Why Is Pompeii Called the "Lost City"?

Pompeii, a thriving Roman city in Italy's Campania region, was buried under meters of volcanic ash and pumice when Mount Vesuvius erupted catastrophically in 79 AD. The eruption preserved buildings, streets, artifacts, and even the forms of victims in remarkable detail.

The city remained hidden and forgotten for nearly 1,700 years until its rediscovery in the 18th century. Because it vanished so completely and was frozen in time, it earned the name "lost city." Today, its ruins offer an unparalleled window into daily life in the ancient Roman Empire.