The Buried City: Unearthing the Real Pompeii () is a 2023 book by the German archaeologist .
Background The German archaeologist became the first non-Italian director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park in 2021, which sparked controversy due to his nationality, young age and desire for more popular interaction with the site.
Summary The book is about the ancient city of Pompeii in Italy and recent excavations at the site. It covers discoveries and ongoing work with preservation, as well as Zuchtriegel's subjective reflections, influences and approach to classical archaeology. There are chapters about classical education and the House of the Vettii, the Villa of the Mysteries and ancient religion, the villa of Civita Giuliana, the grave of the wealthy former slave Marcus Venerius Secundio, and the aftermath of Pompeii's destruction from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Reception Guy D. Middleton wrote in the American Journal of Archaeology that the book "is very much like a good conversation with a learned friend" and "highly readable and refreshing".
References
External links Ullstein Chicago University Press