Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii Marissa Trevisan and Becky Malik

Formation of Mt. Vesuvius RDue to the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. There has been significant activity in the region for 400,000 years but the edifice began to grow only 39,000 years ago. RThe Gran Cono caldera (4,202 ft) started forming during an eruption around 18,300 years ago when the original summit collapsed. RMt. Somma (3,770 ft) is separated from the main cone by the valley of Atrio di Cavallo, which is some 3 miles long. RThe slopes of the mountain are scarred by lava flows but are heavily vegetated, with shrubs at higher altitudes and vineyards lower down. RIts lava is composed of viscous andesite. Layers of lava, scoriae, ashes, and pumice make up the mountain. RDue to the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. There has been significant activity in the region for 400,000 years but the edifice began to grow only 39,000 years ago. RThe Gran Cono caldera (4,202 ft) started forming during an eruption around 18,300 years ago when the original summit collapsed. RMt. Somma (3,770 ft) is separated from the main cone by the valley of Atrio di Cavallo, which is some 3 miles long. RThe slopes of the mountain are scarred by lava flows but are heavily vegetated, with shrubs at higher altitudes and vineyards lower down. RIts lava is composed of viscous andesite. Layers of lava, scoriae, ashes, and pumice make up the mountain.

Location of Mt.Vesuvius Southwestern Italy off the Bay of Naples Southwestern Italy off the Bay of Naples

Eruptions of Mt. Vesuvius RMost notable in prehistory: 18,300 years ago, 16,000 years ago, 8,000 years ago RBefore 79 AD, the closest preceding eruption was around 1200 BCE. R472, 512, 1631 RThree times in the 20th century, ending in RThe eruptions vary greatly in severity but are characterized by explosive outbursts. ROn occasion, the eruptions have been so large that the whole of southern Europe has been blanketed by ashes; in 472 and 1631, Vesuvian ashes fell on Istanbul, over 1,200 km away. RA few times since 1944, landslides in the crater raised clouds of ash dust, which caused false alarms of an eruption. RMost notable in prehistory: 18,300 years ago, 16,000 years ago, 8,000 years ago RBefore 79 AD, the closest preceding eruption was around 1200 BCE. R472, 512, 1631 RThree times in the 20th century, ending in RThe eruptions vary greatly in severity but are characterized by explosive outbursts. ROn occasion, the eruptions have been so large that the whole of southern Europe has been blanketed by ashes; in 472 and 1631, Vesuvian ashes fell on Istanbul, over 1,200 km away. RA few times since 1944, landslides in the crater raised clouds of ash dust, which caused false alarms of an eruption.

Eruption of 79 AD RThe Romans knew that Vesuvius was a volcano, but they thought it extinct because they had no record of any previous eruption. RFebruary 5, 62 AD: a violent earthquake reduced much of Pompeii to rubble; damage was such that reconstruction work was still unfinished 17 years later. R79 AD: August 20th- major seismic activity resumed with a series of quakes, increasing in frequency over the succeeding four days, as magma forced its way upwards into the feeder pipe of the volcano. Springs dried up around the mountain. August 24th- Vesuvius exploded around 1:00 pm. RThe Romans knew that Vesuvius was a volcano, but they thought it extinct because they had no record of any previous eruption. RFebruary 5, 62 AD: a violent earthquake reduced much of Pompeii to rubble; damage was such that reconstruction work was still unfinished 17 years later. R79 AD: August 20th- major seismic activity resumed with a series of quakes, increasing in frequency over the succeeding four days, as magma forced its way upwards into the feeder pipe of the volcano. Springs dried up around the mountain. August 24th- Vesuvius exploded around 1:00 pm.

Contemporary Accounts RPliny the Younger, the Roman naturalist wrote letters to Tacitus, the historian R“Its general appearance can best be expressed as being like an umbrella pine, for it rose to a great height on a sort of trunk and then split off into branches.” R“In places it looked white, elsewhere blotched and dirty, according to the amount of soil and ashes it carried with it.” R“I looked around: a dense black cloud was coming up behind us, spreading over the earth like a flood.” R“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.” R“The buildings were now shaking with violent shocks, and seemed to be swaying to and fro as if they were torn from their foundations. Outside, on the other hand, there was the danger of falling pumice stones, even though these were light and porous.” RPliny the Younger, the Roman naturalist wrote letters to Tacitus, the historian R“Its general appearance can best be expressed as being like an umbrella pine, for it rose to a great height on a sort of trunk and then split off into branches.” R“In places it looked white, elsewhere blotched and dirty, according to the amount of soil and ashes it carried with it.” R“I looked around: a dense black cloud was coming up behind us, spreading over the earth like a flood.” R“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.” R“The buildings were now shaking with violent shocks, and seemed to be swaying to and fro as if they were torn from their foundations. Outside, on the other hand, there was the danger of falling pumice stones, even though these were light and porous.”

The Aftermath of Pompeii RTotal population at time of eruption: 10,000 to 20,000 RTotal number of casualties: unknown RHuman remains found: 1,150 R38% in the ash fall deposits crushed by buildings and falling debris R62% in the pyroclastic surge deposits inhalation, suffocation RTotal population at time of eruption: 10,000 to 20,000 RTotal number of casualties: unknown RHuman remains found: 1,150 R38% in the ash fall deposits crushed by buildings and falling debris R62% in the pyroclastic surge deposits inhalation, suffocation

End of a civilization Roman City 80 BCE-79 AD Roman City 80 BCE-79 AD Originally founded in the 6th century BCE by the Oscans Later inhabited by the Greeks, Phoenicians, and Etruscans

Archaeological Evidence RRediscovery in 1599 by the architect Fontana RExcavation begins in 1748 RGuiseppe Fiorelli begins in 1860 RPlaster body casts RImpeccable condition RRediscovery in 1599 by the architect Fontana RExcavation begins in 1748 RGuiseppe Fiorelli begins in 1860 RPlaster body casts RImpeccable condition

Conclusion Pompeii was a Roman city that fell victim to the wrath of Mt. Vesuvius. Today, Pompeii is an historical landmark. Because of the volcano, a typical day in the city’s history was preserved for almost two millenia. Pompeii was a Roman city that fell victim to the wrath of Mt. Vesuvius. Today, Pompeii is an historical landmark. Because of the volcano, a typical day in the city’s history was preserved for almost two millenia.

Bibliography Vesuvius Observatory Translation of Pliny's Letters Pompeii Official Site Jashemski, Wilhelmina and Meyer, Frederick, The Natural History of Pompeii; Cambridge University Press, pg Vesuvius Observatory Translation of Pliny's Letters Pompeii Official Site Jashemski, Wilhelmina and Meyer, Frederick, The Natural History of Pompeii; Cambridge University Press, pg