Surviving Pompeii with Steven Tuck: Latest ‘In Such a Place’ episode now live
Beyond the ash and destruction, research uncovers the forgotten sides of Pompeii’s survivors and the remarkably modern stories of resilience and rebuilding they faced
Published
Steven Tuck, professor of History, appeared on the most recent "In Such a Place" podcast episode hosted by Miami University President Gregory Crawford.
Surviving Pompeii with Steven Tuck: Latest ‘In Such a Place’ episode now live
Beyond the ash and destruction, research uncovers the forgotten sides of Pompeii’s survivors and the remarkably modern stories of resilience and rebuilding they faced
Published
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the devastation of the ancient city of Pompeii is a history lesson many have learned. Now, Steven Tuck, professor of History at Miami University, is proving to the world that what we’ve learned of the tragedy is not the full story. Tuck joins Miami President Gregory Crawford on the latest episode of the "In Such a Place" podcast to uncover the truth of the thousands of citizens who survived.
Once thought of as a total catastrophic loss, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered the city of Pompeii in layers of volcanic ash, immortalizing the moment of disaster. Tuck dared to question, “What if someone survived?” And, he was right. What began as a project to uncover the few, evolved into a hunt to trace an estimated 3,000 survivors by family name alone.
Tuck shared his findings in his most recent book, “Escape from Pompeii: The Great Eruption of Mount Vesuvius and Its Survivors.” He was also featured as a Pompeii expert on the 2026 Hulu documentary series “Pompeii: Out of Time” hosted by actor Tom Hiddleston.
As he traced survivors, Tuck learned of their lives after Pompeii. Some survivors who had done well for themselves before the eruption fell in status in their new lives. Others sought asylum in nearby communities and fully integrated into them.
From the start – and what Tuck shares about the importance of teaching the classics – the story of Pompeii survivors proves that technology and culture evolve, but the human element stays the same. His research shows that those who survived share a similar story to modern day refugees – stories of faith, resilience, and community.
Once thought of as a total catastrophic loss, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered the city of Pompeii in layers of volcanic ash, immortalizing the moment of disaster. Tuck dared to question, “What if someone survived?” And, he was right. What began as a project to uncover the few, evolved into a hunt to trace an estimated 3,000 survivors by family name alone.
Tuck shared his findings in his most recent book, “Escape from Pompeii: The Great Eruption of Mount Vesuvius and Its Survivors.” He was also featured as a Pompeii expert on the 2026 Hulu documentary series “Pompeii: Out of Time” hosted by actor Tom Hiddleston.
As he traced survivors, Tuck learned of their lives after Pompeii. Some survivors who had done well for themselves before the eruption fell in status in their new lives. Others sought asylum in nearby communities and fully integrated into them.
From the start – and what Tuck shares about the importance of teaching the classics – the story of Pompeii survivors proves that technology and culture evolve, but the human element stays the same. His research shows that those who survived share a similar story to modern day refugees – stories of faith, resilience, and community.
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg.