POMPEII – A CITY BURIED ALIVE

1. POMPEII – A CITY BURIED ALIVE
Pompeii was a resort town
inhabited by wealthy
Romans who were known
for lavish spending on their
homes. The fertile, volcanic
slopes of Vesuvius provided
an ideal climate for grapes
and olive groves. Since the
mountain had last erupted
long before anyone alive at
the time had been born,
people thought that living
near the most recognizable
landmark looming over the
bay of Naples was
completely safe. The town
had imposing temples, a
beautiful forum, perfectly
built theater and stadium.

2. It was lunch time in August 79 AD when Vesuvius began 19 hours of spectacular
eruptions.
All the people in the 700-year-old town of 20,000 could have escaped. There was
time to flee. But no one recognized the inherent danger of the mountain’s
warnings. By the time Vesuvius stopped belching poisonous gas, the bustling city
of Pompeii was silent, completely buried by volcanic ash and debris. It remained
silent for 1700 years. Herculanum underwent the same destiny. The eruption was
the first ever to be described in detail.

3. Surprisingly sophisticated,
Pompeii had a grid lay-out
(right photo). It had a three-
stream running water system.
One stream went to public
fountains, another to public
baths, and a third traveled to
homes of wealthy residents.
People in Pompeii even had a
version of indoor plumbing, but
they did not have a good sewer
system.
Flowing through lead pipes
from a central water tower
(called the Castellum Aquae),
the water delivery system was
ingegnious for its day. When
water supplies were low, the
town stopped the flow of water
streams in order of priority.
First the wealthy homes were
without water, then the public
baths. Public fountains were
shut down last.

4. About 3 meters (10 ft.) of ash and rocks fell on Pompeii, burying everything except
the roofs of some buildings. The city was abandoned and its location forgotten. In
1595, excavations discovered artifacts at Pompeii and centuries of pillaging
followed. Archeological excavations began in the mid-nineteenth century. Now,
much of Pompeii has been excavated and it has revealed much about how people
lived during that time (and died during the eruption).

5. The hot ash had the combined effects of asphyxiation and scalding all life
forms in its path. Death came quickly. The contorted shapes of the
bodies suggests the agony of their last moments.

6. A dog. Note the collar!This little piggy never made it to
market!

8. This person
apparently saw
the end was
imminent and
curled up to
wait to die.

9. This person was found draped over a
stairway.

10. When the dirt was removed after the plaster had hardened, thirteen adults and
children were found huddled together, making futile attempts to shield
themselves from the onslaught of volcanic dust, pumice, stone, and ash.

11. This appears to be a family group that died together.

12. This grisly scene potrays a group of children and adults waiting for a boat
that never came.

14. From 30 km (18 miles) west of the Mt. Vesuvius,
Pliny the Younger, a Roman lawyer, senator and
scientist, witnessed the eruption and burial of
Pompeii. He later recorded his observations in
two letters. Volcanologists now use the term
"plinian" for the first stage of devastating
volcanic eruptions in which dust, ashes, cinders,
and rocks erupt high into the air and in time
settle back to Earth. This stage may last for hours
or even days.
No lava flows occur during the plinian stage. In
areas near the eruption, the amount of these
materials can be enormous.

21. From 30 km (18 miles) west of the volcano, Pliny the Younger, witnessed
the eruption and later recorded his observations in two letters.
Volcanologists now use the term "plinian" for the first stage of devastating
volcanic eruptions, in which dust, ashes, cinders, and rocks erupt high into
the air, and in time settle back to Earth. This stage may last for hours or
even days. No lava flows occur during the plinian stage. In areas near the
eruption, the amount of these materials can be enormous. During the first
eight hours of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD they fell on Pompeii to
depths of 2 to 4 meters (8-10 ft.).
The heaps of small rocks that landed on the houses caused many roofs to
collapse. In the next stage of the eruption, a superhot cloud of steam and
mud (called "pyroclastic") flowed down the side of Vesuvius and covered
the towns. At the speed of 30 mt. per second, it took less than four minutes
for the boiling mud to flow from Vesuvius to Herculaneum, a distance of
about 7 kilometers (4 miles).
roofs of some buildings. The city was abandoned and its location forgotten. In 1595,
ogical excavations began in the mid-nineteenth century. Now, much of Pompeii has
d died during the eruption).
ry of the Common Era. The sacrifice and horrendous sufferings of its inhabitants resulted in
cal graffiti, or their love messages.
am running water system. One stream went to public fountains, another to public
a version of indoor plumbing, but they did not have a good sewer system.
e water delivery system was ingegnious for its day. When water supplies were low,
s were without water, then the public baths. Public fountains were shut down last.
rra-cotta jars. To maintain the food at constant temperatures, all but the top of a jar
peii,
l view
Pompeii:
Venus villa