The History of Pompeii

The History of Pompeii GEOFFREY WEBBER

GEOFFREY WEBBER

Pompeii sits near Mount Vesuvius, a volcano

and villas. The town bustled with tourists

in the vicinity of Naples. The volcano has

and townspeople, and was home to shops,

erupted more than 50 times, but its most

cafes, brothels, bathhouses, and a 20,000-

notorious eruption was in 79 AD, when it

seat arena. On the eve of the Mount Vesuvius

covered Pompeii in a thick layer of ash.

eruption in 79 AD, estimates show around 12,000 people lived in Pompeii.

BEFORE THE ERUPTION

MOUNT VESUVIUS

Settlers from Greece made the town part of the Hellenistic sphere in the 8th century BC. Pompeii

The villagers living around the volcano

was an independent town, until it ended up

had learned to live with their volatile

under Rome’s influence in the 2nd century BC.

surroundings. Even after a huge earthquake struck the region in 63 AD, people still flocked

By the 1st century AD, Pompeii was a

to the region. Pompeii was growing more

prosperous resort full of elegant houses

crowded every year.

In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The enormous blast sent ashes, pumice, rocks, and hot gases so high into the air that it could be seen for hundreds of miles around. As it cooled, the debris fell towards the earth.

Most residents had time to flee, but for those who stayed behind, conditions worsened. As the ash fell, it clogged the air. Then, a pyroclastic surge poured out of the volcano, swallowing Pompeii and its residents in its path.

By the 1st century AD, Pompeii was a prosperous resort full of elegant houses and villas. The town bustled with tourists and townspeople, and was home to shops, cafes, brothels, bathhouses, and a 20,000-seat arena.

GEOFFREY WEBBER For more information about Pompeii, visit the blog of Geoffrey Webber.