A Glimpse into a Frozen Moment in Time

In the year A.D. 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted violently, engulfing the Roman city of Pompeii and its surrounding settlements in volcanic ash, pumice, and toxic gas. This sudden catastrophe preserved the city and its people under layers of debris for centuries, offering modern archaeologists a rare, undisturbed snapshot of daily Roman life.

Excavations of Pompeii began in earnest in the 1800s and have continued, with interruptions, ever since. The city has revealed countless insights into Roman civilization, from ordinary household objects to human remains frozen in their final moments. Among these discoveries, some stand out as particularly unusual or unexpectedly revealing. Here are ten of the most fascinating artifacts unearthed in Pompeii.

1. Charred Loaves of Bread

One of the most strikingly ordinary yet significant discoveries in Pompeii is carbonized bread. Organic materials like food rarely survive for millennia, but the extreme heat from Vesuvius’ eruption instantly carbonized these loaves, preserving them in remarkable detail. The bread, known as panis quadratus, was a segmented sourdough-style loaf, often weighing around three pounds. Some loaves feature a central hole, likely for a string used to carry or divide the bread. Modern food historians have even attempted to recreate these loaves, offering a tangible taste of ancient Roman cuisine.

2. Exquisite Roman Glass

Glass production flourished in the early Roman Empire, and Pompeii has yielded stunning examples of this craft. Artifacts include perfume bottles, drinking vessels, and even windowpanes—an innovation still relatively new at the time. Among the more poignant discoveries is a beautifully crafted blue urn containing human ashes, buried with coins intended as fare for the deceased’s journey to the afterlife. Chemical analysis suggests that Pompeians actively recycled glass, and evidence points to at least one local workshop specializing in blown glass, a technique introduced from the Levant.

3. Erotic Art and Frescoes

Pompeii’s walls are adorned with surprisingly explicit artwork, reflecting the Romans’ open and often humorous attitude toward sexuality. Frescoes depicting various intimate acts have been found in private homes, public baths, and brothels. These images may have served as decoration, inspiration, or even advertisements for services. Some of the most explicit pieces were once hidden from public view in Naples’ National Archaeological Museum, only fully displayed to the public in the early 2000s. These erotic depictions highlight the Romans' complex relationship with pleasure, art, and daily life.

4. Containers for Garum – Rome’s Favorite Fish Sauce

Pompeii was a major center for the production of garum, a fermented fish sauce that was a staple of Roman cuisine. Made by layering fish and salt in barrels and allowing them to ferment, garum was prized for its rich umami flavor. One of Pompeii’s wealthiest residents, Aulus Umbricius Scaurus, built his fortune selling garum and its variations. His home’s mosaic floors feature depictions of amphorae—clay storage jars—that once contained this pungent yet highly valued sauce.

5. Ancient Graffiti

Far from the pristine white marble world often imagined, Pompeii was filled with everyday graffiti. Much like modern street scribbles, these inscriptions range from political slogans and love declarations to crude jokes and boasts of romantic conquests. Some walls even contained practical warnings, such as pleas against public urination or fornication. These casual writings provide an intimate, unfiltered glimpse into the thoughts and humor of ordinary Romans.

6. Roman Surgical Tools

Among the more unsettling finds at Pompeii are Roman medical instruments, many discovered in a building known as the House of the Surgeon. Copper-alloy scalpels, forceps, bone saws, and vaginal speculums demonstrate the level of sophistication in Roman medicine. Some tools, such as bloodletting cups and reusable enema devices, might make modern viewers wince. Interestingly, copper’s antimicrobial properties may have unintentionally reduced infections, though Romans lacked an understanding of germ theory.

7. Evidence of an Autumn Eruption

For centuries, historians believed Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, based on accounts from the Roman author Pliny the Younger. However, several clues suggest a later date. Archaeologists have found preserved chestnuts, a seasonal autumn crop, and victims wearing heavier clothing than expected for summer. In 2018, a charcoal inscription was uncovered, marking a date in mid-October—leading scholars to revise the eruption date to October 24.

8. Advanced Water Infrastructure

Pompeii had an impressive water management system for its time. While early residents relied on rainwater cisterns, the city was later connected to an aqueduct that supplied fresh water from nearly 94 kilometers away. Public fountains, bathhouses, and even private homes had running water, regulated by elevated towers that maintained pressure. Faucets resembling modern plumbing fixtures have been found, and wealthier homes even had primitive flushing toilets. However, many pipes were made of lead, raising questions about potential health risks from long-term exposure.

9. Ancient Roman Fast Food Stalls

For those without private kitchens, Pompeii offered a range of street food vendors, similar to modern fast food. These snack bars, or tabernae, had built-in storage containers where food was kept warm. Archaeological evidence suggests they sold grains, cheese, olives, and meats such as fish, duck, and goat. Wine, likely diluted with water, was a common beverage. The term thermopolium is sometimes used to describe these eateries, but the contemporary Roman term was likely popina or taberna.

10. Haunting Human Remains

Perhaps the most poignant discoveries at Pompeii are the casts of its inhabitants. During excavation, archaeologists filled voids in the hardened ash with plaster, revealing the exact positions of victims in their final moments. These figures—some alone, others in groups—capture the tragedy of Pompeii’s destruction with haunting realism. Their postures and expressions remind us that these were real people, caught in an inescapable disaster.

Conclusion: A City Preserved in Time

The artifacts of Pompeii provide an extraordinary window into daily Roman life, from food and medicine to entertainment and trade. While the eruption of Mount Vesuvius was a tragedy, its aftermath preserved a wealth of history that continues to captivate archaeologists and visitors alike. Each discovery adds another piece to the puzzle of this ancient city, keeping Pompeii’s story alive nearly two millennia later.