24th August 79AD Eruption of Vesuvius (Pompeii)

Eruption of Vesuvius (Pompeii)
24th August 79AD

Pompeii was founded by Greek colonists and was built by the Oscans probably around 9-8th century B.C. The town was built upon ‘lava terracing’ that had been formed centuries earlier. The location of Pompeii was located at this point as an important natural defence against invasion and to provide a fertile territory allowing fast development of an agricultural economy.

During Pompeii’s period of prosperity it was ruled by many different Empires including the Greeks, the Etruscans (for 50 years until 474 B.C), the Greeks again, the Samnites (5th century) and the Romans and yet it was always developing and becoming a wealthier town.

The Eruption of Vesuvius on the 24th of August 79AD was a world changing event and “the life and splendour of Pompeii was destined to come to an end" . As the Volcano erupted the city and nearby Herculaneum were buried in a thick layer of ash and lava, several meters deep, which poured down. This was the first recorded eruption of Mount Vesuvius, though there have been over 200 eruptions since, though none so damaging as that in 79AD.

Pliny the younger records “ The ninth day before the Kalends of September [24th august] in the early afternoon my mother drew [my uncle’s] attention to a cloud of unusual size...its general appearance can best be expressed as being like a pine” When noticing the cloud people within the city either fled the chaos towards the coast only to be suffocated by the fumes of the gases from the volcano others 'buried and crushed' by the ash or perished (gassed or burnt) within their homes.

Pompeii is now one of the most significant proofs of Roman civilization and provides information on the art, customs, trades and everyday life experienced. The Eruption of Vesuvuis on the 24th of August 79AD was a world changing event as Pompeii life came to a permanent standstill giving archaeologists access to a perfectly preserved view of Roman life including buildings, furniture, ornaments, foodstuffs, work tools and casts of the people themselves.