Mount Vesuvius erupted?almost 2000 years ago. The inhabitants of nearby Pompeii & Herculaneum?suffered horrific deaths, before being?buried under tonnes of volcanic rock and mud.?For centuries their story was forgotten. Gradually over the last 400 years, their secrets have been?unearthed, giving us?a remarkable insight into an ancient society. The program reveals details of their everyday lives, occupations, religion, politics, entertainment, influence of foreign cultures and the architecture of both public buildings and private homes.