![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CWPI2LI3KYSYKEEAX4VSTCJY4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=854941471dac4a2e2c717bd40647d99507943989f59f306749cc8e2d0420ba86&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Pompeii site through an archway.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DQMGPJ7CX6SOGAU6RJIAHWAVRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=073aa2041831072df28793f5a139a8beadeda099dcdadd7f32388435601c4520&width=400&height=225)
Tourists walk past a thermopolium, a commercial establishment where it was possible to purchase ready-to-eat food, inside the Pompeii archaeological site, southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NTYNJKS66KXKZWQ676MTYG7MBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a46b724c91f5ee36da279363cda7c809b30b24ae6e059e78c54b631a4c1a16f6&width=400&height=225)
A statue of a Faunus. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79AD.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WASPGYDOWLDUN6J47RRGL5SQAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2d80aebc9b4a9821d15d343c62cb71e31e52bcc6503774b5f4bb0ec74d51b43&width=400&height=225)
The Mt. Vesuvius volcano towers over the remains of the ancient town of Pompeii in southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5XJCXPAPBBOME2U32KDC7R4F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=460408a2a7a0dddff68d2c26c1a84cb105d420574b21c74da67f48f8529d4dbc&width=400&height=225)
Excavations are carried out inside the 'House of the Library' at Pompeii.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MK4D22ZE4J5SZWWY5QPBKHZLQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1be7fbed4eead1c182ca2d5ce8392747fb26b33beec6f027db389e4b6ab300e9&width=400&height=225)
A restorer performs deep consolidation of an unearthed wall.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GGPS75FVBUZ5A5SGIHOY5MUC44.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb4db17022f3600cafdffe48c45b7874e0492f8742ae55de4603f606680a7c4e&width=400&height=225)
A thermopolium, a commercial establishment where it was possible to purchase ready-to-eat food, is seen inside the Pompeii archaeological site, southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WQ5YDM3JC2DYHA353UEOMRNDFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ecde7326242d40dcafd9e34b558746fda5562c668f86818c4de6a93f34fffe08&width=400&height=225)
Tourists walk inside the Pompeii site.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6IGFBJVL4C56ISHXN3ASNSDEMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7975a604c5e6edf98243e63e4dbd9b295a4adc213d15cea507a702c2eac580cc&width=400&height=225)
A fresco is seen inside the kitchen of a house at the Pompeii archaeological site in southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UDPVRRSEH7XF6U3HDA2NGR4G4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=03178d570c91167415aafabfcc5d34ae5c5a9605f93381b6410580d0472015f1&width=400&height=225)
A plastic bag contains tiles from a floor mosaic inside the House of the Library.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7VTGK3T245DSB6W7XHHBXRFMEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e3f15720cd3a44953557aba9d23622d546a884cd0ea018ea53a6fa13ecb673d&width=400&height=225)
A black and white floor mosaic shows the image of a guard dog and a script in Latin, which says 'Watch the dog'.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HR5EUOEUKHFBGXNLLERGS7HWVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=816bbeb0a6cba3afc6c2b622740ab74a11e100312b48af61c6970653bc39fbf4&width=400&height=225)
The 'Leda and the swan' fresco is seen on a wall at the Pompeii archaeological site in southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XS3XZEPLRHHT6777UHNKO5VXYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=55ef9f6fffc02468a6d27a4690cd79b489e54d0523504013b38d8a0ca5c6abeb&width=400&height=225)
Another fresco, this one depicting a poet.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTKQQZSP5HQLD437AD7GSEL4LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1cbedee10225e46cfb186fa336558153076049f537a36b2f6352921713272672&width=400&height=225)
Visitors look at the casts of some of the victims of the Vesuvius eruption.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3U24XZESIMK647PRJMWO7BAMUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=66475d92f1e534b318078b4a4192bce20cbf918d200ee2fe1d4e296b10ec27bb&width=400&height=225)
A damaged mosaic.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BWMOHV3IE3G7AIIFKFBOEAEUS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4b1907de168f9a60613f0297c428b6e1fac4191e63466dba87a7082e84ce1c48&width=400&height=225)
'Leda and the swan' is seen on a wall of a ruined house.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CWPI2LI3KYSYKEEAX4VSTCJY4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=854941471dac4a2e2c717bd40647d99507943989f59f306749cc8e2d0420ba86&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Pompeii site through an archway.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DQMGPJ7CX6SOGAU6RJIAHWAVRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=073aa2041831072df28793f5a139a8beadeda099dcdadd7f32388435601c4520&width=400&height=225)
Tourists walk past a thermopolium, a commercial establishment where it was possible to purchase ready-to-eat food, inside the Pompeii archaeological site, southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NTYNJKS66KXKZWQ676MTYG7MBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a46b724c91f5ee36da279363cda7c809b30b24ae6e059e78c54b631a4c1a16f6&width=400&height=225)
A statue of a Faunus. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79AD.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WASPGYDOWLDUN6J47RRGL5SQAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2d80aebc9b4a9821d15d343c62cb71e31e52bcc6503774b5f4bb0ec74d51b43&width=400&height=225)
The Mt. Vesuvius volcano towers over the remains of the ancient town of Pompeii in southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5XJCXPAPBBOME2U32KDC7R4F4.jpg?smart=true&auth=460408a2a7a0dddff68d2c26c1a84cb105d420574b21c74da67f48f8529d4dbc&width=400&height=225)
Excavations are carried out inside the 'House of the Library' at Pompeii.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MK4D22ZE4J5SZWWY5QPBKHZLQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1be7fbed4eead1c182ca2d5ce8392747fb26b33beec6f027db389e4b6ab300e9&width=400&height=225)
A restorer performs deep consolidation of an unearthed wall.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GGPS75FVBUZ5A5SGIHOY5MUC44.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb4db17022f3600cafdffe48c45b7874e0492f8742ae55de4603f606680a7c4e&width=400&height=225)
A thermopolium, a commercial establishment where it was possible to purchase ready-to-eat food, is seen inside the Pompeii archaeological site, southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WQ5YDM3JC2DYHA353UEOMRNDFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ecde7326242d40dcafd9e34b558746fda5562c668f86818c4de6a93f34fffe08&width=400&height=225)
Tourists walk inside the Pompeii site.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6IGFBJVL4C56ISHXN3ASNSDEMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7975a604c5e6edf98243e63e4dbd9b295a4adc213d15cea507a702c2eac580cc&width=400&height=225)
A fresco is seen inside the kitchen of a house at the Pompeii archaeological site in southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UDPVRRSEH7XF6U3HDA2NGR4G4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=03178d570c91167415aafabfcc5d34ae5c5a9605f93381b6410580d0472015f1&width=400&height=225)
A plastic bag contains tiles from a floor mosaic inside the House of the Library.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7VTGK3T245DSB6W7XHHBXRFMEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e3f15720cd3a44953557aba9d23622d546a884cd0ea018ea53a6fa13ecb673d&width=400&height=225)
A black and white floor mosaic shows the image of a guard dog and a script in Latin, which says 'Watch the dog'.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HR5EUOEUKHFBGXNLLERGS7HWVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=816bbeb0a6cba3afc6c2b622740ab74a11e100312b48af61c6970653bc39fbf4&width=400&height=225)
The 'Leda and the swan' fresco is seen on a wall at the Pompeii archaeological site in southern Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. In a few horrible hours, Pompeii went from being a vibrant city to a dead one, smothered by a furious volcanic eruption in 79 AD. Then in this century, Pompeii appeared alarmingly on the precipice of a second death, assailed by decades of neglect, mismanagement and scanty systematic maintenance of heavily visited ruins. (AP Photo / Gregorio Borgia)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XS3XZEPLRHHT6777UHNKO5VXYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=55ef9f6fffc02468a6d27a4690cd79b489e54d0523504013b38d8a0ca5c6abeb&width=400&height=225)
Another fresco, this one depicting a poet.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTKQQZSP5HQLD437AD7GSEL4LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1cbedee10225e46cfb186fa336558153076049f537a36b2f6352921713272672&width=400&height=225)
Visitors look at the casts of some of the victims of the Vesuvius eruption.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3U24XZESIMK647PRJMWO7BAMUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=66475d92f1e534b318078b4a4192bce20cbf918d200ee2fe1d4e296b10ec27bb&width=400&height=225)
A damaged mosaic.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BWMOHV3IE3G7AIIFKFBOEAEUS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4b1907de168f9a60613f0297c428b6e1fac4191e63466dba87a7082e84ce1c48&width=400&height=225)
'Leda and the swan' is seen on a wall of a ruined house.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CWPI2LI3KYSYKEEAX4VSTCJY4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=854941471dac4a2e2c717bd40647d99507943989f59f306749cc8e2d0420ba86&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Pompeii site through an archway.
Pompeii: Italy's destroyed ancient city is experiencing a rebirth
The city was flattened centuries ago by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Associated Press
20 February, 2022
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