Pompeii

By Matthew Renphrey

What was Pompeii?What was Pompeii?

Pompeii was a Roman City, that sat in the shadow of Pompeii was a Roman City, that sat in the shadow of Vesuvius, an active volcano. Vesuvius erupted Vesuvius, an active volcano. Vesuvius erupted and covered Pompeii in 4-6 meters of ash and and covered Pompeii in 4-6 meters of ash and pumice. Many people don’t realise that Pompeii pumice. Many people don’t realise that Pompeii wasn’t the only city to be destroyed by Vesuvius, wasn’t the only city to be destroyed by Vesuvius, a city called Herculaneum was also destroyed a city called Herculaneum was also destroyed and covered in ash and pumice coming from and covered in ash and pumice coming from Vesuvius.Vesuvius.

Mount VesuviusMount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius – located in Italy - is the Volcano that destroyed Mount Vesuvius – located in Italy - is the Volcano that destroyed Pompeii and places around it, covering them in layers of ash Pompeii and places around it, covering them in layers of ash and pumice. The citizens of Pompeii at the time believed and pumice. The citizens of Pompeii at the time believed mount Vesuvius was just an ordinary mountain. Mount mount Vesuvius was just an ordinary mountain. Mount Vesuvius has erupted 46 times and is approximately 4200 feet Vesuvius has erupted 46 times and is approximately 4200 feet high.high.

The eruption of Vesuvius

On the 24th August AD79 the citizens of Pompeii saw a column of smoke coming from the top of what they thought was just an ordinary mountain - Mount Vesuvius. Later that day Vesuvius erupted leaving a Poisonous gas cloud, suffocating those in Pompeii and by the end leaving it in layers of ash and pumice.

What is a Pyroclastic flowWhat is a Pyroclastic flow

A Pyroclastic flow is what happens when the eruption column of A Pyroclastic flow is what happens when the eruption column of a violent eruption collapses. It can also be known as a PDC, a violent eruption collapses. It can also be known as a PDC, which stands for pyroclastic density current. This current is a which stands for pyroclastic density current. This current is a type of gravity and can reach great speed and very high type of gravity and can reach great speed and very high temperatures. The speed it can reach is between 400 – temperatures. The speed it can reach is between 400 – 450MPH and the Temperature it can reach can be around 1000 450MPH and the Temperature it can reach can be around 1000 degrees Celsius. degrees Celsius.

Other places effected by Other places effected by VesuviusVesuvius

Another place affected by Vesuvius Another place affected by Vesuvius was another Roman city, was another Roman city, Herculaneum. 5,000 people were Herculaneum. 5,000 people were thought to have been killed in thought to have been killed in Herculaneum. In Pompeii 25,000 Herculaneum. In Pompeii 25,000 people were thought to have people were thought to have perished.perished.

Map of places affectedMap of places affected

Pliny’s accountPliny’s accountThe main reason we know what happened in Pompeii is because of The main reason we know what happened in Pompeii is because of

Pliny’s account this is what he wrote:Pliny’s account this is what he wrote: To TacitusTo Tacitus

Your request that I would send you an account of my uncle's death, in 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 posterity, deserves my order to transmit a more exact relation of it to posterity, deserves my acknowledgments; for, if this accident shall be celebrated by your acknowledgments; for, if this accident shall be celebrated by your pen, the glory of it, I am well assured, will be rendered forever pen, the glory of it, I am well assured, will be rendered forever illustrious. And notwithstanding he perished by a misfortune, which, illustrious. And notwithstanding he perished by a misfortune, which, as it involved at the same time a most beautiful country in ruins, and as it involved at the same time a most beautiful country in ruins, and destroyed so many populous cities, seems to promise him an destroyed so many populous cities, seems to promise him an everlasting remembrance; notwithstanding he has himself composed everlasting remembrance; notwithstanding he has himself composed many and lasting works; yet I am persuaded, the mentioning of him many and lasting works; yet I am persuaded, the mentioning of him in your immortal writings, will greatly contribute to render his name in your immortal writings, will greatly contribute to render his name immortal. Happy I esteem those to be to whom by provision of the immortal. Happy I esteem those to be to whom by provision of the gods has been granted the ability either to do such actions as are gods has been granted the ability either to do such actions as are worthy of being related or to relate them in a manner worthy of being worthy of being related or to relate them in a manner worthy of being read; but peculiarly happy are they who are blessed with both these read; but peculiarly happy are they who are blessed with both these uncommon talents: in the number of which my uncle, as his own uncommon talents: in the number of which my uncle, as his own writings and your history will evidently prove, may justly be ranked. It writings and your history will evidently prove, may justly be ranked. It is with extreme willingness, therefore, that I execute your commands; is with extreme willingness, therefore, that I execute your commands; and should indeed have claimed the task if you had not enjoined it. and should indeed have claimed the task if you had not enjoined it. He was at that time with the fleet under his command at Misenum.92 He was at that time with the fleet under his command at Misenum.92 On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, my mother On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, my mother desired him to observe a cloud which appeared of a very unusual size desired him to observe a cloud which appeared of a very unusual size and shape. and shape.

Plinys account Plinys account continued…….continued…….He had just taken a turn in the sun93 and, after bathing himself in He had just taken a turn in the sun93 and, after bathing himself in

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

This is what one of his letters was like for some more of them got to This is what one of his letters was like for some more of them got to http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/pompeii/a/PlinyPompeii_2.htmhttp://ancienthistory.about.com/od/pompeii/a/PlinyPompeii_2.htm

Roman Gods and BeliefsRoman Gods and Beliefs

Romans, like the Greek had many Gods, this means the Romans, like the Greek had many Gods, this means the Romans were polytheistic – they worshiped more than Romans were polytheistic – they worshiped more than one God, the most popular God amongst the Romans or one God, the most popular God amongst the Romans or the God they thought was most powerful was the sky the God they thought was most powerful was the sky God called Jupiter. The Romans Believed that everything God called Jupiter. The Romans Believed that everything that happened to them were the Gods fault, good or bad that happened to them were the Gods fault, good or bad thing.thing.

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