Lost Lives: A study of the casts of the Pompeian Victims

David Roche Gallery welcomes Estelle Lazer for a special lecture on The Pompeii Cast Project, revealing information about the lives and deaths of these victims of a mass disaster.

Lost Lives: A study of the casts of the Pompeian Victims
Thursday 19 November 2026 | 6:00pm–7:15pm

What can the casts of Pompeii’s victims reveal about the lives of those who perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE?

Since 2015, the Pompeii Cast Project has used digital X-rays and CT scans to study the skeletal and other remains that are embedded within the plaster of the iconic casts of the forms of the Pompeian victims. This project aims to reveal information about the lives and deaths of those caught in this devastating mass disaster.

Building on Estelle Lazer’s earlier research into the skeletal remains of Pompeian victims whose forms could not be cast, the project has revealed unexpected findings and require us to review accepted interpretations and restoration practices during the 19th and 20th centuries.

About Estelle Lazer

Dr Estelle Lazer is an Australian archaeologist with an international reputation for her work on the Pompeian victims of the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 CE. She is an honorary research associate at the University of Sydney.

Estelle has also worked on excavations in the Middle East, Mediterranean, Australia and Antarctica, where she spent four summers working at Mawson’s Huts and another at Heard Island.

Estelle has published numerous works on her examination of the casts of Pompeian victims, including the scholarly volume Resurrecting Pompeii, and she is frequently invited to address Australian and international institutions on her area of expertise. These include The Australian National University, Oxford University, the British Museum and The Getty Center, Malibu, among many others. Estelle’s research has been featured in Australian and international documentaries and radio programs.

She has taught at the University of Sydney, UNSW, UTS and UNE and does outreach lectures for senior ancient history students at schools across NSW.

Each ticket includes one beverage on arrival.

Limited parking available on-site.

Wheelchair accessible.