By Oliver JordanBy Oliver Jordan

POMPEII

IntroductionIntroduction

Pompeii was a Roman city that sat in the Pompeii was a Roman city that sat in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, an active shadow of Mount Vesuvius, an active Volcano. The city was buried in 6 metres Volcano. The city was buried in 6 metres of ash and pumice, this happened on the of ash and pumice, this happened on the 2424thth of August ad 79. of August ad 79.

Mount VesuviusMount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is an active Volcano, it is Mount Vesuvius is an active Volcano, it is located in Italy on the east coast of Naples located in Italy on the east coast of Naples very near to Pompeii. It has erupted 46 very near to Pompeii. It has erupted 46 times, the most recent was when it times, the most recent was when it destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. It is destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. It is 4200ft high.4200ft high.

The Eruption of VesuviusThe Eruption of Vesuvius

On the 24th of August ad 79 nearly 2000 years ago, Mount Vesuvius sent a column of smoke rising from its core. The citizens of Pompeii had no idea that a major eruption that would kill them all was in progress. The sight triggered a response more of curiosity than of fear as they thought Vesuvius was just an ordinary mountain. Pumice (a light rock) was launched into the air and fell down, showering the city. Soon after big pieces of hot rock came out of the volcano, they were heavy enough to kill someone. A pyroclastic flow burst from the volcano destroying everything in it’s path, by now every one had either fled from the city or had been killed in their homes or on the streets. Although most people think that Pompeii was the only place destroyed, it wasn’t, Herculaneum, a nearby city, was also destroyed.

Pliny’s AccountPliny’s AccountPliny was a writer, he wrote an account of what happened during Pliny was a writer, he wrote an account of what happened during

the eruption this is how we know so much about what the eruption this is how we know so much about what happened.happened.

To TacitusTo TacitusYour request that I would send you an account of my uncle's Your request that I would send you an account of my uncle's death, in order to transmit a more exact relation of it to death, in order to transmit a more exact relation of it to posterity, deserves my acknowledgments; for, if this accident posterity, deserves my acknowledgments; for, if this accident shall be celebrated by your pen, the glory of it, I am well shall be celebrated by your pen, the glory of it, I am well assured, will be rendered forever illustrious. And assured, will be rendered forever illustrious. And notwithstanding he perished by a misfortune, which, as it notwithstanding he perished by a misfortune, which, as it involved at the same time a most beautiful country in ruins, involved at the same time a most beautiful country in ruins, and destroyed so many populous cities, seems to promise him and destroyed so many populous cities, seems to promise him an everlasting remembrance; notwithstanding he has himself an everlasting remembrance; notwithstanding he has himself composed many and lasting works; yet I am persuaded, the composed many and lasting works; yet I am persuaded, the mentioning of him in your immortal writings, will greatly mentioning of him in your immortal writings, will greatly contribute to render his name immortal. Happy I esteem those contribute to render his name immortal. Happy I esteem those to be to whom by provision of the gods has been granted the to be to whom by provision of the gods has been granted the ability either to do such actions as are worthy of being related ability either to do such actions as are worthy of being related or to relate them in a manner worthy of being read; but or to relate them in a manner worthy of being read; but peculiarly happy are they who are blessed with both these peculiarly happy are they who are blessed with both these uncommon talents: in the number of which my uncle, as his uncommon talents: in the number of which my uncle, as his own writings and your history will evidently prove, may justly own writings and your history will evidently prove, may justly be ranked. It is with extreme willingness, therefore, that I be ranked. It is with extreme willingness, therefore, that I execute your commands; and should indeed have claimed the execute your commands; and should indeed have claimed the task if you had not enjoined it. task if you had not enjoined it.

Pliny’s Pliny’s Account….ContinuedAccount….Continued

He was at that time with the fleet under his command at He was at that time with the fleet under his command at Misenum.92 On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, Misenum.92 On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, my mother desired him to observe a cloud which appeared of a my mother desired him to observe a cloud which appeared of a very unusual size and shape. He had just taken a turn in the very unusual size and shape. He had just taken a turn in the sun93 and, after bathing himself in cold water, and making a light sun93 and, after bathing himself in cold water, and making a light luncheon, gone back to his books: he immediately arose and went luncheon, gone back to his books: he immediately arose and went out upon a rising ground from whence he might get a better sight out upon a rising ground from whence he might get a better sight of this very uncommon appearance. A cloud, from which mountain of this very uncommon appearance. A cloud, from which mountain was uncertain, at this distance (but it was found afterwards to was uncertain, at this distance (but it was found afterwards to come from Mount Vesuvius), was ascending, the appearance of come from Mount Vesuvius), was ascending, the appearance of which I cannot give you a more exact description of than by which I cannot give you a more exact description of than by likening it to that of a pine tree, for it shot up to a great height in likening it to that of a pine tree, for it shot up to a great height in the form of a very tall trunk, which spread itself out at the top the form of a very tall trunk, which spread itself out at the top into a sort of branches; occasioned, I imagine, either by a sudden into a sort of branches; occasioned, I imagine, either by a sudden gust of air that impelled it, the force of which decreased as it gust of air that impelled it, the force of which decreased as it advanced upwards, or the cloud itself being pressed back again by advanced upwards, or the cloud itself being pressed back again by its own weight, expanded in the manner I have mentioned; it its own weight, expanded in the manner I have mentioned; it appeared sometimes bright and sometimes dark and spotted, appeared sometimes bright and sometimes dark and spotted, according as it was either more or less impregnated with earth according as it was either more or less impregnated with earth and cinders. This phenomenon seemed to a man of such learning and cinders. This phenomenon seemed to a man of such learning and research as my uncle extraordinary and worth further looking and research as my uncle extraordinary and worth further looking into.into.

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/pompeii/a/PlinyPompeii_2.htmhttp://ancienthistory.about.com/od/pompeii/a/PlinyPompeii_2.htm

Pyroclastic flowPyroclastic flow

A pyroclastic flow happens when part of the A pyroclastic flow happens when part of the Volcano collapses and sends a wave of Volcano collapses and sends a wave of extremely hot rocks (it can reach temperatures extremely hot rocks (it can reach temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius) and ash down the of 1000 degrees Celsius) and ash down the side of the volcano. They can reach speeds up side of the volcano. They can reach speeds up to about 500 mph and will destroy everything to about 500 mph and will destroy everything in it’s path. They are also called ‘PDC’ which in it’s path. They are also called ‘PDC’ which stands for Pyroclastic Density Current. stands for Pyroclastic Density Current.

Roman Gods and beliefsRoman Gods and beliefs

The Romans believed that the Gods The Romans believed that the Gods caused everything to happen, good caused everything to happen, good or bad. When Vesuvius went of the or bad. When Vesuvius went of the people believed that the gods were people believed that the gods were punishing them for something. The punishing them for something. The Romans believed in a polytheistic Romans believed in a polytheistic religion which means that they religion which means that they believed in more than one god.believed in more than one god.

Map

PICTURES

This is a pyroclastic flow

These are some roman gods

This is mount Vesuvius

This is a body that was found.

This is a lava flow

This is Pompeii now