The Infamous Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii,

Italy

By Olivia Jenkins

The city of Pompeii is a partially buried city, in the modern-day country Italy. Just like Herculaneum, Pompeii was partially

destroyed and buried under 13 to 20 feet of ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (AD 79).

Quite ironically. the eruption occurred on the day after Vulcanalia, the festival of the Roman god of fire and

volcanoes. Pompeii was one of a number of towns, including the famous Herculaneum, located near the base of the

volcano, Mount Vesuvius.

This is a drawing of Mount Vesuvius erupting over Pompeii in

79 ADThis is an actual picture of Mount

Vesuvius erupting in the modern day and age

It was actually determined that the

people of Pompeii were actually killed from the intense heat, not from

suffocating in the 20 feet of ash. Studies in 2010 have shown that exposure to at

least 250 °C, at a distance of 101 kilometers from the vent, was sufficient to cause instant death, even if people were

sheltered within buildings.

Although it appeared as though they had died from being buried alive…

But due to being buried in in such an abnormally large amount of ash, the people of Pompeii were

actually preserved in their exact position and state for thousands of years.

When you look at the picture on the left, you can see each individual tooth, all together clenching in pain and fear. You can also clearly observe the widely-set

cheekbones and strong chin.

Now look to the right. This is obviously a picture of a dog. But look at the limbs that once flailed about in agony! You can even clearly see his fangs and his collar.

The lack of air and moisture allowed for people, objects, and even food to remain underground with little to no deterioration, which meant that, once excavated,

the site had a wealth of sources and evidence for analysis, giving detail into the lives of the Pompeiians.

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius over Pompeii was an event I had been learning about since I was around six years old. I remember not being able to even comprehend what such a horrible natural disaster would be like to endure. But this

famous story in history has always fascinated me and was naturally the first volcanic event I thought of.

Everyone and everything had been perfectly preserved for nearly two thousand years before explorers happened upon the tragic scene. They had even found loaves of bread and a single, uncracked egg that was impeccably conserved! I still wouldn’t

eat them though ;)

The wondrous event at Pompeii has astounded and excited many scientists. I don’t consider myself a scientist and yet I

was even amazed and happy to learn about the fuming volcano of Mount

Vesuvius, which looms over Pompeii and its neighboring cities. It has erupted over 200 times since that fateful day of August 24th. And hopefully, history won’t repeat

itself

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii#Early_history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii#First_century_AD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii#AD_62.E2.80.9379 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii#Eruption_of_Vesuvius http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii#Rediscovery https://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=&tbm=

isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=671&q=people+in+pompeii&oq=people+in+pompeii&gs_l=img.3..0j0i5i24l9.3733.6158.0.6360.17.14.0.3.3.0.179.1313.10j4.14.0...0.0...1ac.1.UMat9h0eLAY