The city of Pompeii, which was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, has been uniquely preserved in the Parco Archeologico di Pompei in southern Italy, near Naples. Despite this, there are still large gaps in the records of the ancient city. For example, the upper floors of the blocks of houses have largely been lost, making it difficult to get a picture of the everyday life of the inhabitants.
Since February 2025, the "Pompeii Reset" project – a joint project of the Department of Archaeology (Classical Archaeology/Winckelmann Institute) at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin (HU) and the Parco Archeologico di Pompei – has been dedicated to this lost part of ancient Pompeii: Based on detailed digital scans of the preserved architectural structures, houses and entire residential areas of the city are to be reconstructed and made tangible again in a 3D model and made virtually tangible as an ancient living space. "The methods of digital documentation and reconstruction developed primarily for computer games allow us to open up the ancient living environment in a new way and thus make it comprehensible and researchable in a new way," says Susanne Muth, Professor of Classical Archaeology and head of the project at HU.
To kick off the joint research and teaching project, Humboldt-Universit?t is hosting a public event on 20 October 2025 (starting at 18:30). Dr Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director General of the Parco Archeologico di Pompei and head of the project on the Italian side, will give the keynote speech. In his lecture, he will report on a spectacular fresco newly discovered this year in the banqueting hall of the "Casa del Tiaso" (House of Thiaso). This magnificent room has already been reconstructed as part of the project.
At a glance
Kick-off event for the "Pompeii Reset" project with keynote speech by Dr Gabriel Zuchtriegel: "Baccanal with spectators. New excavations and research in Pompeii"
When: 20 October 2025, starting at 18:30
Where: Main building of the Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10117 Berlin, Senate Hall
Registration: Until 13 October 2025 at: winckelmann? Please insert an @ at this point ?culture.hu-berlin? Please insert a period at this pointde
About "Pompeii Reset": 3D models for research and knowledge transfer
The joint digitisation project serves various purposes. Firstly, the 3D scans document the cultural heritage of Pompeii. Secondly, the 3D reconstruction of the architecture creates the basis for further scientific analysis and interpretation of the building finds as a living space. Finally, the finished 3D model will enable a new form of knowledge transfer - both within the scientific community and for the interested public. Students are also involved in the project and are thus trained at the highest level in digital archaeology. The use of digital reconstructions and virtual simulations as a research tool has been a focus of research and teaching in Classical Archaeology at the HU for more than ten years. To date, research into the ancient Roman Forum in Rome has been at the centre of digital archaeology.
The event is part of the "Current Issues in Ancient Studies" series organised by the Berliner Antike-Kolleg. The Berliner Antike-Kolleg (BAK) is an association for the promotion and strategic development of ancient studies research in Berlin and Brandenburg.
Further information
Website of the Pompeii Reset project
Websites of the Berliner Antike-Kolleg
Contact
Prof Dr Susanne Muth
Department of Archaeology, Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin
susanne.muth? Please insert an @ at this point ?culture.hu-berlin? Please insert a period at this pointde