The Ancients The Last Days of Pompeii
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Apr 26, 2026 
Dr. Jessica Venner, a Pompeii social historian and author, brings ordinary Roman lives to the foreground. She explores Pompeii’s trades like garum, the 62 AD quake and rebuilding, debates over the eruption date, vivid personal stories from slaves to business owners, the eruption’s ash, pumice and pyroclastic flows, and how survivors and society responded in the aftermath.
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The Garum Magnate Who Branded Pompeii's Ketchup
- Aulus Umbricius Scaurus built a garum empire from Pompeii, stamping jars with his brand and exporting as far as Londinium.
- His mosaics even depicted his bottles, showing early commercial branding pride and reach across the empire.
Pompeii Turned Ruin Into Urban Gardens
- After the AD62 quake Pompeii saw a 250% increase in urban gardens in two districts over 17 years.
- Residents demolished damaged properties and created vineyards, orchards and perfume gardens as opportunistic urban agriculture.
The Exact Eruption Date Still Matters
- The eruption date remains debated: Pliny says 24 August but archaeobotanical and coin evidence push toward autumn.
- Dating matters because seasonality affects harvest, clothing and how people were acting that day.