As I saw the images—the first time in 2,000 years that anyone had laid eyes on them—I felt a great surge of emotion, especially because they remain only yours for a few moments before they are consigned to the admiration of the whole world.

We had just uncovered stunning frescos inspired by the Trojan War painted on the splendid black walls of a banqueting hall during our excavation in insula 10 of Regio IX at Pompeii. They had been covered in ash since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.