Pompeii Destruction and Discovery

On August 24, 79 A.D. A Volcano Erupted.. On May 18, 1980 A.D.

Let us begin our journey to Pompeii using pictures of a similar tragedy that occurred in our own home.

Mount Saint Helen showed her fury just as Vesuvius showed his

An eyewitness describes his experiences during the eruption of Vesuvius

The cloud was like “an umbrella pine, because it rose to a great height on a sort of trunk and then split off into branches..”

“Ashes were already falling, hotter and thicker as the ships drew near, followed by bits of pumice and blackened stones, charred and cracked by the flames”

“By this time [his doorway] was full of ashes mixed with pumice-stones, so that its level had risen, and if he had stayed in the room any longer he would never had got out”

“then [he] suddenly collapsed, I imagine because the dense fumes choked his breathing by blocking his windpipe”

“You could hear the shrieks of women, the wailing of infants, and the shouting of men; some were calling their parents, others their children or their wives, trying to recognize them by their voices.”

Mount St. Helen took 57 lives Vesuvius claimed at least 500 Think of a similar loss that has occurred recently, explain how it is similar, and how it affected your life. Consider then how Pompeii must have affected the Romans.

Bibliography Number of Pompeiian dead. archives/html4/ /16785.htmlhttp:// archives/html4/ /16785.html “Mount Vesuvius.” Exploring the Environment: Volcanoes. The Many Faces of Mount St. Helens. Mount St. Helens. Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.