VES: Cultural Lesson - The Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

The image shows a map of the region affected by the eruption. A dark area shows the spread of ash SE of the volcano.

The Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

Scientific reconstructions of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE show that the eruption lasted two days and had several phases. The only surviving eyewitness account comes from Pliny the Younger, nephew of Pliny the Elder, who was observing from Misenum. The map (see image) shows the cities affected by the eruption including Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae. The dark shaded region represents the general distribution of ash over the area.

The image shows a Vesuvius Pine tree. Pliny described the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius by comparing it to this tree.

Pliny the Younger

The eruption that occurred August 24-26, 79 CE was recorded by Pliny the Younger in his letters to Tacitus. In the first letter he described his uncle, Pliny the Elder's attempt to rescue inhabitants located at the foot of Vesuvius, presumably near Herculaneum. Unable to reach his destination, he landed near Stabiae and later perished. The eruption must have begun early in the morning on August 24th as Pliny the Elder received a letter at one o'clock in the afternoon reporting imminent danger in the region and the necessity of escape by sea. Pliny the Younger writes that a huge dark cloud stretched out from Vesuvius like an umbrella pine (see image). During the night of the 24th, hail formed from ash and pumice stone mixed with a downpour of water as it fell from the sky.

The image shows a painting depicting the conditions in Pompeii during the eruption.

The Day of the Eruption

The morning of August 25th, 79 CE began with a severe earthquake as dense, hot volcanic gas poured down Vesuvius towards the coastline. Immediately following the earthquake, dust began to fall. Complete darkness fell over land and sea. Pliny the Younger described the darkness as "like a room completely closed." The dust fell for hours and when it finally stopped only the roofs of houses could be seen in Pompeii while Herculaneum had completely disappeared under the debris and mud. Successive minor earthquakes continued in the area. The image is the restored version of a painting by John Martin called Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum, c. 1821.

The image shows an illustration of the column of smoke and ash rising from Mt. Vesuvius.

The Impact of the Eruption

Victims from the 79 CE eruption were originally believed to have died from ash suffocation; however, more recent archeological evidence suggests that most perished due to the surges of extremely hot volcanic gas, called pyroclastic flows. Mount Vesuvius violently pushed a deadly cloud of volcanic gas, stones, ash, and fumes to a height of 21 miles. Scientists now refer to this type of eruption as a Plinian or Vesuvian eruption. The damage was so extensive that neither Pompeii nor Herculaneum were rebuilt or reoccupied by the Romans. The image shows a painting from 1822. The artist, George Julius Poulett Scrope, was a geologist and was providing an impression of the eruption of Vesuvius, depicting what the 79 CE eruption may have looked like.

After the Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius

After the eruption, the area was forgotten for approximately 1500 years. Pompeii was rediscovered in 1599. Artifacts have been well-preserved for centuries because of the ash. Pompeii provides a detailed insight into the daily life of an ancient Roman city. Additionally, archaeologists have uncovered not only furniture, cookware, and personal belongings but they also filled in the voids in the ash layers with plaster that once held human bodies. The plaster casts capture the Pompeians' final moments for eternity. Today Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular tourist destination.

Watch the video below as Professor Kleiner discusses the eruption and provides a moving account of what happened to the inhabitants of the city of Pompeii when disaster struck.