An ornate ceremonial chariot was recently discovered in the ruins of Pompeii, offering insights into the lives of wealthy, high-ranking landowners who lived outside the city. Buried by the Vesuvius eruption 2,000 years ago, this is not a humble transport cart. “It’s the Lamborghini of this ancient world,” says Eric Poehler, an expert on ancient infrastructure in Pompeii.
Film Interviewees
- Massimo Osanna – Director General, Italian State Museums
- Gabriel Zuchtriegel – Director, Pompeii Archaeological Park
- Claudio Scarpati – Vulcanologist, University of Naples Federico II
- Marco Fabbri – Archaeologist, Tor Vergata University of Rome
- Federico Giletti – Archaeologist
- Eric Poehler – Professor of Classics and Author of The Traffic Systems of Pompeii
- Steven Ellis – Professor of Classics, University of Cincinnati
- Chiara Comegna – Archaeobotanist
- Teresa Virtuoso – Archaeologist
- Valeria Amoretti – Anthropologist
- Ludovica Alesse – Official Restorer
- Paola Sabbatucci – Official Restorer
- Luana Toniolo – Official Archaeologist
- Raffaele Martinelli – Official Architect
- Domenico Sparice – Vulcanologist
- Roberta Prisco – Restorer
Secrets of the Dead: Last Days of Pompeii is a co-production of RAI Documentari, GEDEON Programmes, and Roller Coaster Road Productions LLC, in association with The WNET Group. Produced by Steve Burns, Stéphane Millière, and Fabrizio Zappi. Written by Doug Cohen. Narrated by Jay O. Sanders. Stéphane Millière is executive producer for GEDEON Programmes. Steve Burns is executive producer for Roller Coaster Road. For Secrets of the Dead: Benjamin Phelps is supervising producer. Stephanie Carter is executive producer. Stephen Segaller is executive in charge.
Original production funding for Last Days of Pompeii was provided by the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée (CNC) – COSIP program.
Funding for Secrets of the Dead is provided by public television viewers.
