Ongoing Research — 2023
Forum Romanum: a constant stream of people

(1) Forum Romanum, ca. 273 BC

„...there was a constant stream of people who crowded this open space every day...“
– Forum Romanum, Archeological Site of Paestum, 2023

Although Italian archeological research traces back to the 1500s, our modern fascination with antiquity repopulates Roman streets with larger crowds than they were ever imagined to hold. Yet the footsteps of thousands don’t only test the resilience of the ancient stones, they pose a threat to their preservation into the future.

Today, the scapes of Pompeii, Herculaneum, or Paestum bear little resemblance to what they once were, not even how they were discovered and rediscovered. What remains are bare walls and emptied rooms which once were filled with the life of the locals, now replaced by visitors from all over the world.

If only there were a way to experience how they used to live back then.
As advertised all over the world, anyone can step foot inside an ancient city.

(1) Amphitheater, 50 BC

(1) Sugar Packet, 2023

(1) Temple of Athena, ca. 500 BC

(2) Tomb of the Palmettes, Arcioni, ca. 500 BC

(2) Tomb of the Diver, Tempa del Prete, ca. 500 BC

(3) Archive, 2023

(3) House of the Bronze Herm, 2023

(4) Visitor from the Netherlands, 2023

(5) The Blue Vase, ca. 50 AD

(5) Modell of Pompeii, 2023

(5) Vittorio Emanuele II at the excavations of Herculaneum, Eugenio Tano, 1872

(3) House of the Bicentenary, ca. 62 AD

(3) Hercules with Minerva and Juno, College of the Augustans, ca. 62 AD

(3) Mosaic in the Central Women's Thermae, ca. 25 AD

(4) Forum Romanum, ca. 500 BC

List of Sources:

(1) Archaeological Parc of Paestum & Velia,
Paestum, Campania, Italy

(2) Archaeological National Museum of Paestum,
Paestum, Campania, Italy

(3) Archaeological Park of Herculaneum,
Ercolano, Campania, Italy

(4) Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Ministry of Culture,
Pompeii, Campania, Italy

(5) National Archaeological Museum (MANN),
Naples, Campania, Italy