How were wall paintings preserved in Pompeii and Herculaneum?

The ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were preserved along with their wall paintings because they were buried under several meters of volcanic ash and pumice during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. This sudden cataclysm protected buildings, artifacts, and frescoes from the elements until extensive archaeological excavations began centuries later. These discoveries ultimately enabled archaeologists to classify Roman mural art into distinct stylistic periods.

What we know

• Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried under 4 to 6 meters of volcanic ash and pumice during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. [2, 3]
• The burial by the volcano protected buildings and artifacts, including frescoes and wall paintings, until extensive archaeological excavations began in the 18th century. [2, 3]
• The large group of surviving Roman frescoes uncovered in Pompeii allowed archaeologist August Mau to delineate four distinct periods of ancient mural painting. [4]

Where to go next

• what caused itWhat caused the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD?
• what followedHow did the eruption affect everyday life in Pompeii?
• a case in pointWhat are the four styles of Roman wall painting?
• whenWhen did modern archaeological excavations begin in Pompeii?
• the bigger pictureWhat kinds of erotic art were found in Pompeii and Herculaneum?
• an unexpected connectionWhy was erotic art from Pompeii locked away in a secret cabinet?Artworks preserved by a volcanic eruption were later censored by 19th-century monarchs who found ancient Roman sexual depictions too shocking for public view.

Sources

• [1]Erotic art in Pompeii and Herculaneum (Wikidata Q5395424) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Erotic art in Pompeii and Herculaneum · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Pompeii · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Pompeian Styles · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Suburban Baths (Pompeii) · CC BY-SA 4.0