Secrets of Pompeii

By Emidio De Albentiis
Getty Publications, $44.95, 200 pages

Since its discovery, we as humans have been fascinated and transfixed by the near perfectly preserved ancient Roman city of Pompeii. After years of study, we have only just begun to unravel just what everything that is there to be observed means, but what we do know about it is contained and presented forth with gorgeous, large photographs and in-depth description provided in Secrets of Pompeii, written by a widely accepted and accredited Pompeii expert Emidio De Albentiis.

Secrets of Pompeii offers a glimpse into the lives of ancient Romans, citizens of one of the greatest ancient civilizations in history and shows how they lived, from young to old, and from rich to poor. Analysis of their everyday lives is given, as well as explanations of the Roman culture’s art, architecture, food, and way of life that are given through examples and demonstrations from the remains of the once great city of Pompeii.

Big, and both visually and intellectually engaging, Secrets of Pompeii shows us our knowledge of a preserved past, and a look into Roman life, and does so in a thorough and interesting manner.

Reviewed by Jordan Dacayanan