1. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano in the south of Italy.
Can you see Vesuvius on the map?
Can you see Naples?
Click to check

2. Volcanic eruptions
The last time Vesuvius erupted was in 1944 and Naples escaped destruction.
However, in 79AD, in Roman times, one city near Vesuvius was not so lucky.
That city was Pompeii.
Pompeii

3. What happened to Pompeii?
Photo © Luftphilia.
What happened to Pompeii?
This video will show you what happened on that fateful day when Pompeii disappeared.

4. The buried city
Buried under 25m of ash, Pompeii was lost for hundreds of years.
In 1748 the King of Naples wanted a new palace, but when the builders started digging they found something strange…
Photo © Tony Richardson.

5. Rediscovering Pompeii
Excavation continued and during the last 250 years archaeologists have uncovered over half of the city.
They discovered that not everyone escaped the city.
Photo © Tony Richardson.

6. The people of Pompeii
Some of the people of Pompeii tried to shelter in their cellars but were trapped by the ash and fumes.
Archaeologists found that by putting plaster in the hollows where bodies had been, they could create rough images of the people who had died.
This is one of the plaster casts they made.
Photo © Tony Richardson.

7. Mount Vesuvius today This is Mount Vesuvius today.
The crater of the volcano seems very quiet and stable.
The only sign of activity is a few wisps of smoke and fumes.
Photo © Tony Richardson.

8. But some people believe that the volcano has been quiet too long and will erupt soon!
Photos © Tony Richardson.