This costume series portrays aspects of life in Pompeii, a coastal luxury resort near Naples catering for the very rich of imperial Rome, mainly before but culminating in the eruption of the Vesuvian volcano, which wipes it from the face of the earth. The main characters include Diomed, a common upstart merchant whose self-made riches from trade allow him to consider running for political office against sitting city magistrate Quintus and an impoverished aristocratic marriage for his daughter Temple; the cultivated Greek Glaucus; the gladiator Lydon; the noble-born Antonius and his sister Ione, the evil Isis-priest Arbaces who is after (their) money and power; the persecution-fearing Christian slaves Petrus, his true love Chloe and their secret leader Olinthus.

Starring:

Anthony Quayle, Barry Stokes, Benedict Taylor, Bernard Kay, Brian Blessed, Brian Coburn, Brian Croucher, Catriona MacColl, Christopher Ellison, David Robb, Duncan Regehr, Ernest Borgnine, Francesca Romana Coluzzi, Franco Nero, George Claydon, Gerry Sundquist, Howard Goorney, Howard Lang, Jill Melford, Joyce Blair, Laurence Olivier, Lesley-Anne Down, Linda Purl, Malcolm Jamieson, Marilù Tolo, Michael Quill, Ned Beatty, Nicholas Clay, Olivia Hussey, Peter Cellier, Peter Howell, Sidney Kean, Siobhan McKenna, Stephen Greif, Tony Anholt, Willoughby Goddard

Genre:

Action, Drama, History, Romance