The Scent of Pompeii's Household Altars

Description

When Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the volcano's ash completely buried the Roman city of Pompeii. What was a catastrophe for the people at the time has turned out to be a genuine stroke of luck for archaeology: the meter-thick ash layer preserved even the finest residues in the incense bowls used by the Romans to offer sacrifices to the gods. These millennia-old traces have been analyzed by an international research team using state-of-the-art laboratory methods—and they discovered astonishing things: the Romans were already offering fragrances from Africa and Asia. A clear proof that Pompeii was part of a global trading network. What did the ancient Roman world trade network look like? Are the beginnings of globalization earlier than thought? And how do researchers collaborate in this interdisciplinary project? Guest Dr. Johannes Eber, archaeologist at UZH and part of the international team researching Pompeii's household altars Leadership/Moderation Dr. Dana Sindermann, Head of the Department of Business and Social Ethics, Paulus Academy Participation fee (including lunch and drink) CHF 30 / CHF 20* * discounted price for members of the Paulus Academy supporters' association and FKSZ, with AHV/IV-, KulturLegi- or student ID A joint event with the Center for Lifelong Learning University of Zurich For organizational reasons, please register by September 27, 2026.