In 79 AD, one of the most famous volcano eruptions occurred-the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. This volcano dominated the skyline of the Roman city Pompeii. After its eruption, this ancient city, once bustling with trade, became buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash. The once popular city came to a halt-it was never rebuilt and almost forgotten about until in the 18th century Pompeii was rediscovered by archeologists. This town was excavated and provided an amazing and accurate showing of the everyday life of the Roman people because many people were unintentionally preserved with little to no time to escape the tragedy. Most people know about the city Pompeii and its tragic tale. However, not many people are aware of the other cities that …show more content…
The town in its height had amazing temples, a forum, and theater for the enjoyment of the wealthy visitors. The eruption of the volcano, Vesuvius, began around noon of August 24, 17 AD when the mountain exploded, sending a 10 mile high cloud of ash, smoke, and rock into the sky. The debris rained down onto the city for the next day, causing its inhabitants to seek safety along the shore line, away from the mountain. Many, however, remained in their homes and became trapped there by both debris and dust clouds. The next morning, those who remained in Pompeii were killed by the poisonous gasses released by the mountain. Herculaneum, a small town to the northwest of Pompeii, on the other side of Mount Vesuvius, underwent the same fate as Pompeii, but in a different manner. At the beginning of the eruption, the town was not greatly affected. An immediate gust of hot ash and poisonous gas engulfed the city, killing all its inhabitants. After the initial deaths, volcanic debris, mud, and rock flowed over the city, effectively burying it. Because of the flash like killing of the Herculeans, their lives were well preserved for archaeologists to later discover in the 1700s. The evidence found and studied at the different sites destroyed by Vesuvius helps give us a glimpse into the lives of wealthy Romans-both the physical world they lived in and what they valued. Paul Roberts, the British Museum’s senior curator
On August 24th in 79 AD at approximately 1300 a cloud appeared over the Roman city of Pompeii. This was all the warning the residents had before the nearby volcano, Mount Vesuvius, erupted. Huge quantities of scalding hot ash, pumice and lava pebbles were thrown into the sky. This then cascaded down across an extensive area. Pompeii was buried under 14 to 17 feet of ash and pumice, and the nearby seacoast was drastically changed. Herculaneum was buried under more than 60 feet of mud and volcanic material. Some residents of Pompeii later returned to dig out their destroyed homes and salvage their valuables, but many treasures were left and then forgotten. The remains of 2,000 men, women, and children were found at Pompeii. After perishing
The private and public leisure activities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were largely abundant. Many activities could be participated in and were used often. These include Drama performances, gladiatorial games, drinking, gambling, brothels, exercise, gardens, baths and food and dining. All these were an important part of Pompeian and Herculaneum life. They were seen as important to keep the body and mind healthy in most cases. Though some opposed some of the activities like brothels, gambling and drinking. But all give a important look into the life of those in Pompeii and Herculaneum before the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius which completely destroyed
Archeologists all over the world work towards not only discovering the tracks left behind by societies millions of years ago, but also make an effort to save those footprints for future generations. However, conservation and preservation of archaeological sites can prove to be as arduous as discovering them, or may be more. As a historical site is discovered, it becomes the responsibility of the government and everybody who has to play a role, to secure that site and to not let it deteriorate. Doing so is now also made part of law in many countries and it comes as no surprise when preservation of historical sites is the prime goal of numerous international organizations. Pompeii is one of the most popular historical sites that have been a point of concern for not only Italy’s government but also UN itself. In this paper we try develop an insight of barriers that restrict the development of restoration. Pompeii is an ancient Roman town near the modern Naples, which was first discovered in the 18th century, after it had been destroyed by a volcanic eruption, courtesy of the close standing Mount Vesuvius during the first century. This area and the closer one of Herculaneum was covered in about 20 feet of ash when it was discovered but much of the objects had been able to survive, specifically the ones below the city, as there had been no exposure to air or moisture. This destination is of great importance for the present world as it provides a quality insight into the ‘Pax
The Pompeii exhibition at LACMA was an astounding visualization of history. The exhibition provided all sorts of objects; from sculptures, glass figures, painted art, and more. These art pieces specify the kind of life that was taking place in the Bay of Naples during the second century. As we know the cities around the Bay of Naples, which include Pompeii and Herculaneum, became tourist attractions when the cities were excavated after they were buried from the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. However, the comprehension of how the art pieces made their way into the museum is just a little fact of the history behind them. With this exhibition we are able to feel like we are back in time and living in the exhilarating time of
Most of these attributes were derived from the Grecian culture around 210 BC and disseminated all over Rome (Nardo, 60). Not only did the people contribute to the arts, but so did the government, which built bronze statues of the emperors or Gods, like the statue of Marcus Aurelius in 175 AD, and decorated the currency with elaborate drawings (Hinds, 172). A lasting example of the Roman taste of the arts was preserved in Pompeii after the volcanic eruption. According to written documents, a museum owned by two wealthy businessmen in Pompeii was available for public viewing, which displayed the gratitude of the people of Pompeii toward their own culture (Hinds, 178).
The Sanctuary of the Public Lares was located in the North-East of the Forum in Pompeii. The Lares Publici were the protectors of the crossroads (compita). Historians argue whether the building was either commenced after the earthquake of 62 AD or almost fully reconstructed as a dedication to the tutelary gods of Pompeii due to the recent misfortune. The architecture was quite unusual showing changing designs. The temple had no roof and had a floor with coloured marble arranged in a geometric pattern. It had no wall on the Forum side that left it entirely open. It could be entered through a portico adjoining the colonnade of the Forum. On entering the temple there was two alcoves where statues of the Lares would most likely have stood. Remains show a centred altar. The rear wall reveals a niche where statues of the town’s gods would have been positioned.
The town itself had many temples devoted to their gods. The city even had an amphitheatre, which is the oldest of its kind dating back to 80 BC. The people of Pompeii had a serene living condition and well function social classes.
It was a horrible sight. Clouds of smoke and ash filled the air above the city; half of Rome had already burnt down, and the fire was still going. The red glow looked fierce and deadly, for indeed it was. We knew there were many people trapped inside the city to fall as helpless victims to the fire, just like a prisoner in a flooding jail; with no way to escape. As I finish this diary entry, we are about to head off again, for the town of Anguillara, which is no more than twenty miles away. Our family is planning to find somewhere to stay there, possibly to live. However, one thing is certain; my life will not be the same ever
Mount Vesuvius is one of history’s most recognizable Volcanoes, as each of its eruptions have gone down as a significant event in geologic history. The events that transpired during and after these eruptions have shaped the way scientists and people view the sheer power that these volcanoes possessed. This report will take a look at Vesuvius’ most prolific eruption in 79 AD. The geologic setting of the mountain, precursor activity, and the impact the eruption had on the surrounding populations and towns will all be detailed. Along with these details, this report will also look at the further history of Vesuvius’s explosive past by detailing its eruption cycle. Finally, the current state of Vesuvius and the possible danger
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD was a pyroclastic event discussed in greater detail over the course of this essay.
This shift was brought around by Amedeo Maiuri, the recently new chief archaeologist of Pompeii, in 1926. The focus shifted to the time well before the disaster. The original archeology of the site focused specifically on the city as it was when the disaster occurred. Maiuri’s approach is still in use today. As an archeologist at Pompeii explained for National Geographic, "Today we are interested in the development of the city," Ellis explains. "What was there first and how did it get to the point it was when it was destroyed?" This relatively new approach will allow for the discovery of more knowledge about Pompeii and the world’s history prior to 79
The city of Pompeii has been frozen in time since the early afternoon of 24th August 79CE. A gigantic time capsule, illustrating the everyday life of ancient Romans, has captured the last moments of at least two thousand people. Pompeii had remained mostly untouched up until 1594 when building an aqueduct, upon uncovering the ashes that worked as a preservative, they found the ruins of a once great town. Casts of people showed their dying moments, gold and precious household items littered the streets. (Staff, 2010) From the ruins of the city, it is reasonable to assume that the rest of Roman society was much the same as Pompeii was at the time of the eruption. (Whipps, 2007)
Mt. Vesuvius is a volcano that is located near the Bay of Naples in Italy and is hundred of thousands years old. It has erupted over 50 times but its most famous eruption was in the year 79 A.D. when it buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii . A witness write that the dust “poured across the land” like a flood . Two thousand people died and the city of Pompeii was left abandoned for almost as many years for each person that died. When a group of archaeologists rediscovered the site in year 1748 they were shocked to see that the city was almost completely intact under the ash and debris from the eruption that happened long ago. The skeletons of people and artifacts were left behind in the buried city that was once called Pompeii. This has taught us a lot about their everyday life back so long ago.
The focus of this research paper is on Mount Vesuvius is two of its most deadly eruptions in 79 A.D. and 1631 that destroyed the ancient cities of Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum forcing the citizens to flee to the Bay of Naples to escape the ash falls and its pyroclastic flows. Both eruptions left the populations
Pompeii provides us with the perfect example of a typical roman city and is arguably the most famous site for archaeologists in the world after the events in 79AD. When considering how far Romanized Pompeii had become by the time of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius it is important for us to take into considerations defining factors that made up Roman cities such as the Political set up, the Governments in place, structure of the city and even the religious aspects of the city, which is all somewhat apparent from Pompeii through discoveries. Within this essay I will compare the defining features that made up a typical Roman city and compare them to what we know of how Pompeii was set up.