20 Old Graffiti Pieces That Seem Surprisingly Contemporary

In Pompeii, a wall inscription in the theater district simply reads “Erato loves,” then breaks off. This unfinished sentence, dating from the 1st century CE, feels strangely familiar, as if someone had begun a confession, started to tremble, and then left before getting to the point.

Another graffiti inscription from Pompeii reads: “I’m in a hurry. Take care of yourself, my Sava, and make sure to love me.” It’s a bit rushed, a bit desperate—and it’s a feeling many of us can still relate to.

A woman named Methe wrote that she loved Chrestus, another name for Jesus. In her inscription, she prays to Venus to allow them to live in harmony. It’s sweet, a little intimate, and perhaps more public than most people would like—which is probably why it still resonates today.

In Pompeii, Successus, the weaver, declared his love for Iris, but another man, Severus, told him that Iris wanted nothing to do with him. Successus climbed back onto the wall to defend himself and insult his rival. Even in ancient times, people were already arguing on public walls.

One inscription mentions two separate love stories: Fortunatus loves Amplianda, and Ianuarius loves Veneria. The authors of these inscriptions then pray to Venus, saying, “We ask the goddess Venus to keep us in her thoughts (and also) to grant what we ask of her today.”

A wall inscription reads: “Sabinus, handsome boy, Hermeros loves you.” There is something refreshing and modern about this public declaration of love. Isn’t love one of the reasons we’re alive?

A short piece of graffiti from Pompeii simply reads: “Actius, farewell.” No explanation, no dramatization, no smooth transition—just a name and a farewell left on a wall in a Roman city that no longer exists.

At the Casa dei Quattro Stili, another brief inscription reads: “Quartilla, farewell.” It is tiny and unremarkable, and yet it is this one that remains etched in people’s memories. History generally preserves the grand speeches and forgets the small details.

A piece of graffiti reads: “Hyacinthus was here.” For a very long time, people have been leaving traces of their passage on walls, and it seems that this urge endures almost anything. It’s safe to say that, whoever they were, they are still remembered.

A famous saying from Pompeii goes something like this: “I’m surprised, wall, that you haven’t collapsed under the weight of the tedious nonsense produced by so many writers.” Someone in Campania had had enough of bad writing and decided that the only solution was to add yet another piece to the pile. We’re sure you can think of a few contemporary examples that illustrate this sentiment.

A message of support from Pompeii for a candidate named Vatia claims that “petty thieves” want to get him elected as aedile, a mid-level office in the Roman government. Electoral sarcasm was very much alive in the 1st century. If you know even a little about ancient Roman politics, this is hardly surprising.

Another inscription criticizes an innkeeper for selling water while he himself drinks fine wine. You can almost sense the irritation in it—and yes, people were already filing complaints with public authorities in Roman taverns.

A graffiti inscription from Pompeii confesses: “We peed in bed. I admit it, we were in the wrong, master of the house. If you ask us why, it’s because there was no chamber pot.” It’s both an apology and an excuse, and neither really helps. That said, when nature calls, you’ve got to go.

In Herculaneum, someone noted that Apollinaris, a physician in the service of Emperor Titus, “used to relieve himself here.” Scatological humor is one of the least glamorous links between the ancient world and the present, but it is undoubtedly one of the most human.

A graffiti piece paying tribute to the gladiator Celadus describes him as “the girls’ favorite.” Sporting fame, public adoration, and a touch of exaggeration went hand in hand long before the advent of modern celebrity culture.

An inscription from Herculaneum reads: “We’re cold.” That’s all. No frills, no philosophy—just a brief, straightforward complaint from someone whose day was hard enough that they wanted to immortalize their grievances.

Another graffiti inscription from Herculaneum reads: “We came here eagerly, but now we’re even more eager to leave.” It sounds like a dinner that went wrong, a disappointing party, or one of those courtesy visits where etiquette dictates that you can’t leave before it’s over. One imagines that the “Irish goodbye” hadn’t been invented yet.

A wall inscription discovered in Herculaneum reads: “I was left alone because of the Senate’s decree.” The full text has been lost, which is unfortunate, but the mood it conveys is still evident. Someone had plans, the rules stood in their way, and that person did not take it in stride.

Another inscription from Herculaneum warns that those who do not know how to protect themselves do not know how to live, and adds that small problems grow larger if they are ignored. This sounds like the kind of hard-won advice that people continue to pass down when they’ve had enough and want to appear wise.

In Rome, the Alexamenos graffito depicts a man worshiping a familiar figure crucified with a donkey’s head, accompanied by the inscription “Alexamenos worships his god.” It is cruel, childish, and painfully recognizable as public mockery, which perhaps makes it one of the oldest jokes in poor taste in history.