Impact of the Volcano Eruption
Pompeii had the misfortune of existing close to the active volcano Mount Vesuvius that would go on to destroy the town. On August 24 79 CE, this volcano erupted and had disastrous consequences for the town of Pompeii. Through a mix of unprecedented speed, ash, and volcanic rock, the town and its inhabitants were completely buried.
The volcano spewed ash thousands of meters into the air, which plummeted down to coat Pompeii like a blanket. Volcanic rock and ash travelled faster than an Olympic sprinter in some cases, further damaging everything they touched. It’s said that the layer of ash that was left over was an average thickness of six feet and some areas reached up to twenty feet thick.
This not only made it tough to even locate Pompeii at the time, but it also allowed the few bodies that were found to stay intact, helping unlock many mysteries of life in Pompeii. Walls, structures, and even frescoes have been found under this layer as modern-day Pompeii was discovered.
Despite the fact that ash and rocks were still travelling across the town at high speeds, this eruption was something that the citizens of Pompeii were unprepared for, as there were no warning signs that an eruption was coming. The signs that there was an eruption happening at all weren’t detected until the next morning, when there were reports that a massive dark cloud was seen miles away.
Inhabitants of Pompeii
Pompeii was home to many different people from different communities and walks of life, from the upper class of Pompeii to its lower class citizens. Estimates range from 10,000 – 25,000 people living in the town, which relied heavily on trade and commerce.
The many different social classes of Pompeii had different values during their time, the lower classes believed in superstitions and that the volcano was a punishment from the gods, while the social elites of the town believed in no such thing and instead, blamed the volcanic eruption on an act of nature.
The town was known to be quite lively, as they had a strong entertainment culture with an amphitheatre, gladiators, and even a brothel. Pompeii was also popular for being close to the beach and all sorts of other cultural events and pastimes that were popular at the time.
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius disrupted all of that al it once, with the eruption sinking the town and its inhabitants in moments. The citizens had no chance to escape, as the lava, ash and volcanic rock travelled to the town quickly and with a ferocity that was greater than anything anyone had seen before.
The Eruption
The nature of the eruption and the speed with which it impacted the area had a devastating impact and left little to no time for the inhabitants of Pompeii to flee or prepare.
When the eruption began, the people of neighboring cities and towns of Pompeii immediately became aware of the large cloud and the noises coming from the volcano. However, the citizens of Pompeii were not aware until the morning of the 25th, when they woke up to the sound of stones and ash falling from the top of their houses and the ground shaking from the explosions from the volcano.
By the 26th, most of the city had been destroyed and covered in ash, leaving little hope for most of the citizens who had not already fled or were not able to escape in time.
Consequences
The consequences of the eruption were dire, as it killed thousands of people and left the town almost unrecognizable. The town was seen as a reminder of what could happen and of the importance of good urban planning, as the town had no emergency plans or mechanisms to help protect its citizens in the event of an emergency.
Even though the town was destroyed almost immediately after the initial blast, some residents were able to take cover in underground tunnels and eventually emerge, likely due to the fall of a large part of the original town wall. These people had the opportunity to flee to other nearby towns for safety, although their numbers were small.
Families were separated and many people lost friends and family in the chaos of the eruption. It was difficult for people to find out what had happened, as the volcano was still putting out massive amounts of ash, smoke and debris which made it difficult for any kind of communication or navigation.
Aftermath
The disastrous consequences of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius were felt for many years to come, as the ash and debris from the blast were spread over many kilometres and the shockwaves from it were felt over a greater distance still.
The town of Pompeii was destroyed and buried in ash and debris almost immediately after the eruption, making it difficult to even locate. After a few centuries it was rediscovered by modern-day archaeologists.
Archaeologists found bodies nearly as they had been when the eruption happened, partially because the layers of ash and debris had been so thick that some of the organic material was protected. Therefore, the archaeologists were able to study the lives of the people of Pompeii in great detail, giving us an invaluable insight into the lives of those people.
Preservation
The city has been preserved as an archaeological site, which has been open to visitors since the excavation of the city began. This site has become very popular for visitors as it offers an unparalleled view into what life was like in the height of the Roman Empire.
Since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the city has passed through the hands of many different powers, from Napoleon to the Bourbon Monarchy.
Many of the structures that were destroyed in the initial blast were rebuilt over the years, with some of them being built back to the exact specifications of what they were before the blast.
The city also attracted many notable architects and historians over the years, as well as scientists who were particularly interested in the geological aspects of the city and the volcano.
The Uniqueness of Pompeii
Pompeii is a truly unique complex due to the natures of its crisis. Pompeii remains a timeless witness to one of the oldest civilisations in human history and its destruction.
The fact that it was frozen in time by a volcanic eruption means that its inhabitants can tell us a tremendous amount about Roman Housing and city design, bringing this historic age to life in a special way.
The city has been able to remain intact, in part because of the intensity of the blast and the layers of ash and rock which blanketed the city and its inhabitants, allowing them to be preserved for millennia.
The remains of the city and its inhabitants also teach us lessons about the vulnerability of our society to catastrophes and lets us see the state of morality, religion and the daily life of citizens in an unprecedentedly detailed way.
Rescue and Recovery Efforts
There were few rescue and recovery efforts put in place in the immediate aftermath of the eruption, as the area was covered in so much ash and debris that it was impossible to move around. However, in the next few days, teams of rescue workers started to arrive in order to try and help people to escape the area.
Many people were saved, due to the efforts of these teams of rescue workers and their dedication to their work. Many of those who were saved were able to escape the area with the clothes on their back, as they were unable to take much more.
They also found some people living in the nearby villages, who had managed to survive the eruption by taking refuge in caves and underground shelters. This allowed them to escape the brunt of the debris, as it was harder to travel through the softer ground.
Modern Studies
Modern-day volcanologists still study the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in order to understand the force of a supervolcano and the destruction that can be caused by one. Through studying the fossils, artifacts and remains in the destroyed city, they are able to more accurately understand the potential damage of eruptions and to be more prepared for the next one.
This also allows them to be able to further understand the destruction that can be caused by such a force of nature. By studying the formations of the town and how long it would take for the ash and stone to travel, they can determine how much time the people of the city had to escape and how much preparation the city was able to make for such an event.
The destruction of Pompeii is an event which shook the world, and still remains a telling tale about the destruction that can be caused by disasters of nature. While education on the matter is important, technology has advanced to make sure that much of the destruction from volcanic eruptions can be prevented or avoided, while still providing us with valuable insights into the lives of its citizens.
