Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

This is what I learned about Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. During the reign of Titus, in 79 AD, the city of Pompeii was buried in a volcanic eruption. The largest recorded eruption in that part of Europe. It killed or displaced thousands of Roman citizens. For years the city lay unexcavated, but it has now been uncovered and preserved as an archeological site. The city was founded near modern day Naples, and was finally conquered by the Romans in 80 BCE. The city held about 20,000 people and had an amphitheater, gymnasium, and many other luxuries. It was a vacation spot for rich Romans and was known for its immoral, debauched culture. Mt. Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 AD. The heat (482 F or 250 C) could instantly kill anything within 6 miles of the mountain! We have an eye witness account of Pliny the Younger, who was in the area at the time. This could be thought of as one of the first news reporting situations, as he wrote down the story for later generations to remember. He was on a ship in the bay of Pompeii at the time and thus had a great view of the volcano and the destruction. The artifacts and discoveries made at Pompeii have helped us to understand more about Roman culture. The lifestyle of the ancient Romans, right down to their clothes, food, and houses, was well preserved in the aftermath of the volcano. This is what I learned about Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.