Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum were destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The houses, temples and theatres were buried and remained hidden for nearly 2,000 years until excavations revealed the wonderfully preserved buildings of Roman times. Professor Barry Cunliffe takes us through these uniquely complete streets and tells us how the people lived then - and how little life has changed in the bay of Naples. Re-aired 21 November 1976