Sky Arte documentary explores Pompeii's fate after Vesuvius eruption

A new documentary titled 'Pompei – Dopo l'eruzione' premieres on Sky Arte on Sunday, December 27. Archaeologist Raksha Dave and historian Dan Snow investigate what happened in the weeks and centuries following the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The film challenges the traditional date of the eruption, suggesting it occurred in October rather than August. Moving between Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae, the scholars analyze how the volcanic eruption affected different areas with varying intensity. Survivors returned to the devastated sites in the days after the disaster to recover their belongings. The documentary then jumps to the 18th century, when the buried cities were rediscovered, revealing insights into ancient life and customs. Finally, it reaches the present day, uncovering the story of eleven family members who died together in the eruption and the illegal excavation of three horse skeletons by a group of criminals.