The Wolf of Via Vesuvio

The Wolf of Via Vesuvio

From Ancient Lives with Mary Beard by BBC Radio 4

June 11, 2024 · 28 min

About this episode

Mary Beard explores the life of Lucius Caecilius Iucundus, a money-lender in Pompeii, through his preserved accounts and artifacts.

Lucius Caecilius Iucundus kept the economic wheels of Pompeii well greased. He was a middle man doing very nicely - part money-lender, part auctioneer, part banker, all hustler. Thanks to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the preservation of the ruins of Pompeii, we can still visit his house, look at his bronze portrait, and read his account books. 150 tablets of receipts, carbonised in the destruction of Pompeii, lead us through the deals that keep the city’s economy moving. If you want to buy a Ferrari-level horse but only have the cash for a Fiesta then Iucundus is your man. It might look like dry stuff, but it's as revealing of real life as snooping on someone’s Paypal account or leafing through their credit card receipts might be now. Never mind imperial plunder and luxury lifestyles, it’s a glimpse of how the economy works in a regular town. Mary Beard visits Iucundus's home and talks to the novelist Robert Harris about his fascination with the Pompeii moneylender. Producer: Alasdair Cross Expert Contributors: Sophie Hay, Parco Archeologico di Pompei; Matthew Nicholls, Oxford University Special thanks to National Archaeological Museum, Naples and Parco Archeologico di Pompei

People in this episode

Host: Mary Beard

Guest: Robert Harris

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Parco Archeologico di Pompei, Oxford University

Places: Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, National Archaeological Museum, Naples

More episodes of Ancient Lives with Mary Beard

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Ancient Lives with Mary Beard podcast page.