Italian Ministry of CultureThe AI-generated image of a man who lost his life in Pompeii during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E.

About 2000 years ago, Mount Vesuvius erupted with a terrifying force, raining ashes and debris over the city of Pompeii. A local man tried to escape by running towards the coast, attempting to protect himself with a terracotta mortar held over his head. Unfortunately, he lost his life — but now archaeologists have recreated his final moments using artificial intelligence.

Reconstruction of the Pompeii Victim's Last Moments with AI

According to a statement from the Italian Ministry of Culture, the AI-generated image of the Pompeii victim was created following the discovery of his body in the Porta Stabia necropolis, just outside the city's walls. Another skeleton was found alongside his, and archaeologists believe both men were trying to reach the beach during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Italian Ministry of CultureThe newly discovered Pompeii victim found with the terracotta mortar he used for protection.

The reconstructed man appears to be the older of the pair, likely the first to die on the day of the eruption (possibly August 24). He was found near a broken terracotta mortar he was trying to use for protection. Additionally, he was found with a small iron ring for navigation in the dark, ten bronze coins, and a ceramic lamp.

Archaeologists believe he was killed by lapilli; the cracks in the terracotta mortar found near his body indicate he was struck by volcanic debris. His last moments were reconstructed by the Pompeii Archaeological Park and the University of Padua, aiming to produce a “scientifically sound but accessible image”; this seeks to make archaeological research findings more accessible to a non-expert audience.

Italian Ministry of CultureA closer look at the skeleton of the Pompeii man whose last moments were reconstructed using AI.

“The Pompeii man fled with a mortar on his head, a lamp in his hand, and ten coins: he carried whatever he thought would be useful for navigating in the dark,” said Professor Luciano Floridi from Yale University's Digital Ethics Center. “Two thousand years later, AI helps us reconstruct his last moments… AI does not replace the archaeologist. Under his control, it expands and deepens its potential; and it makes information that was previously accessible to only a few available to many.”

Indeed, archaeologists are hopeful that AI can provide a new perspective on the destruction of Pompeii. This is one of the most devastating natural disasters in world history.

How Mount Vesuvius Destroyed Pompeii in 79 C.E.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius occurred in 79 C.E. It had long been thought that the volcano erupted in August, but evidence gathered in recent years has suggested that the eruption may have also occurred in the fall.

The eruption released a massive cloud of pumice and ash nine miles high into the atmosphere, and at 1:00 PM, a thick cloud of ash began to fall heavily on the city, blocking out the sun like a heavy snow. Subsequently, volcanic debris of the kind that killed the newly reconstructed Pompeii victim began to rain down on the city.

This first wave of destruction killed many people, but the eruption of Mount Vesuvius worsened further. That night, hot ash and gas poured down the side of the mountain, followed by a second wave of volcanic mud and stones. Many people in the nearby town of Herculaneum died by burning or drowning; their cities were buried under volcanic debris.

Then, the next morning, a pyroclastic flow — a mixture of lava, volcanic ash, and hot gas — struck Pompeii, killing everyone who remained in the city. This is the event that killed the second, younger man found alongside the reconstructed Pompeii victim.

Public DomainThe Last Day of Pompeii was painted by 19th-century artist Karl Bryullov.

Over the past 2000 years, the dramatic destruction of Pompeii has been depicted in books, paintings, and operas. Now, artificial intelligence may provide another way to see and understand this horrific event of destruction.

“If used well, AI can innovate classical works and tell the story of the classical world in a more compelling way,” said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, in the ministry's statement. “[R]econstructions help us involve more people in this adventure.”