Pompeii
Pompeii is perhaps one of the most mystery filled and Interesting Ancient Cities. It is
the site of one of the most disastrous volcanic eruptions of all time. Pompeii is very important
to society today because it has taught us a lot about the impact of volcanoes on society and
given us a chance to learn from our past. The historical Roman town Pompeii is the site of an
enormous eruption, and a great history before it.
Pompeii is very important to life today and the way we view a lot of things. Pompeii
shows us the lifestyle of Romans better than any other place does. It also shows us how tragic
a volcanic eruption can be and how we can be ready for it in the future. It gives us a chance to
learn from the past and hopefully save the lives of many.
Pompeii’s beginning: Life in Pompeii
Pompeii was originally inhabited by Hunter Gatherers. This remained for several
centuries until the Roman Empire sent Italic tribes to settle the area. They were part of the
Empire but were allowed to have some different laws and regulations. The area became a very
popular vacation spot for rich Romans. It had gone from a small unknown town, to a thriving
Roman town. (Pompeii). The population of the town ranged from ten to twenty thousand
people. Pompeii thrived in agriculture and its main products were: grains, grapes, olives, sheep,
flowers, bread, wine, olive oil, and even perfume. The rich volcanic ash helped tremendously
with their thriving economy. Also the majority of Pompeii people were slaves (Goor).
The Tragic Eruption
The thing that makes Pompeii unique is the tragic volcanic eruption that happened
there. Mount Vesuvius, a nearby volcanic mountain, had been inactive for 2,000 years (Rattini).
The people of Pompeii were going about their lives normally. There had been an earthquake
recently but the people did not make a big deal out of it. This was actually a sign for a major
volcanic eruption. Mt. Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, on August 24th. It is thought to have
happened when the people were eating lunch (Goor). Smoke went up to 20 miles high. Eleven
hours after the explosion the volcanic ash went down the side of the mountain at an amazing
speed of 180 mph., and it destroyed everything in its path (Rattini). If this did not kill the
people than the gas that filled the air took care of them. Many people attempted to leave by
boat in the harbor. This was not even possible, because the water was full of volcanic ash
(Goor). Pompeii was buried in 23 ft. of ash and rock (Wilmere). In the first couple days of the
explosion people tried to dig their way out of the ash (Goor).
Pompeii: Life After the Eruption
After the volcanic eruption, Pompeii became a “no man’s land.” People called the area
Civitas, which means ancient city, and grass grew over the site. No one returned to Pompeii
because there were still pockets of poisonous gas underneath the layers of lava. For more than
1500 years, Pompeii laid untouched, buried, and forgotten. In 1594 people came in contact
with Pompeii for the first time since the eruption. Some workmen were digging a channel to
bring water to a rich man’s villa and they actually found pieces of ruined building, which said,
Decurias Pompeii. Regardless they did not make a big deal about it. The next contact by
humans occurred in 1709. An Austrian Prince had a well dug on his property, and they ended
up digging into the theatre of Herculaneum, which is right beside Pompeii. Later on in 1748,
Roque de Alcubierre started creating an archeological plan to try and dig up Pompeii. Later on,
a breakthrough occurred and Guiseppe Fiorelli came up with the theory that the hardened ash
would form around the Pompeii bodies (Goor). Eventually all of Pompeii had been recovered
and what was found was very remarkable.
What is Pompeii like Today?
Pompeii can be seen today exactly how it was in its last few moments. The layers of ash
helped preserve the city. (Goor) The volcanic ash had preserved everything, even jewels, tools,
games, furniture, food, plant roots, wooden floors, gates, and paintings (Goor). Also, when the
dead bodies decayed the surrounding hardened ash created the forms of the bodies. Gladiator
results can be seen on the amphitheatre walls (Rattini). Today, we can see the large wall that
the Romans built around Pompeii and 20 foot high water towers that provided drinking water
for the public. There were even water fountains all around the city like today. In addition,
drains were found beneath the roads (Goor). Pompeii is open to the public to come and visit
and is so unique because it shows us exactly how life had been for people in the Roman Empire.
The Future of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius
Today there are 600,000 people living in ‘zona rosa’ which is the present day Pompeii.
Also, 3 million people live in Naples which is close to Pompeii. This proves that an eruption
today would be disastrous (Rattini). Vesuvius is due for another eruption any time which will
follow the 2,000 period between major eruptions. The goal today and in the future is to
monitor plate activity and gas pressure (Wilmere). This is vital because knowing when the
eruption will occur could be the thing that will save millions of people from the fate that
Pompeii suffered millennia ago.
Works Cites
Goor, Ron. Pompeii: Exploring a Roman Ghost Town.
Cambridge, Mass: HarperCollinsPublisher, 1986.
Poehler, Eric. “Rush Hour in Pompeii.” Archeology Nov/Dec
2008
Rattini, Kristin. “The Lost City of Pompeii.” National Geographic
Kids Feb. 2009
Wilmere, Kathy. “Pompeii.” Junior Scholastics 1/24/2005
“Pompeii.” Pompeii 1978 10/28/10
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archeology/sites/europe
/Pompeii.html
Pictures: travelpod.com
historylink102.com
destination360.com/Europe/Italy/Pompeii
archeology.org