Pompeii: a possible doctor identified among the victims of the Orto dei Fuggiaschi

In Pompeii, a new analysis on finds from the Orto dei Fuggiaschi makes it possible to propose a different interpretation of one of the victims of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., pointing to the deceased’s possible membership in the category of physicians. The discovery is part of a course of study initiated on materials recovered during excavations conducted in 1961 by Amedeo Maiuri, when the area, then occupied by a vineyard, returned the casts of fourteen individuals caught in the pyroclastic cloud in an attempt to escape.

The interpretive breakthrough stems from the analysis of a small case left inside the plaster of one of the human casts, preserved in the storerooms of the Pompeii Archaeological Park. The object, which remained completely uninvestigated for years, recently underwent a round of interdisciplinary investigations involving archaeological, diagnostic and restorative expertise. Inside the container, described as a small box made of organic material with metal elements, scholars also identified a fabric bag containing bronze and silver coins and a set of tools compatible with a professional medical kit. The combination of elements suggested the hypothesis that the victim may have been a medicus, an attested figure rarely recognizable through direct finds.

The verifications were conducted through X-rays and computed tomography taken at the Maria Rosaria Nursing Home in Pompeii. The investigations made it possible to observe the interior of the cast without compromising its physical integrity, adopting a non-invasive approach. The scans revealed the presence of a slate plate, likely used for the preparation of substances for medical or cosmetic use, and small metal instruments interpreted as possible surgical tools.

The use of advanced diagnostic technologies, including CT scans supported by Artificial Intelligence systems and three-dimensional reconstructions, allowed for a more detailed reading of the object’s internal structure. In particular, the mechanical complexity of the chest, which is equipped with a cogwheel closure system, an element that indicates careful design of the container, was also noted. The research is part of a project that involved the collaboration of archaeologists, restorers, physical anthropologists, archaeobotanists, numismatists, radiologists, diagnostic technicians and digital modeling specialists.

The joint work has made it possible to test new ways of studying Pompeian casts through the integration of humanistic disciplines and scientific technologies. The case of the Orto dei Fuggiaschi also confirms the role of the Pompeii Archaeological Park’s deposits as an archive still largely to be explored, in which already known finds can be reinterpreted in light of contemporary diagnostic tools.

“Even 2,000 years ago, there were those who were not doctors, limited to receiving hours, but simply were, at all times, even at the moment of their escape from the eruption, thwarted by the pyroclastic cloud that caught the group of fugitives attempting to leave the city through Porta Nocera,” says Park Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel. “This man brought his tools with him to be ready to rebuild his life elsewhere, thanks to his profession, but perhaps also to help others. We dedicate this small but significant discovery to all the women and men who continue to carry out this profession today with a very high sense of responsibility and service to the community.”

Pompeii: a possible doctor identified among the victims of the Orto dei Fuggiaschi

The author of this article: Noemi Capoccia

Originaria di Lecce, classe 1995, ha conseguito la laurea presso l'Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara nel 2021. Le sue passioni sono l'arte antica e l'archeologia. Dal 2024 lavora in Finestre sull'Arte.

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