The term graffiti means words or drawings scratched or painted on a wall. People have been writing graffiti on walls for thousands of years, but today some people believe that certain types of graffiti have evolved into a true art form.
Many of the oldest existing examples of graffiti are from the ancient city of Pompeii on the western coast of Italy. In the year 79, Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius. Ash from the volcano buried the city, preserving much of it for us to see today. Carved on the walls of Pompeii are many examples of graffiti. Some of the graffiti are complaints about store owners who were cheating people, while others are political statements or rough drawing of people. Although