Situated in the Sarno River valley in southern Italy, on a gentle slope facing the sea to the south of Vesuvius, the Roman site of Pompeii was already famous throughout the ancient world when it was destroyed by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in AD 79. Preserved under layers of ash and lava, the city was rediscovered in the 18th century after some 1700 years. In this fully illustrated Grove Art Essentials title, delve into the arts of Pompeii from architecture to sculpture, wall painting, and mosaics, and discover the enduring influence of its thrilling rediscovery on the arts of the Western world.