Vesuvius

Written By Katie Toth August 24th AD 79 was a bad day in the history of the world. This was the day that Mount Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii ( [|www.dur.ac.uk] ) Mount Vesuvius is a somma volcano, with an elevation of 4,203 feet. ([|http://www.volcano.si.edu/]. ) Located near the present day Bay of Naples in Italy, Mount Vesuvius has erupted a handful of times in the history of the world, but the eruption that destroyed Pompeii in AD 79 is the most famous.([|www.dur.ac.uk]) Although on the surface, this eruption seems like an unexpected and surprising tragedy, there were a few plainly obvious signs that could have saved thousands of lives. A few years before, in AD 62, Mount Vesuvius let out a loud, unexplainable roar which knocked down several buildings.( [|www.mnsu.edu/]/) Another warning sign occurred only 4 days before the demolition took place, when the ground began to shake and rumble, and many animals became anxious.( [|www.mnsu.edu/]) However, “the sighting of a column of smoke ... triggered a response more of curiosity than of alarm.”( Professor Andrew Wallace-Hadrill) Many townspeople stayed to watch the events unfold but were soon killed. ( Professor Andrew Wallace-Hadrill) Mount Vesuvius had several deadly ways of destruction. Some were caught under buildings that it knocked down, some were buried by the falling ash, and some were suffocated by the poisonous fumes.( [|www.mnsu.edu/]) The outlines of the bodies of those who were killed by the ashes have been preserved, enabling archaeologists to uncover important facts about the culture of Pompeii. For one thing, they learned of the materialistic importance of the society. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius erupted in two phases, and those who had evacuated from the first eruption came back to regain their jewels and currency. Sadly; this greed ultimately led to their downfall because many of the bodies that archaeologists have found have been grasping their possessions. (Robinson 39-41). For many years, the events that had destroyed Pompeii remained a mystery. However on March 23, 1748 Pompeii was rediscovered during an excavation. .( [|www.mnsu.edu/] ) Nowadays, although archaeologists have uncovered many important aspects of this portion of Roman history, they still have a long ways to go to solve all of the mysteries from this city’s past.( [|www.mnsu.edu/]/) Works Cited “Vesuvius.” //Global Volcanism Program.// http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0101-02=. (accessed 3 December 2008) “Pompeii.” //Minnesota// //State University////.// http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/sites/europe/pompeii.html (accessed 1 December 2008) Wallace- Hadrill, Andrew. “Pompeii: Portents of Disaster.” //Ancient History Romans// http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/pompeii_portents_01.shtml (accessed 3 December 2008) “Vesuvius.” //European Research on Understanding Processes and Timescales in Magma Systems. //http://www.dur.ac.uk/erupt.geolsci/public/volcanoes/vesuvius.htm (accessed 2 December 2008) Robinson, Charles Alexander Jr., and Lorna Greenberg. //Ancient Rome A First Book/ Revised Edition.// New York City: Franklin Watts, Inc, 1984.
 * Destruction of Pompeii/ Mount Vesuvius**