The volcano Mount Vesuvius’
most famous eruption took place in August, 79 A.D. when the Roman city of
Pompeii was buried under a thick carpet of volcanic ash. Mount Vesuvius erupted
for 19 hours, completely burying the ancient Roman city, and killing two
thousand of its inhabitants. Hidden for almost seventeen hundred years, it was
not until 1738 that a team of workmen building a summer palace for the King of
Naples discovered the city of Pompeii buried underneath a thick layer of dust
and debris.
Pliney,
who was eighteen and living at his Uncle's villa,
describes “broad sheets of fire and leaping flames blazed at several points,
their bright glare emphasized by the darkness of night.” He continues, “I
looked round: a dense black cloud was coming up behind us, spreading over the
earth like a flood […] You could hear the shrieks of women, the wailing of
infants, and the shouting of men; some were calling their parents, others their
children or their wives.”
Ancient Pompeii, located about
five miles from Mount Vesuvius, was an industrial
center, market town, and harbor. Rome’s
most distinguished citizens vacationed in the town of Pompeii, and streets were
lined with elegant houses and elaborate villas. Pompeii boasted temples, bath
houses, a gymnasium, two theatres, and was one of the first of the Roman
empires to construct an amphitheater. Daily life often consisted of simple
tasks such as garden tending and daily bathing rituals. Simplicity was often
juxtaposed with violence as gladiator versus gladiator and man versus animal fights
took place in the amphitheater. “The citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum
enjoyed “modern” amenities such as central heating, hot and cold running
water—and a standard of living and life expectancy that would not be achieved
again until the 1950s,” explains American writer, Dr. Charles Pellegrino.
For centuries, what happened
to the thousands of citizens residing in Pompeii and neighboring towns had been
a mystery. Recently, a team of archaeologists uncovered 300 bodies packed together in
storerooms along the coast. The people, as well as the cities, were mummified. Scientists
were able to determine that the citizens died instantly from extreme thermal shock.
Today, while thousands flock to
Pompeii to explore its ruins, many international organizations have joined
together in a preservation effort. Yet, some still wonder if Pompeii’s preservation
for future generations is truly possible given its long list of needs that include crumbling masonry, fading frescoes, and deteriorating roofs.
The wave of devastation and
destruction that occurred in August, 79 A.D. as a result of the Mount Vesuvius
eruption simply could not have been prevented nor predicted. The excavation
that has occurred in the centuries following its discovery has given us a glimpse
into life in Pompeii. Although many questions remain unanswered and much has
yet to be explored, its historical significance is great. Therefore, it is important
to protect this Ancient city for future generations.
Works Cited
"Daily Life in Pompeii." Western Australian
Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Aug. 2015.
<http://museum.wa.gov.au/pompeii/daily-life/>.
"The Destruction of Pompeii, 79 AD." EyeWitness to
History. Www.eyewitnesstohistory.com, 1999. Web. 3 Aug. 2015.
<http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pompeii.htm>.
LAURAotms. Bodies in Pompeii 2. N.d. Deviant Art. Web. 3
Aug. 2015. <http://orig04.deviantart.net/a7d4/f/2008/113/b/d/bodies_in_pompeii_2_by_lauraotms.jpg>.
N.d. Mail Online. Web. 3 Aug. 2015.
<http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/08/article-1364297-0007D2E300000258-683_634x367.jpg>.
"Pompeii." History.com. A+E Networks, 2010. Web. 3
Aug. 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/pompeii>.
