Pompeii, Italy - The Lost City
93Pompeii -- the living city
Books on ancient Pompeii
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In the fateful year of 79 AD, the city of Pompeii (Italy) was a thriving city of about 20,000 inhabitants. This was during the heyday of the Roman Empire, and Pompeii was a popular place for wealthy Romans to visit on holiday.
The city was already historic. Some homes in the city center had been there since at least 300 BC, so by 79 AD, these homes were already older than the United States is now.
During those years, progress had come to Pompeii. There were small theaters and one grand amphitheater. The city and many of its buildings had running water brought by a Roman aqueduct. There was a central swimming pool, a gymnasium, and at least 4 public baths. There were temples, a forum, a hotel, and numerous restaurants.
This was nearly 2,000 years ago, and life wasn't as different from today as you might expect. In the city center, upper stories were built onto some of Pompeii's elegant houses.
"Everyone -- social climbers particularly -- wanted a house in the town center: the problem was to find space. ... Surviving advertisements have a surprisingly modern ring: ‘To let from the fifteenth of next July, shops with their stalls, high-class second-story apartments, and a house. Prospective lessees may apply to Primus, slave of Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius.'" (from "Roman Italy", by T.W. Potter)
Discoveries about life in ancient Pompeii, Italy
- Ancient Pompeiians preferred fast food
Excavations show that most of the population ate on the run, grabbing a bite at some of Pompeii's numerous fast-food restaurants. - Rare silver Pompeii dinner set discovered
A stash of silver plates and goblets, beautifully engraved and polished, was found in Pompeii. - Pompeii reveals ancient luxury hotel
Excavators have discovered an ancient "five-star hotel" just outside Pompeii, with central heat and a private spa complex.
Destruction of Pompeii (Leonard Nimoy)
Pompeii - the dying city
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 24, 79 AD. Vesuvius, the massive mountain that loomed over the city, had been rumbling. Residents took it in stride, much like Californians today do with earth tremors. After all, they'd seen this plenty of times before.
This was different, though. In early August, springs and wells began drying up, then a swarm of small earthquakes began. Aug 23 was Vulcanalia -- the feast day for Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. The next day, the volcano (namesake of the same god), erupted furiously.
This time Vulcan meant business.
First, there was a Plinian eruption, a type of eruption named after an eyewitness to the explosion whose written accounts survived to tell the story. A column of smoke and ash rose about 20 miles high from the volcano, then spread out and rained ash and pumice stone over the area. Pompeii was buried in rock and ash about 9 ft deep .
Hours later, this was followed by a pyroclastic flow, when a cloud of superheated gas, ash, and rock poured forth and roared down the side of the volcano. Scientists estimate that the cloud had a temperature close to 350 degrees Celsius when it reached Pompeii. Any stragglers who escaped the first phase of the eruption were burned and asphyxiated by the second.
This was the last day for Pompeii and thousands of its inhabitants. Buried in thick layers of ash, the people and their city remained untouched -- lost and forgotten for centuries.
"The thermal energy released during the AD 79 eruption would have been roughly... 100,000 times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb." (from "Dynamics of Volcanism")
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fabulous book
"Pompeii: A Novel", by Robert Harris, blends scientific fact, documents from ancient Roman times, and fiction, to create a gripping historical novel about the end of Pompeii. Fascinating, and a fun read, too.
"Meticulously researched, beautifully written historical thriller of extraordinary breadth and depth." ~ Miami Herald
Pompeii - the rediscovered city
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The city was obliterated, and the inhabitants gone. People forgot where it was, especially since the eruption raised the beach and altered the river's course, so that the site was no longer on either the river or the coast.
The buried town lay quietly beneath layer upon layer of ash and dirt, until its accidental discovery in 1748 -- 1,669 years after its demise.
Because of the speed and thoroughness with which the city was buried, objects remained remarkably well-preserved for all these centuries. Little air and little moisture meant little deterioration. When the city of Pompeii came to light again, it provided unprecedented views of life in Roman times.
It also gave us chilling models of terrified residents in their final moments of anguish. An early excavator realized that some cavities in the ash layer were spaces left by decomposed bodies. He injected plaster into them to exactly recreate the victims at the time they were buried. It's impossible to view these without feeling for the people who lay there, unable to escape their fate.
Today, Pompeii is a World Heritage Site, and one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. The ruins of the city are extensive, and you can wander through the streets, homes and public spaces. You'll see the theaters, the wealthy homes, the fast food joints, and perhaps even a brothel. It's easy to imagine the lively city this was, up through August 23. Then the plaster casts show you everything you need to know about August 24.
It's a powerful place, and one you'll never forget.
Closing note
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vesuvius has erupted many times since the cataclysm that destroyed Pompeii, and it is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. There are 3 million people living close to it -- the most densely populated volcanic region in the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finding the Lost City of Pompeii
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That is an excellent piece on The Lost City of Pompeii!
Almost like a summary of the Pompeii documentary I saw on Discovery Channel. I have never been there, but I hope one day I will.
Great work Deanna!
Hello Happy E
I just needed to see this award winning site. This is the best of your Italian series. nobody hubs it better. Cheers
Great hub page. I remember my mother telling me about Mt. Vesuvius many, many years ago. I wonder why people choose to live so close. Of course, I suppose with today's technology they would get plenty of warning before it erupted.
Great Hub! I was obsessed with Pompeii for a long time as a kid. I went there in my early twenties and found it amazing! The frescoes and the encapsulated bodies were one of many fantastic sites. I'll have to check out the book you suggested as well. Another smaller site to look into is Herculaneum, not far from Pompeii. I did not get to visit that site while I was in Italy.
Great topic and hub site - a good model for me as I joined about 10 minutes ago.
Fascinating stuff, Happy!
I just called my DH in to hear about the rental ads and Pompeian fast food. And I'm definitely going to read the novel you recommended.
We're planning another trip to Italy, so Pompeii is now on our list of must-see places.
Thanks for your work on this. Cheers,
Sheila
A thorough and excellent treatment of this historic event, happyexplorer. I saw the movie "The Last Days of Pompeii" many years ago and it dramatic scenes of the eruption of Vesuvius are burned into my memory.
This was a very interesting read. You really captured my attention from beginning to end. Pompeii is a place that I now have on my "places to visit list". Thank You!
Hey Deanna! Thanks for a most excellent hub! Pompeii is definitely worth seeing. I spent a day there last year and found it absolutely fascinating. The only place I've seen so far that can compare in completeness is Effisis in Turkey. I've also heard that Libya offers some amazingly complete Roman ruins.
The really cool thing about Pompeii for me is how much was preserved of daily life because of how the whole eruption went down. They have a traveling tour of someof the items from it here in San Diego right now, wihich reminds me that I should try to get down and see it.
Thanks again!
Thumbs up for a fascinating Hub on a fascinating topic! I never knew about Pompeian fast food, rental ads, and luxury resort with central heat... even though a while back I thought I paid attention to Discovery.
I missed Pompeii on earlier Italy travels, but now it and Herculaneum are definitely on the "to visit" short list. I, too, wonder why so many people would continue to live so close to a known volcanic menace, no matter how beautiful!
Your layout, elements, and photos are great, too. Congratulations on producing one of the best Hubs!
Thanks for this really excellent information--have been fascinated by Pompeii for years but have never visited--hoiwever, have just ordered the novel you recommend so highly so I'll have an interesting armchair journey :-) This is a great hub and gets a big thumbs upfrom me.
Very well organized hub, explorer. Thanks!
This place looks great.
Hi Deanna,
This is an incredible Hub. You provided so much interesting information and great writing...I felt as though I was there for that fateful day in August. This is one of the few hubs where I felt a moving experience..thank you for sharing your 'exploration' to Pompeii.
I rarely read a web page from beginning to end....but you caught my attention. Your videos and your superb writing had me riveted. Even as busy as I am, I focused on this hub and was sad to see the end! I even read all the comments, which is also something I rarely do - I tend to be a scanner. EXCELLENT WORK and I've learned quite a bit from this page. Thanks for putting this online and I hope the search engines gobble it up so that everyone can view this page because if they miss this page, they have certainly missed something special.
Very nice and very rich hub! Sad story, but so nicely presented. My favorite place in Italy is Venice (not really creative/original choice, though)
For armchair explorers like me, your hub has helped me visualize what Pompei would have been.Fine indeed.
What are some good places to eat here?
I remember that well known pose.... Centuries buried underground and not until excavators finally revealed his terrifying and, at the same time, touching posture that this guy's bravery and husbandly sense got known to the world. He was trying to protect his wife from incoming raids of volcanic missiles with his own body. Pompeii is an idyllic city with a romantic story behind its sad history. Its frescoes, bars, bakeries make me wanna go back through time and be there at the time before the explosion....
This is a really great hub! I'm only still a teenager and my family and I went to Pompeii last November... It was something I will never forget.
Good hub! Pompeii is amazing, espcially the bodies! Crazy. I'm looking for some tours of venice and other italy tours that would be good to take with my family. Can you recommend any? I'm going to travel to italy this fall so any help would be appreciated!
Now I see how hubs are supposed to be done. Boy am I humbled.
I making Big Sky's words as my words too. I've started doing hubs recently, and by reading your hubs I can see an amazing example of how to do amazing hubs ! I'm humbled too! (just kiding) Congratulations!
I making Big Sky's words as my words too. I've started doing hubs recently, and by reading your hubs I can see an amazing example of how to do amazing hubs ! I'm humbled too! (just kiding) Congratulations!
Hello
Thank you for awakening my fascination for Italy. I know I had decided to go on my last trip to Europe but that was over 20 years ago. Things like career, family, and other obigations have been an excuse for not following my dream. Keep up your good work, my new goal is to get there before 2010.
Thanks
Michael
A good read and a nicely put together hub. So this is how a good is presented. I am with Big Sky.
You have to ask yourself what risks the people living around Mt Vesuvius are exposed to. Pompeii was destroyed over 1900 years ago. So does that mean it wont happen agin or its due?.
HELLO IM WONDERING IF YOU DISCOVERD POMPII YOU SEEM NICE DID YOU THINK IT WAS SAD I DID WRITE BACK LOVE YA GIRL IM ONLEY 12 WERE TALKING ABOUT POMPII IN SIENCE CLASS IM A GIRL IMWHITE AND SHORT AND SHORT BROWN HAIR IM IN 6TH GRADE
Hey this is a fantastic page you've got, so much helpful information, although i am confused about the origins of the rediscovery, who actually rediscovered the remains of pompeii? there's so much information thrown at me and i'm not sure what to believe! :S was it the french or spanish or someone else?
That is very sad. I feel so lucky that I was not around when that happend
thanks for the info doing areport really helped
i feel so bad for these people and what they want though!
Hey
This is alot of great information
I'm doing an assignment on Pompeii and this really helps i will tell you what grade i get
thank you i need this for a homework assighment...thanks
I went to Italy in 1972 and saw Pompei. I had forgotten the name and I found it in this site. Thanks!
sad true story
Pompeii was a huge tragedy with so many losing their lives. But for science we have been able to learn so much from the well preserved city.
I am very sorry for those people who died in pompeii. And I am very sorry for the city pompeii too.
Great Hub! Brought back wonderful memories of my trip to Pompeii two years ago. I was totally fascinated by the place.
Thats crazy how the pyroclastic flow, like froze the people in place.
Great information about the city and its history.
i cried after watching those videos aren't they sad?!i feel sorry for the Romans.its easy to know their feelings!im speechless!
It is sad ....
but great hub ......
Great Hub, great place. I visited Pompeii about 10 years ago, it is such an amazing place. It ultimately led to me actually emigrating to Italy as I loved it so much.
hi i am project well what i was going to say is this site is very helpful to the project i am doing at school and i am very intrested in all of this stuff and i am 9 years old someday i would love to come to pompii and in joy as much as my grandfather did i wish to go there and my hope are upso very high please tell me more about it people tell me that pompii is so cool and i am amazed to hear and see this site love from project nine years old godbye
It's really fascinating how populated cities can just disappear! This is the type of history lesson that really captures the imagination and is exciting to learn about.
SO THE MOVIE OF POMPEII DESTROYED BY VALCONO
i like this site...im doing a school project and this helped alot...thnx
Hello.I am a historn from a nice bussniess and I have to commlment this hub!It was very nice and accurite.(Sorry for the spelling.I have a headache and can't think striaght.)
Anyway, I just want to say that this is a very good essay or passage!How old are you and how did you come up with this information?
great hub, really enjoyed reading this :-)
just to let you all know, people live near volcanoes because of the good soil around it.its good for growing plants and stuff
I would love to go there and visit I will be going next year for my 19th Birthday I just wanted to know how is the weather over there over summer?
-LIZ
My younger brother told me the story of pompeii & i decided to search for it on the internet until i came across it. it was touchy and incredible experience. i feel for the people who lived then. But iam seeing it differently, i think God was angry with what was going on in the city, gladiator killing fight and people sat and watch, prostution and slavery of humans could have annoyed God that he sent the Volcanic eruption and allowed the story to be seen today by the world as a lesson. May God forgive them Amen.
there's a doctor who episode about pompeii!!!!!!!!!!!!
my fave ep!
my fave show!
GO DOCTOR WHO!
GO POMPEII!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im doing a projet and i luv it !!
Interesting Hub on Pompeii. I am lucky enough to have been there a couple of times, and it is a very fascinating site to visit. They are still excavating, so there are probably a lot more finds to be made.
Wow!!! I never learned so much about Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius. It is insane how many people that they found in all the ruble. And to have it all still intact. It took them about 1600 years to find it. That is a long time to keep bodies preserved
we learned about it in school and it was very good
Hey Im writing a paper on Pompeii for my english class, and I found your website to be very helpful! M teacher wanted us to find an expert on our topic and you seem to know a lot about Pompeii. I was wondering if you knew any other interesting facts about the city that others may not know.
Hi i have thoroughly enjoyed reading this post on pompeii. A fantastic ancient history lesson. Many thanks.
Having visited Pompeii in 1970, I wanted to read your article. It brought back many memories. Thanks
this is a very good site and it helped a lot with my home work so thank very much.:P
What is pompeii like these days?
i want the answers only for these im writing below
1. one paragrah about the lost city
2. which, where and which tribe built it
3. causes of its down fall
4. who discoverd it and when
i have a project to do about these information only
i wish any one will be kind enough to answer these questions for me...
THANKYOU!!! :);)
It's the oldest business in the world. Nice to see this to be documented by historians, now.
i love history and pompeii is my favorite event ever...
im gonna visit pompeii its hard to believe dat about 3million people live there now and there still an eruptive volcano
hey
i am just looking for that Hub. It was really very nice. This is the type of history lesson that really captures the imagination.
thank you im only in year7 but i have this prigect and the info really helped
this was a very moving read ,thank you
The historical details are covered in smart ways. the images used are also interesting.
thanks
i needed this for my gr7 project
Interesting Hub on Pompeii.Great information about the city and its history.Thanks.
there is so much history to italy, something that i cannot wait to see and discover for myself one day. this will be kept aside for future reference.
Great information on Pompeii - makes me want to take a trip and see it in person. It's always been high on my list of places to see. Thanks!
Really great Hub with so much detail. I really enjoyed the video too. I'd like to visit the ruins someday.
do you guys have any info about the three buildings of pompeii
WOW
This site is awesome! I am doing a project about pompeii and it has helped heaps!!!
Thx
WOW
This is like the best site EVER!
I am doing a project on Pompeii and it has helped heaps
Thx :)
cool website loads of honest info









Pompeii, Italy -
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Lissie Level 1 Commenter 3 years ago
Great hub - yes I would say Pompeii was the most impressive ruin I saw in Italy -because it was complete - not just an amphitheatre or a forum, but suburbs and shops as well!