Pompeii Casts – Process, Places, and Ethical Visiting

Learn how Pompeii’s casts were created, where to see them, and how to approach them respectfully.

11/20/2025

12 min read

Plaster casts of victims displayed under protective shelter

How the Casts Were Made

Archaeologists poured plaster into voids left by decomposed bodies in compacted ash, revealing final postures. The method, poignant and controversial, opened a new window on human stories.

Where to See Them

Garden of the Fugitives: an open-air, sobering encounter amongst vines and light.
Additional casts appear in protected displays across the site and in Naples museum collections.

Visiting with Care

Avoid posed photos. Stand quietly. Let empathy lead. These are not spectacles but neighbors across time.

Image Highlights

Plaster casts under shelter Group of casts display Horse cast detail

Bottom Line

The casts ask for attention, humility, and a moment of silence — a bridge between ancient ordinariness and sudden ending.

Forfatter

Heritage Ethicist

Jeg byggede dette, så du kan udforske klogere — klare ruter, bedre timing og kontekst, der gør ruinerne levende.