POMPEII THE LOST CITY
INTRODUCTION Pompeii was preserved over 2000 years ago; it is still the largest preserved discovery today. The people of Pompeii lived comfortably by the Bay of Naples where they traded goods with other countries who sailed by on ships. Unfortunately they didn’t live that way for long. On August 24 79 AD, Volcano Vesuvius erupted destroying Pompeii and other cities in the surrounding area: Herculaneum, Terzigno and Oplontis were all wiped out. We hope that our presentation shows the interesting and unique history of the tragic eruption that claimed thousands of lives.
VOLCANO VESUVIUS Erupted in August 24 AD Named the “Pinion” eruption Pyroclastic surge is a mixture of roasting gas and rock remains that takes the form of a great cloud. The surge burned away the wounded skin and muscle tissue Pyroclastic flow is a rapid landslide of hot ash, rock waste and gas, which went down the surface of Vesuvius in the explosive eruption. It could reach up to 1000 Degrees Fahrenheit at a speed of 100 miles per hour
POMPEII Pompeii was a city of 20,000 residents. It had a thriving marketplace, an amphitheater for entertainment and a structured government Pompeii was a harbor city, located on the blue waters of the Bay of Naples, the people who lived there could take advantage of the many ships that made a stop in Pompeii. They brought goods from many exotic locations, to trade and sell in Pompeii and other Roman cities The homes of the wealthiest citizens reveal beautiful works of art, particularly paintings on the walls, and a respect for the local gods and goddesses. Volcano Vesuvius first destroyed Herculaneum, then the cities of Oplontis, Terzigno and Pompeii
HERCULANEUM Herculaneum was 9 miles north of Pompeii. Luxurious homes were first discovered in Herculaneum It was a seaside resort for the rich and famous Romans, and home to almost five thousand people Previous excavation shows only 32 bodies, but in 1980’s on the beach of Herculaneum they uncovered 3000 bodies including dogs and horses The city was buried under 15-20 inches of volcanic material and the beach was about 5 feet deep By the end of the eruption, the city went through four surges and more than 75 feet of volcano debris
OPLONTIS Oplontis was only 3 miles away from Pompeii It is now called Torre Annunziata Like Pompeii and Herculaneum, the people of Oplontis fled for shelter, but the thick rain and pumice caused the villages roofs to collapse Some wanted to flee by sea, but the volcano caught up to them
TERZIGNO The city of Terzigno was situated close to the volcano The residents there consisted of farmers While working, the peasants saw that Volcano Vesuvius was beginning to erupt and ran back to their farm homes or fled to Pompeii or Oplontis The rain, ash and pumice had destroyed everything that the farmers were working on, ultimately destroying the city whole An excavation in 1980’s show that there were 3 villas, villa 1,2,and 6, they were buried under more than 60 feet of volcanic matter
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Pompeii's tragedy is an ancient city fully preserved of its urban design and domestic styles speaking across the ages.
Exploring Pompeii's public buildings, its streets and gathering places, we witness the impact of religious changes, the renewal of theaters and expansion of athletic facilities.
Through these stages, the private houses of Pompeii prove equally expressive, their layout, decor, and architectural detail speaks volumes about the life, and desires of their owners.
The ruins of Pompeii were found in the 18th Century, but they were not seriously examined for what they tell us about the people until the 19th Century
The opportunity to connect this research may soon disappear The opportunity to connect this research may soon disappear. Pompeii is one of the 100 most endangered cultural sites listed by the World Monuments Fund.
Pollution is rapidly causing the city to crumble of stone structures, and the destruction of magnificent mixed floors.
Pompeii will always and forever be known as the lost city of Rome.