Gabriel Zuchtreigel, Director of Pompeii: Archaeology is the most democratic form of history

Gabriel Zuchtreigel, Director of Pompeii: Archaeology is the most democratic form of history

Michael Berkeley speaks to Gabriel Zuchtreigel, Director of Pompeii in Southern Italy, one of the world’s most important archaeological sites.

History, he says, comes alive through archaeology, helping us to appreciate our shared humanity with those who lived thousands of years ago, and providing a more democratic way of learning about the past. Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that erupted and buried Pompeii in ash and pumice, did not distinguish between the wealthy and the poor in its victims.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel was appointed Director of Pompeii in 2021, and has since begun a major excavation, and made a number of significant finds. But it is walking around the site at night, emptied of the crowds, that he feels the ancient city come alive. It is as if, he says, the inhabitants only left a few minutes ago.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including with artist Doris Salcedo and author Sir Salman Rushdie. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Michael Berkeley Producers: Clare Walker and Lucy Sheppard Editor: Justine Lang

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Gabriel Zuchtreigel Credit: Ivan Romano/Getty Images)

Avsnitt(1904)

Azar Nafisi, author: Iranians are fighting for their freedom

Azar Nafisi, author: Iranians are fighting for their freedom

'What the regime does to women is even if they don't kill us, when you stop a woman from being herself, stop her from speaking the way she wants to or stop her from connecting, it’s a kind of murder. ...

11 Feb 23min

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, South African health minister: The fight against HIV/AIDS continues.

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, South African health minister: The fight against HIV/AIDS continues.

“Even though we say we want to be self-sufficient, we don't think global solidarity must be dropped. Because if it gets dropped, the world will be in trouble.”Mayeni Jones the BBC’s Africa corresponde...

9 Feb 23min

Henrique Capriles, Venezuelan opposition leader: What comes next for Venezuela?

Henrique Capriles, Venezuelan opposition leader: What comes next for Venezuela?

“Most Venezuelans are thinking about the future: Will things improve? Will deep changes come? Will we reunite as a people with our history, dreams, and hopes?”BBC correspondent Norberto Paredes speaks...

6 Feb 23min

Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: Keep kids away from social media until they are ready

Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: Keep kids away from social media until they are ready

Katy Watson speaks to Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner about the country’s social media ban for under 16s: “To keep kids away until they're ready, I think that is the monumental cir...

4 Feb 23min

Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister: It is hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely

Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister: It is hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely

'It's hard to be the only woman, I feel lonely sometimes because I’d like to have another woman colleague to talk to.’The BBC’s Chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet speaks to Hind Kabawat, S...

2 Feb 23min

Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv: We're fighting to survive

Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv: We're fighting to survive

‘We're fighting to survive in our home town, in our country, and at the same time we're fighting for our future, for our independence’Nick Robinson speaks to Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, about Ukr...

30 Jan 23min

Helen Thompson, professor of political economy: A new era of global power politics

Helen Thompson, professor of political economy: A new era of global power politics

“Regardless of whether it's Trump or anybody else in the White House, we should expect something quite significant to be going on in terms of the United States’ relationship with the rest of the world...

28 Jan 22min

Nicholas Opiyo, human rights lawyer: Ugandans want change

Nicholas Opiyo, human rights lawyer: Ugandans want change

‘All they have seen is a 40-year rule that has resulted in high unemployment rates, poor services, and an increased violation of human rights. This young population is yearning to see a different pres...

26 Jan 23min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
svenska-fall
rss-krimstad
p3-krim
flashback-forever
politiken
rss-sanning-konsekvens
aftonbladet-daily
blenda-2
spar
rss-vad-fan-hande
rss-krimreportrarna
motiv
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-flodet
svd-ledarredaktionen
rss-aftonbladet-krim
dagens-eko
olyckan-inifran
spotlight