The Demise of Pompeii

Pompeii, a Roman city with a population of about 20,000, was annihilated by Mount Vesuvius on August 26, 79 AD. It wasn't until 1595, when artifacts from Pompeii were excavated. Centuries of raiding and looting then followed. In the mid-nineteenth century, archaeological excavations began, revealing to the modern world the way the people lived (and died) in 79 A.D. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius was, in fact, the downfall of the ancient city, Pompeii, but people today still wonder how it all happened, and how it all began.

Pompeii was established in the 6th century, B.C. By the 1st century A.D., Pompeii was rebelling with other Italian towns against the Roman Regime. "They were all besieged and defeated. Pompeii lost its independence and become a Roman Colony. Political and social changes occurred because of this, but Pompeii still flourished and its population grew, but never the actual size of the town itself. This rise in population led to an increased number of houses, thus some houses were situated outside the walls..." (main-vision.com) Pompeii was a city of great wealth and prosperity. In the days before that ill-fated day in 79, the inhabitants of this city lived in great luxury, with bath houses and mosaics and even underground water pipes, theaters, and swimming pools. The town was built very well. The streets were divided into blocks, and they were intersected by other, well-paved, straight streets. The inhabitants were quite healthy and well-nourished

Pompeii is located in an area that is prone to many tectonic plate related events such as volcanoes and earthquakes. In fact, 62 A.D. marks the date of a very large precursor earthquake. Because earthquakes happen so frequently, there are, consequently, related volcanic eruptions. Mount Vesuvius is a composite volcano. This type of volcano has many layers of lava and ash. There are two kinds of eruptions. A composite volcano like Vesuvius will erupt with two kinds of eruptions, but never at the same time. One eruption type contains mostly cinders and ash, and the other type of eruption contains mostly lava. Mount Vesuvius has erupted more than 50 times since 79 A.D., alternating its eruption types. The first time when lava was recorded was many years after the destruction of Pompeii. .

The main cause of death was suffocation in this town, most likely from the toxic fumes being emitted from the volcano. Because the eruption was only ashes and fumes, people probably