More than twenty plaster casts of people who died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD are now on permanent display at Pompeii. These casts show the final positions of the victims, who were covered by volcanic ash when the city was destroyed. The exhibition, in the Palestra Grande near the Amphitheatre, helps visitors understand what happened and honors the lives of those who lived in the Roman city.

The method of making the casts was invented by archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli in 1863. He poured liquid plaster into empty spaces left after the bodies decayed in hardened ash. When the plaster became solid, it showed details of people’s clothes, faces, and movements. This method is still used by archaeologists today.

Pompeii is the only place in the world where such casts can be made. More than a thousand victims have been found, some in houses and others in the streets while trying to escape. About 2,000 residents were killed inside Pompeii, and up to 16,000 in the region.

The 22 best-preserved casts are now shown together with other items, such as food and plants found under the ash. They remind visitors of the human tragedy of the eruption and of daily life before the disaster. With modern research, experts can also learn the age, health, and diet of the victims, which gives a closer look at life in ancient Pompeii.