Watch: This 3D simulation depicts the glory of Pompeii before its devastation

Using the wonder that is 3D mapping and visualization, archaeologists have managed to virtually recreate a luxury home in Pompeii, the kind that was widely prevalent before the city fell to the famous Mt Vesuvius volcanic eruption of 79 AD. This ‘recreated’ home is one that actually existed, belonging to a wealthy banker at the time, named Caecilius Lucundus.

This undertaking has been part of the Swedish Pompeii Project that originated in 2000 at the Swedish Institute in Rome, now managed by Sweden’s Lund University. The re-creation is based on actual fieldwork discoveries during expeditions led by archaeologist Anne-Marie Leander Touati and her team between 2011-12. The work included 3D scanning an entire current-day set of ruins, while using unearthed artefacts to re-imagine what the areas might have originally resembled.

This video is one of the first to be released as part of this virtual archaeology project.

The detailed yet conversational narrative in the video describes the details as the camera viewpoint flies from room to room, focusing on the unique features in the construction of the house. It also highlights intriguing architectural features such as the natural skylight in the central roof that let in daylight, as well as a built-in rainwater harvesting system. It’s a fascinating peek into what a typically wealthy person of the day might have lived.