Gabriel Zuchtriegel on His New Book and Leading Pompeii

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park since 2021, has published a book titled "Quando gli dei lasciarono il mondo. L'ultima estate di Pompei" (Feltrinelli). In an interview with Artribune, he discusses his transition from directing Paestum (2015-2021) to Pompeii, his concept of "circular archaeology" integrating research, conservation, and public engagement, and the challenges of managing 13,000 rooms excavated since 1748. He highlights the use of AI for monitoring and research, the "Sogno di Volare" theater project for local teens, and threats he faced after removing unauthorized guides. The book explores Pompeii as a society in crisis, where ancient cults waned and new beliefs emerged, using archaeological data to reconstruct the last summer before the Vesuvius eruption. Zuchtriegel emphasizes that the book is non-fiction grounded in scientific evidence, not imaginative fiction.