Pompeii

Pompeii

Author: History Hit August 15, 2025 Duration: 38:51

Warning: this episode contains explicit language and discussions of sex.


Pompeii is a city frozen in time and shows us exactly how the Romans really lived. Buried by volcanic ash and debris from a catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, visitors to the Roman town can still see eerily preserved homes, bathhouses, the notorious brothel, and plaster casts of victims in their last moments.


Dan is joined by Dr Kate Lister to tell the story of the eruption and explain the history behind what remains in Pompeii and their top tips for visiting.


This is part of our summer travel series 'Dan's Guide to Europe'.


Produced by Mariana Des Forges, edited by Tim Arstall and sound designed by Dougal Patmore.


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There’s history you might recall from a textbook, and then there’s the kind that feels like you’re standing right there in the moment. Dan Snow's History Hit is firmly in the latter category. Hosted by the historian Dan Snow, this podcast doesn't just recount dates and facts; it transports you. Each episode is built from Dan's travels to the actual locations where history unfolded, from the echoing floor of the Roman Colosseum to the silent expanse of the Waterloo battlefields and the awe-inspiring presence of the Great Wall of China. The conversations dig into the compelling human stories-the motivations of heroes and villains, the engineering behind great monuments, and the pivotal decisions that changed everything. You’ll hear the how and why behind the world's most defining events, delivered with a palpable sense of place and curiosity. New episodes arrive twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays, with additional subscriber episodes every other Friday, making this a consistently engaging dive into our shared past. It’s a history podcast that treats the subject not as a static record, but as a living, breathing narrative waiting to be explored.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Dan Snow's History Hit
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