logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2022
11m 46s

Unearthing Pompeii

The Retrospectors
About this episode
Under the orders of King Charles III - who wanted marble and classical art for his palace at Portici - Spanish military engineer Roque Joaquín de Alcubierre excavated some Campanian ruins on 1st April, 1748 - and discovered the long-lost city of Pompeii. Buried beneath volcanic ash and debris since Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, much of the city was rema ... Show More
Up next
Today
The World's Weirdest War
A 335-year-long ‘war’ (in which not a single shot was fired) officially ended on 17th April, 1986, when the UK’s Dutch ambassador landed on the Isles of Scilly and declared an end to hostilities between the Netherlands and this tiny archipelago off the coast of Cornwall. The orig ... Show More
10m 49s
Yesterday
I Name This Ship Brittania
Queen Elizabeth II stood before 30,000 spectators at Clydebank to launch HMY Britannia on 16th April, 1953. The yacht’s name had been kept secret, and when the Queen finally declared it “Britannia”, the crowd responded with a surge of cheering applause. Commissioned shortly befor ... Show More
12 m
Apr 15
Tommy Cooper Dies On Stage
Tommy Cooper's unexpected death on stage at Her Majesty's Theatre on 15th April, 1984 remains one of the saddest and most surreal moments in UK comedy history. Known for his slapstick humour and botched magic tricks, family favourite Cooper collapsed mid-act due to a massive hear ... Show More
11m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Herculaneum
<p>In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius unleashed devastation on the Roman world, burying entire towns beneath volcanic ash. While Pompeii is world-famous, another extraordinary site met the same fate - Herculaneum.</p><br><p>In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Profe ... Show More
1h 3m
Oct 2024
The Last Regular Day in Pompeii
October 24, 79 CE. Pompeii is one of the crown jewels of the Roman Empire, a bustling city that serves as a coastal retreat for Rome's elite. But Pompeii also has a large, often overlooked middle-class population. They don't live in Pompeii's massive villas. Instead, they live a ... Show More
36m 38s
Aug 2025
Pompeii
Warning: this episode contains explicit language and discussions of sex.Pompeii is a city frozen in time and shows us exactly how the Romans really lived. Buried by volcanic ash and debris from a catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, visitors to the Roman town can still see ... Show More
38m 51s
Mar 2024
POMPEII – Tragedy Frozen in Time
Pompeii - is an ancient Roman city near modern Naples, Italy, famously preserved in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Its ruins offer a haunting glimpse into daily life, frozen in the moment of destruction, making it a horrifying yet historical site. ... Show More
42m 27s
Jun 2025
Pompeii: The Buried City
<p>Buried in ash, frozen in time—Pompeii offers one of the most extraordinary windows into everyday life in ancient Rome.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director of Pompeii, to explore the latest discoveries ... Show More
52m 14s
Jun 2025
Pompeii and the Vesuvius Eruption
"What happens when a volcano erupts just six miles from a bustling city? In 79 AD Mount Vesuvius is regarded as a source of bounty by those who live in its shadow. But one of history’s most infamous natural disasters soon unfolds. How did the lucky ones make their escape? And how ... Show More
46m 33s
Aug 2023
Sex Work in Pompeii
<p><em>This episode contains some strong language references to sexual content.</em></p><br><p>Pompeii is shrouded in myths and legends about it's vibrant, after hours, night life. With theories of carved stone penis' pointing towards brothels, frescoes of graphic images, and baw ... Show More
37m 16s
Nov 2019
The Destruction of Pompeii
In the year 79 CE, Mt. Vesuvius erupted, burying the Roman city of Pompeii. The ruins were only rediscovered in the the late 1700s, and have been under excavation ever since. In this episode we discuss written references and the archaeology of Pompeii, Vesuvius and the day the vo ... Show More
37m 37s
Mar 2025
Excavating Pompeii
Pompeii has been excavated for hundreds of years, and in that time techniques, practices and philosophies have changed. We’re now finding out a lot more about the city and the people who lived there, and there’s still more to find out. The When in Rome podcast is now fundraising ... Show More
39m 26s
Aug 2024
The Alexander Mosaic in the House of Faun, Pompeii
The Alexander Mosaic, also known as the Battle of Issus Mosaic, is a masterpiece of ancient Roman artistry that continues to captivate viewers with its detailed depiction of a pivotal moment in history. Unearthed in the House of the Faun in Pompeii, this intricate mosaic offers a ... Show More
16m 16s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami