Pompeii

570 Words2 Pages

Simone Weil once said, "The destruction of the past is perhaps the greatest of all crimes." There have been countless prosperous civilizations, exquisite pieces of art, and fascinating artifacts that have been either lost or destroyed in history. The Mayans. The Library of Alexandria. Ancient tombs in China. What about Pompeii? In the year 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted causing the ancient Roman city of Pompeii to be blanketed in a think layer of volcanic ash. Two thousand people died, leaving the once flourishing resort to become abandoned for almost as many years. Pompeii, however, was still intact sealed in it's own time capsule of dust and debris.

The area surrounding Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples attracted wealthy vacationers, who were interested in the scenery, ever since the area was settled by the ancient Greeks in the 8th century B.C. Pompeii was a bustling town home to about 10,000-12,000 people, with as many again living in the surrounding countryside. Prominent Pompeians were devotees of Roman fashions and customs. The fertile, well-drained volcanic soil and mild climate made Pompeii an agricultural success. The city's port and location gave the citizens an easy access to markets near and far. Pompeii soon became a trading power in the Mediterranean. There were many public amenities throughout the city, such as baths, exercise grounds, swimming pools, amphitheaters, and market places.

On August 24 in the year 79 A.D., the entire city of Pompeii was wiped out within 25 hours after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The blast sent an array of ashes, pumice and other rocks, and scorching-hot volcanic gases so high into the sky that Pompeians could see it for hundreds of miles around. Pliny the Younger, a Roman h...

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...ife in Pompeii." Western Australian Museum. Government of Western Australia, 2012. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. .

"Eruption of Mount Vesuvius Begins." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. .

Owens, James. "Ancient Roman Life Preserved at Pompeii." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2014. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. .

"Pompeii." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. .

"Simone Weil." BrainyQuote. Xplore Inc, 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. .

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