How do you piece together what life was like in Pompeii?
Summary
Science Friday explores daily life in ancient Pompeii through interviews with archaeobotanist Dr. Jess Venner and actor Tom Hiddleston. Venner discusses her book, *The Lost Voices of Pompeii*, using artifacts to reconstruct the stories of ordinary residents and debating the eruption's true date. Hiddleston shares his passion for the ancient world and his new National Geographic documentary, *Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston*. Together, they highlight how storytelling bridges the gap between modern audiences and Roman history.
Topics discussed
Sponsor messages from New York Hall of Science, Poster House, and Con Edison
Introduction to Pompeii and guest Dr. Jess Venner
Why Pompeii fascinates us: ordinary lives preserved in ash
Profiling Aulus Umbricius Scaurus, the garum (fish sauce) magnate
Women in business: Umbricia Fortunata and Julia Felix
Using granular archaeological evidence to reconstruct daily life
The debate over the eruption date: August vs. October
Post-eruption life, urban agriculture, and tracking survivors
Sponsor messages from Children's Aid, Con Edison, and Bayer
Tom Hiddleston joins the show and discusses his love for the ancient world
Storytelling as a tool for understanding history and filling gaps
Critical fabulation and the emotional connection to Pompeii's victims
Guest credits and closing remarks
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