Pompeii Timeline — Chronological History from Founding to Present

Pompeii Through the Ages

This timeline traces the complete history of Pompeii from its earliest origins to the present day, encompassing its founding, growth, destruction, rediscovery, and modern significance.

Prehistoric and Early Period

• ~7th-6th century BC — Settlement founded by the Osci people on a natural lava plateau near the mouth of the Sarno River
• ~6th century BC — Greek cultural influence reaches the area; construction of the earliest version of the Temple of Apollo and the Doric Temple
• ~5th century BC — Samnite people conquer the region; Pompeii comes under Samnite control
• ~4th century BC — Major expansion under Samnite rule; construction of city walls, the Forum area, and early residential neighborhoods
• ~3rd century BC — Pompeii becomes allied with Rome during the Roman expansion into southern Italy

Roman Period

• 89 BC — Pompeii resists Rome during the Social War; the city is besieged by the Roman general Sulla. Cannonball-like stone projectiles from this siege are still embedded in the city walls
• 80 BC — Pompeii becomes a Roman colony: Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum. Roman veterans settle in the city
• ~70 BC — Construction of the Amphitheatre, the oldest known permanent stone amphitheatre in the Roman world
• ~60s BC — Period of significant building activity: the Forum is enhanced, new baths are built, and wealthy citizens construct elaborate houses
• 59 AD — A riot breaks out in the Amphitheatre between Pompeians and visitors from neighboring Nuceria. The Roman Senate bans gladiatorial games in Pompeii for 10 years (later reduced)
• 62 AD — A severe earthquake (estimated magnitude 5-6) causes extensive damage to buildings throughout the city. Reconstruction efforts begin immediately and continue for years
• August 24-25, 79 AD — Mount Vesuvius erupts catastrophically, burying Pompeii under 4-6 meters of volcanic ash and pumice. Approximately 2,000 residents perish

Burial Period

• 79 AD onward — Survivors and looters tunnel into the buried city to recover valuables. The Roman emperor Titus organizes some relief efforts
• ~2nd-3rd century AD — Knowledge of Pompeii's exact location begins to fade, though classical writers continue to reference the catastrophe
• ~5th-15th centuries — The medieval period. The area above Pompeii is known locally as "La Civita" (The City), preserving a dim folk memory
• 1599 — Architect Domenico Fontana accidentally uncovers walls and frescoes while building a water channel, but does not recognize the significance

Excavation Period

• 1748 — Systematic excavation begins under Rocque Joaquin de Alcubierre, commissioned by King Charles III of Naples
• 1763 — An inscription is discovered confirming the site as the Res Publica Pompeianorum — Pompeii identified definitively
• 1860 — Giuseppe Fiorelli appointed director of excavations; introduces systematic methods, the region/insula numbering system, and the plaster casting technique
• 1863 — Fiorelli creates the first plaster casts of victims by pouring plaster into voids in the ash
• 1911 — Vittorio Spinazzola begins excavation of Via dell'Abbondanza, revealing the city's commercial heart
• 1924-1961 — Amedeo Maiuri leads extensive excavations, uncovering large areas including the Villa of the Mysteries
• 1980 — An earthquake damages the site and surrounding region, prompting conservation efforts

Modern Period

• 1997 — Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 2012 — The Great Pompeii Project launched with EUR105 million in EU and Italian government funding
• 2018-2020 — New excavations in Region V reveal the House of the Garden, the House of Orion, a lararium with vivid frescoes, and a remarkably preserved thermopolium
• 2021 — A ceremonial chariot discovered near the Villa of the Mysteries — an extraordinary and unique find
• 2023-2024 — Continued excavations reveal new frescoes, inscriptions, and artifacts, including a small private bathhouse with exquisite decorations
• Present — Approximately two-thirds of the ancient city has been excavated; work continues with modern archaeological methods including 3D scanning and drone surveys