It was the most developed city in the Roman Empire. These discoveries surprised archaeologists. What lies beneath the ruins of Pompeii, which were covered by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius?

When the city was at its most prosperous, a disaster turned it into a ruin that lasted for hundreds of years.

Pompeii is a clear proof that nature is the most powerful force in the universe. The wrath of nature can destroy and put an end to a country, no matter how powerful, developed or prosperous it is. Here are some curiosities about Pompeii.

About Pompeii

Pompeii is located in the Bay of Naples on the west coast of the Italian peninsula. It was originally a Dorian colony in the 6th century BC. According to Wikipedia, it became a Roman colony in 80 BC under the name Cornelia Venera Pompeii.

The city’s history ended on August 24, 79 AD, when the nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted and the entire city was covered in lava. The same source writes that the testimony of the time is a letter from Plinius the Younger, grandson of Plinius the Elder, who was one of the thousands of victims of this disaster.

Centuries after the catastrophe, archaeologists discovered streets and houses with all the communal facilities that a city would have enjoyed at the time, which would have been a prosperous facility for its inhabitants at the time.

The numerous villas are exposed to the sun and all open onto the main room called the atrium. They are equipped with a basin in the floor to collect rainwater.

Other Curiosities About Pompeii

Pompeii is located at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, a volcano that erupted and destroyed the city, freezing it in time beneath a layer of ash and pumice.

The volcano erupted in 79 AD and killed most of the population. Those who escaped fled to nearby towns, taking everything they could carry.

The volcano is classified as a stratovolcano and could erupt at any time. No one knows exactly when, but evacuation plans are permanently in place in case of any warning signs. This is Italy.com

Hypothesized eruption date

Roman writer Pliny the Younger noted that Vesuvius would erupt on August 24. However, after discovering seasonal food and clothing preserved under layers of hardened ash and pumice, researchers believe this date may not be accurate.

Pompeii is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1997, Pompeii received World Heritage status. It is a place of extreme importance and a clear evidence that provides accurate information about social life, architecture and community customs during the Roman period. The excavations of Pompeii embody historical, scientific and sociological perspectives.

Bodies of citizens covered in lava

Many bodies were found beneath the ash and pumice left behind by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Many bodies left holes in the ash layer after they disintegrated. Basically, all that was left was the shape of the body immersed in the solidified lava layer. Italian architect Giuseppe Fiorelli came up with the idea of ​​injecting plaster into these voids in 1863, thus making plaster casts of the bodies of the people buried in Pompeii.

Found graffiti all over the walls

This has nothing to do with modern graffiti. The graffiti on the walls of Pompeii predates the eruption. It provides visitors and historians with incredible insight into Roman society. Examples include private messages, public announcements, and election notices.

The city was once occupied by the Greeks

Researchers believe that before Pompeii became a Roman city, it belonged to, was ruled by, and was inhabited by the ancient Greeks.

They do not know the exact date when the Greeks first lived in the area, but there are fragments of a Greek Doric temple in Pompeii that dates back to the sixth century BC.

Read more Online Yearbook