what is uncle was doing in Stabiae to write about it in such detail? No cell phones, no way of his uncle relaying information to him.

[@SongOfSongsOneTwelve]

Those weren’t streets, they were waterways. You can tell because of the large stepping stones making pathways across the waterway.

[@benjalucian1515]

I thought that the idea that the "barracks" next to the amphitheater in Pompeii had been debunked as gladiator housing. Due to the artwork under the arcade which they wouldn't have done for a bunch of gladiators.

[@davidevans3227]

thankyou, for sharing this 🙂 x

[@AnnamariaManganelli]

Pompei è bellissima e commovente

[@LuangPraBong]

Oh no it’s that same narrator that won’t stop moving his hands now all I can look at are his hands moving. Please make him stop.

[@rozi2089]

Very fascinating. Love learni g about Pompeii and hope i can visit one day.

[@mrmeowmeow710]

👍👍

[@chrysology]

Don't censor art.

[@drumiers]

Love this

[@13JAMLAND]

Really great documentary, thank you!

[@Chris-sf2lk]

Beautiful documentary!

[@collectivesartori]

The presenter represents women as oppressed in this so called documentary on early imperial Rome. While women and men certainly were not equal, the extent of the revisionism on display in this so-called documentary perverts the known historical record about the experience of women in Roman society, in order (presumably) to push a contemporary agenda of some kind. Disappointing and dissembling.

[@benjalucian1515]

Trouble is, we don't have any writings from women from the time period.

[@Emthe30something]

A full documentary on the KZbin channel is most appreciated. Enjoyed with one constructive criticism. The sex work section seemed to be reductive. I feel like the research has come farther than the final sentence summing it up as horrendous and moving on.

[@Thewholetree]

It's paid r@pe. Nobody goes into sex work because they think it's a lucrative and good career. It's a last resort, sex worker women have higher rates of PTSD than soldiers returning from war. Ask any woman who is currently a sex worker if she would still do the job if she could get the same amount of money just as easily anywhere else, most would choose to leave. But sure, sing its virtues. Jackass. 😂

[@nickyphoenix2470]

I see Maureen lipman 😂

[@1957loek]

Very interesting.

[@katherinecollins4685]

Very interesting

[@padghd]

Very interesting