History Extra Podcast: “Before the Volcano: Life in Ancient Pompeii”

Release Date: January 11, 2026
Host: Kev Lotchen (Immediate Media)
Guest: Dr. Jess Venner (Roman historian, Pompeii expert)

Episode Overview

In the first episode of a four-part series, host Kev Lotchen and historian Dr. Jess Venner explore life in ancient Pompeii before its destruction by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The conversation dives into the vibrant, everyday realities of Pompeian society, its diverse population, urban life, commerce, and the fascinating blend of myth and science surrounding the volcano. They also examine why the exact date of the eruption is so hotly debated. The episode combines scholarly insight with lively, relatable discussion, aiming to humanize the ancient Romans and challenge long-held assumptions about Pompeii’s demise.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fascination with Pompeii

• Pompeii is preserved by tragedy—both lucky and unlucky—which grants unique insight into Roman life.

  “There is so much of it that’s been preserved in Pompeii. …We can learn so much about Roman life from this city.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [03:49]

2. Pompeii’s Urban Life Before the Eruption

• Not an extraordinary city to its contemporaries—rather, an “ordinary Roman town” with bustling streets, markets, baths, an amphitheater, and green spaces.
• Population estimated at ~20,000 (slavery complicates estimates).
• Exceptionally diverse: A population mix including locals (Samnites, Oscans, Greeks), slaves, and traders from as far as India.
• Rich in commerce, especially in shops, fish sauce (garum), wine, and agricultural products.

  “It was full of bustling life...a tapestry of life in Pompeii.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [04:22]

• Pompeii’s famed fish sauce—garum—was locally branded and exported.

  “We’re not saying Pompeii invented fish sauce, but they maybe invented Heinz.”
  — Kev Lotchen [08:43]

3. Comparison to Herculaneum

• Herculaneum: Smaller (~4-5,000), wealthier, more luxurious (described as a “Roman Riviera”).

  “Pompeii was very much your ordinary guy...but Herculaneum was almost a pleasure resort.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [06:14]

4. Situating Pompeii and Its Neighbors

• Map-like description of the Bay of Naples and proximity of key locations (Misenum, Naples, Herculaneum, Aplontis, Pompeii, Stabiae, Sorrentum).
• Pompeii is 9 km from Vesuvius (Herculaneum even closer).

  “When you’re standing there, you can really get an idea of how close the volcano is. It’s intense.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [10:23]

5. Did Pompeians Know Vesuvius Was a Volcano?

• Most citizens did NOT realize they were living next to a volcano; it hadn’t erupted in centuries.
• Ancient sources (Vitruvius, Strabo, Seneca) note the strange geology and possibility of volcanic activity, but this was mainly an elite preoccupation.

  “They’re like, so close!”
  — Kev Lotchen [12:55]
  “They have some idea about this...there would have been murmurs.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [12:58]

• Mythic explanations included giants and the hero Hercules being entombed beneath Vesuvius.

6. Myths and Frescoes: Giants, Gods, and Bacchus

• Roman myth placed giants under the mountain, their struggles causing tremors.
• Frescoes show Vesuvius lush with vineyards, and even reference myths via imagery of Bacchus (god of wine).
• Eruption also altered the volcano’s shape—from one cone to two.

  “Actually, during the eruption, there were whispers that the giants were seen in the smoke.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [15:39]

7. Frequent Earthquakes and the People’s Attitude

• Earthquakes were routine—a risk Pompeii’s citizens accepted due to the area’s fertility.

  “If you ask anybody in Naples region...they’ll say, ‘oh yeah, it happens all the time.’”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [17:52]

• Earthquakes (notably 62 or 63 AD) caused severe destruction and led to practical adaptations: rebuilding, opening new wells, and increased urban agriculture.

Natural Disaster Resilience

• Pompeians had rebuilt after previous disasters and were actively renovating at the time of the final eruption.

  “They’re an incredibly resilient people. I love them so much for this because they just don’t give up.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [19:24]

Example: The Temple of Isis and Pompeian Politics

• Temple of Isis was repaired swiftly post-earthquake, credited (for political advantage) to a 6-year-old whose family sought to gain political status.

  “It was a very expensive thing to repair this temple, but...he was given a really important political status.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [22:18]

8. Famous Pompeians in Focus: Caecilius

• The real-life banker Caecilius, famous in modern Latin textbooks, likely died in an earthquake before the final eruption.
• Example of how real individuals’ lives and identities are hard to trace, except for the wealthy.

  “It’s weird...You try and recreate their histories, but then you can’t work out where they live or necessarily what they did.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [27:19]

9. Renovation and Urban Agriculture: A City in Transition

• Urban agriculture inside the city walls exploded after the 62 AD earthquake (250% increase).
• The city was full of shops, construction, and adaptation—contradicting the outdated view that the elite abandoned Pompeii pre-eruption.

10. The “Pomegranate Problem”: When Did Vesuvius Erupt?

• Traditional date: 24 August 79 AD — but Dr. Venner and others dispute this.
• Problems with relying on Pliny the Younger's letter: possible transcription errors, date confusion.

  “The traditional date...is the 24th of August, AD 79. I don’t think that it was then, and there’s a lot of people that don’t think it was then...”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [32:32]

Evidence for a Later (Autumn) Date

• Archaeobotanical finds: carbonized pomegranates, sealed wine jars after the grape harvest, walnuts/chestnuts/figs.

• Heating equipment and warm clothes found in Pompeii houses—unthinkable for August.

• Fresh charcoal graffiti dated to 17 October found during recent excavations.

• Wind direction patterns during the eruption incompatible with a summer event.

• A coin from the House of the Golden Bracelet, minted after September 7–8, 79 AD, found in Pompeii—proving inhabitants were still there after the supposed August date.

  “So this tells us again that it cannot have been in August.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [39:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pompeii’s magic:

  “It’s a tapestry of life in Pompeii.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [05:22]

• On Pompeii’s fish sauce empire:

  “We’re not saying Pompeii invented fish sauce, but they maybe invented Heinz.”
  — Kev Lotchen [08:43]

• On myth vs science:

  “There’s a poem called Etna ... they sort of reject the idea that there’s gods and giants under the volcano. They’re trying to find a scientific reason.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [12:58]

• On earthquake resilience:

  “They’re an incredibly resilient people ... they just don’t give up.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [19:24]

• On graffiti as social media:

  “I love the fact that this [graffiti] is like a comment board, like on Instagram, where everyone’s just arguing.”
  — Dr. Jess Venner [40:25]

Timestamped Key Segments

• [03:02] – Introduction to Pompeii’s legacy & series goals
• [04:22] – Everyday life and diversity in Pompeii
• [06:14] – Comparison of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other Bay of Naples towns
• [07:28] – Pompeii’s role in Roman trade, politics, agriculture
• [09:13] – Geographic orientation of Vesuvius and key towns
• [10:50] – Did locals recognize Vesuvius as a danger?
• [15:00] – Giants, Hercules, gods, and volcano myths
• [17:52] – Frequency of earthquakes; how Pompeians adapted
• [19:24] – Major earthquake of 62/63 AD; community resilience
• [25:32] – The real Caecilius: fact vs Latin textbook fiction
• [29:13] – Ongoing urban growth and resourcefulness after disaster
• [32:25] – The “pomegranate problem” and eruption date controversy
• [34:28] – Evidence for a fall eruption
• [39:36] – Graffiti of the week: Successus, Severus, and Iris—ancient love rivalries play out on Pompeian walls
• [41:36] – Humanizing ancient Pompeiians; preview of next episode

“Graffiti of the Week”: Humanity on Ancient Walls

“Successus the weaver loves the barmaid of the inn called Iris, who doesn’t care for him, but he asks and she feels sorry for him...A rival wrote this farewell. And then somebody replies in a different script...‘You’re jealous. Don’t try to muscle in on someone who’s better looking and is a wicked and charming man.’ And then the original person writes back...‘I have written and spoken. You love Iris, who doesn’t care for you. Severus to Successus.’”
— Dr. Jess Venner [39:36]

“I love the fact that this is like a comment board, like on Instagram, where everyone’s just arguing.”
— Dr. Jess Venner [40:25]

Tone & Language

The dialogue is friendly, playful, and accessible, making complex historical debates relatable. Humorous asides abound, especially when discussing myths, ancient politics, and textbook Roman “celebrities.” Dr. Venner’s expertise brings depth, while Kev Lotchen keeps the mood lively and inviting.

Conclusion

This episode goes beyond the disaster narrative to paint a vivid, human portrait of Pompeii as a living, changing, and complex city—utterly ordinary in the Roman world, yet extraordinary in what it reveals to us. The debate over the eruption’s date illustrates the intersection of archaeological science and textual tradition, while graffiti, myths, and individual stories breathe life into ancient ruins. The stage is set for the next episode: a detailed account of “Volcano Day” itself.

For Further Exploration

• Visit the History Extra app for related reading and bonus material on Pompeii, Vesuvius, and the wider Roman Empire.
• Next episode: “The Apocalyptic 24 Hours.”