August Mau

Born in 1840, August Mau was a German archaeologist and classical scholar best known for his work on Pompeii. He studied the buried city in depth and wrote in a way that made its houses, streets, and artwork feel vivid and human to later readers.

Mau is especially remembered for developing a system for classifying Roman wall painting, a framework that shaped how scholars understand Pompeian art. His research connected decoration, architecture, and daily life, helping turn fragments of the ancient world into a clearer picture of how people once lived.

He died in 1909, but his books and archaeological work continued to influence the study of the ancient Mediterranean. For many readers, he remains an important guide to Pompeii and the visual culture of the Roman world.