Pompeii Kissing Couple: Real Bodies, Plaster Casts and DNA

The nickname comes from the pair’s apparent pose, not proof of a kiss or romantic relationship. They are plaster casts, not preserved soft-tissue bodies. The table below separates the genetic results for each individual from later interpretations.

By PompeiiItaly.org Editorial Team.

Last updated: 28 October 2026. This guide follows Pilli et al.'s 2024 ancient DNA study, rather than treating the romantic nickname as an established identity.

What the study established

Question	Evidence-based answer
Were both individuals male?	No such conclusion can be drawn from the published data. Individual 22 had an XY result; Individual 21 had insufficient nuclear DNA for a genetic-sex assignment.
What were their mitochondrial haplogroups?	Individual 21 was assigned haplogroup R and Individual 22 haplogroup N1b1a1 in the study.
Were they related?	Their different mitochondrial haplogroups show that they did not share a direct maternal line. That result does not test every possible paternal or social relationship.
Were they kissing or in love?	The pose and DNA cannot establish an intentional kiss or a romantic relationship.
Are the figures real bodies?	They are plaster casts made in voids left by decomposed bodies. Human skeletal remains can remain inside a cast, but the visible figure is plaster, not preserved soft tissue.

What Does the DNA Evidence Establish?

The DNA evidence supports a genetic-sex assignment for Individual 22 and identifies different maternal lineages for the pair. It does not establish their romantic relationship, what their pose meant, or every possible connection between them.

What Can Nuclear DNA Reveal?

Nuclear DNA is inherited from both biological parents and contains markers researchers can use to assess genetic sex and investigate biological relationships. In this study, the XY result for Individual 22 supported a male genetic-sex assignment.

Individual 21’s nuclear DNA was too limited for researchers to make the same assignment. Ancient DNA can be degraded, and the amount and preservation of usable material affect which questions researchers can answer.

What Do Haplogroups R and N1b1a1 Show?

Individual 21 was assigned mitochondrial haplogroup R, while Individual 22 was assigned N1b1a1. Mitochondrial DNA is passed along the direct maternal line, so these different haplogroups show that the two people did not share that direct maternal lineage.

Haplogroups represent only one line of ancestry. The difference does not rule out every possible biological relationship, such as a connection through another branch of a family, and it says nothing about friendship or romance.

Why Can DNA Not Prove They Were Lovers?

DNA can provide evidence about biological ancestry and some aspects of genetic sex; it cannot identify affection, consent, or a romantic relationship. The pair’s close position is archaeological evidence of proximity at death, not proof of an intentional kiss.

The nickname “Kissing Couple” gives a familiar label to the pose, while names such as “Two Maidens” and “Two Lovers” also appear in popular accounts. None of those labels establishes who the people were to each other. Treat the pose and DNA as separate kinds of evidence.

Are the Pompeii Kissing Couple real bodies or statues?

They are plaster casts, not statues and not preserved soft-tissue bodies. Giuseppe Fiorelli's casting method filled cavities left in compacted volcanic deposits after soft tissue decomposed. The result records the shape of the cavity and can preserve details of clothing or posture. It does not provide a photograph of the moment of death, and the cast's pose cannot independently prove a kiss. The Archaeological Park's explanation of the casts also explains that original casts and scanned copies may be handled differently for conservation and temporary exhibitions.

The pair are not guaranteed to be on public display whenever you visit. The Park's Antiquarium information describes its permanent collection and recent victim casts, but does not establish that this particular pair will be on view. Exhibition and conservation decisions change, so check the Archaeological Park of Pompeii for current visitor information.

Where were the Pompeii Kissing Couple found?

Individuals 21 and 22 were among four casts made from nine victims found in the garden in front of the House of the Cryptoporticus during the 1914 excavations. The paper says the pair were close together in a position interpreted as an embrace; that archaeological context does not establish whether they knew each other.

The discovery context is not the same as a current display location. The Park’s official casts information and Antiquarium page describe current collections and exhibitions, but neither guarantees that Individuals 21 and 22 will be viewable on a particular date.

How Can You Identify Images of the Pair?

To identify images of Individuals 21 and 22, check the caption, stated findspot, and cast numbers against reliable museum or archaeological information. Those details help you separate the pair from generic images of Pompeii’s plaster casts.

Which Caption, Findspot, and Cast Numbers Should You Check?

Use this checklist when assessing an image:

• Caption: Look for “Individuals 21 and 22” or a clearly identified name for the pair, such as “Kissing Couple.”
• Findspot: Check for the garden in front of the House of the Cryptoporticus and the 1914 excavation.
• Cast numbers: Compare the listed numbers with the identification in the 2024 study or an official archaeological source.
• Image source: Confirm that the caption comes from a museum, archaeological institution, or publication that identifies the figures.

A photograph of two plaster casts is not enough by itself to identify them. Captions can reuse popular labels, so check whether the description gives the archaeological context and individual numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Pompeii casts show a kiss, or are the statues hugging?

The evidence does not establish an intentional kiss or explain whether the figures were embracing. “Kissing Couple” is a nickname based on the apparent pose of the casts; the 2024 DNA study cannot determine an action or a romantic feeling.

Were the Pompeii Kissing Couple both men?

Only Individual 22 was assigned an XY genetic result in the study. Individual 21 remained unresolved because the available nuclear DNA was insufficient for a genetic-sex assignment.

Were they sisters or a mother and daughter?

Their different mitochondrial haplogroups show that they did not share a direct maternal line. DNA from this result alone cannot identify every possible family relationship.

Are the Pompeii bodies real?

The victims were real people, but the visible figures are plaster casts. The casting process filled cavities left in volcanic material after bodies decomposed, and skeletal remains may be preserved inside.

What do pictures of the Pompeii Kissing Couple show?

They show plaster casts made from cavities left by decomposed bodies, not statues or preserved soft-tissue bodies. Check the caption and source: a picture of a generic Pompeii cast is not automatically a picture of Individuals 21 and 22.

Where were the Pompeii Kissing Couple found?

Individuals 21 and 22 were found close together in the garden in front of the House of the Cryptoporticus during the 1914 excavations. That find spot does not prove that they were related or tell you where the casts are displayed today.

Can I see the Pompeii Kissing Couple when I visit?

Not necessarily. Exhibition and conservation arrangements can change, so check the Archaeological Park’s official casts information, Antiquarium page, and current visitor notices instead of assuming that this pair will be on display.

Where can I read the original research?

Read the open-access Current Biology paper in PubMed Central or use its DOI record. Those primary sources take priority over headlines and social-media summaries.

Archaeological and visitor resources

For readers wishing to explore Pompeii's plaster casts, excavation methods, and historical geography on site or virtually:

• Plaster Casts in Context: Read our historical overview of Pompeii plaster casts and the victims of 79 AD to understand Fiorelli's casting technique and the Garden of the Fugitives (Orto dei Fuggiaschi).
• Interactive Site Map: Choose an entrance and download the official plan from our Pompeii map and itinerary planner. Use the Park’s current notices to confirm where casts are displayed.
• Virtual Tour: Explore key excavations remotely through our Pompeii 360° Virtual Tour.
• Visiting Practicalities: If you plan an on-site visit to view displayed casts, consult the Pompeii Visitor Guide & Itinerary Planner and check official tickets and admission rules.
• Site Regulations & Logistics: For mandatory luggage restrictions (strict 30 × 30 × 15 cm bag limit) and footwear recommendations for walking ancient basalt roads, consult our Pompeii Bag Policy & Luggage Storage Guide and Pompeii Dress Code Guide.

Primary sources

1. Pilli et al. (2024), “Ancient DNA challenges prevailing interpretations of Pompeii's plaster casts,” Current Biology.
2. Open-access article in PubMed Central: PMC11627482.
3. Max Planck Society summary of the research.
4. Archaeological Park of Pompeii: The casts.
5. Archaeological Park of Pompeii: Antiquarium.