The Lost City of Pompeii

It came with little warning. The ground shook violently. Then a thunderous explosion of molten rock and ash shot into the sky—unleashing a cloud of destruction so enormous that it blotted out the sun.

It was August 24, 79 A.D., and Mount Vesuvius, on Italy’s western coast, was erupting. For the people who had long lived in its shadow, the eruption was unlike anything they had ever seen. In fact, they didn’t even have a word for volcano in Latin, their language.

Within hours, one of the most popular vacation spots in the ancient world would be lost—and 2,000 people would be dead.

It came with little warning. The ground shook violently. There was a thunderous explosion. Molten rock and ash shot into the sky. It created a cloud of destruction so huge that it blocked out the sun.

It was August 24, 79 A.D. Mount Vesuvius was erupting. That mountain is on Italy’s western coast. People had long lived in its shadow. But the eruption was unlike anything they had ever seen. They did not even have a word for volcano in Latin, their language.

Within hours, one of the most popular vacation spots in the ancient world would be lost. And 2,000 people would be dead.

At about noon on August 24, the people of Pompeii were going about their day as usual. Pompeii was a bustling port city and seaside resort with a population of about 12,000. On the stone streets, vendors sold melon and roasted mice stuffed with nuts and chopped pork. Marble workers chiseled stone statues of famous emperors and warriors. People painted announcements in bright-red letters for upcoming elections and theater performances. Factories churned out fabrics for clothes and leather goods.

At about noon on August 24, the people of Pompeii were going about their day as usual. Pompeii was a busy port city and seaside resort. It had a population of about 12,000. On the stone streets, vendors sold melon and roasted mice stuffed with nuts and chopped pork. Marble workers created stone statues of famous emperors and warriors. People painted announcements in bright-red letters for upcoming elections and theater performances. Factories made fabrics for clothes and leather goods.

Pompeii was a jewel in the heart of the Roman Empire, a civilization that at the time stretched across most of Europe, North Africa, and part of western Asia. Traders from across the empire came to Pompeii to buy and sell their goods. 

And like most Roman cities, Pompeii boasted advanced infrastructure—such as its water supply system. Aqueducts carried fresh water through underground tunnels to stone fountains, bathhouses, and homes.

Pompeii was a jewel in the heart of the Roman Empire. At the time, that civilization stretched across most of Europe, North Africa, and part of western Asia. Traders from across the empire came to Pompeii to buy and sell their goods.

Pompeii had advanced infrastructure, such as its water supply system. Most Roman cities did. Aqueducts carried fresh water through underground tunnels to stone fountains, bathhouses, and homes.

About 5 miles from Pompeii rose the majestic Mount Vesuvius, towering over this lively metropolis. But no one knew what Vesuvius truly was—that beneath its gentle green slopes was a lake of magma, or molten rock. After all, it hadn’t erupted in more than 1,500 years. 

Now, however, the magma was rising up inside Vesuvius. Intense pressure was building. And then—BOOM! As the volcano erupted, thousands in Pompeii fled in panic. Others took shelter within the city. But falling pumice—volcanic rock—was raining down with such deadly force, roofs collapsed over their heads. 

The nightmare went on for hours. Shortly before midnight, Vesuvius exploded again, triggering a surge of ash and hot gas that moved at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. No one could escape it. 

The surge swallowed Pompeii. By the next night, the ash had cooled and hardened like concrete, sealing the city like a tomb.

Pompeii had vanished. 

The majestic Mount Vesuvius was about 5 miles from Pompeii. It towered over this lively city. But no one knew what Vesuvius truly was. No one knew that beneath its gentle green slopes was a lake of molten rock, called magma. After all, the volcano had not erupted in more than 1,500 years.

But now the magma was rising up inside Vesuvius. Intense pressure was building. And then—BOOM! The volcano erupted. In Pompeii, thousands of people fled in panic. Others took shelter within the city. But falling pumice—volcanic rock—was raining down. It came down with such deadly force that roofs collapsed over people’s heads.

The nightmare went on for hours. Shortly before midnight, Vesuvius exploded again. That caused a surge of ash and hot gas. It moved at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. No one could escape it.

The surge swallowed Pompeii. By the next night, the ash had cooled and hardened like concrete. It sealed the city like a tomb.

Pompeii had vanished.

The once-thriving city was lost to history for more than 1,500 years. So how do we know so much about Pompeii today? 

In 1748, the ruins of Pompeii were unearthed, sparking excavation projects that have continued there ever since. It turns out the very ash and pumice that destroyed Pompeii also preserved it nearly perfectly. Vesuvius froze the city in time.

For more than 250 years, archaeologists have been slowly digging out the ancient city from as much as 20 feet of volcanic ash and rock. And with each discovery, they learn more about what life was like in the Roman Empire. Indeed, the ruins of Pompeii have provided the most detailed picture of an ancient Roman city ever found.

Houses, shops, and temples have emerged from the layers, revealing thousands of frescoes, or paintings, on their plaster walls. Surprisingly, archaeologists found intact loaves of bread and eggs still in their shells. They also uncovered an amphitheater—a stadium that could seat 20,000 spectators.

Then there are Pompeii’s dead. After the eruption, ash hardened around their bodies. As they decayed, hollow shells of their figures were left behind. Scientists filled the shells with plaster, creating casts that bear haunting witness to the final moments of so many of the city’s inhabitants.

The once-thriving city was lost to history for more than 1,500 years. So how do we know so much about Pompeii today?

In 1748, the ruins of Pompeii were unearthed. That led to excavation projects that have gone on there ever since. The same ash and pumice that destroyed Pompeii also preserved it nearly perfectly. Vesuvius froze the city in time.

For more than 250 years, archaeologists have been slowly digging out the ancient city. It lay under as much as 20 feet of volcanic ash and rock. With each discovery, experts learn more about what life was like in the Roman Empire. The ruins of Pompeii have provided the most detailed picture of an ancient Roman city ever found.

Houses, shops, and temples have emerged from the layers. Thousands of frescoes, or paintings, were found on their plaster walls. Surprisingly, archaeologists found intact loaves of bread and eggs still in their shells. They also uncovered an amphitheater, a stadium that could seat 20,000 spectators.

Then there are Pompeii’s dead. After the eruption, ash hardened around their bodies. The bodies decayed. But hollow shells of their figures were left behind. Scientists filled the shells with plaster to create casts. These haunting casts show the final moments of so many of the city’s inhabitants.

Today the ruins of Pompeii are extremely fragile. Over the years, this site has been hit by multiple earthquakes, bombs during World War II (1939-1945), and countless floods. In recent years, heavy rainfall has put Pompeii’s delicate buildings at risk of crumbling. 

The good news is that an ambitious $145 million project is underway to preserve the ruins and continue excavations. (At least one-third of Pompeii is still buried.) It’s called the Great Pompeii Project, and since it began in 2012, much progress has been made. 

Archaeologists recently shared their discoveries of a fresco featuring what looks to be a pizza. They also uncovered a bakery-prison where donkeys and enslaved men were made to live and work milling flour for bread.

“In the past, people were mostly fascinated by the rich,” says Steven Ellis, one of the archaeologists at Pompeii. But he says these days researchers are focusing on the lives of Pompeii’s ordinary residents—and they have many questions. 

How diverse was Pompeii? What was life like for the city’s enslaved people? For children? For persons with disabilities?

“You walk over it, and you know that underneath your feet, there’s still so much that future generations will be able to discover,” says Ellis.

What secrets has Pompeii yet to reveal? 

Today the ruins of Pompeii are very fragile. Over the years, this site has been hit by multiple earthquakes. It was struck by bombs during World War II (1939-1945). It also has been affected by countless floods. In recent years, heavy rainfall has put Pompeii’s delicate buildings at risk of crumbling.

The good news is that a project is underway to preserve the ruins and continue excavations. (At least one-third of Pompeii is still buried.) The Great Pompeii Project is an ambitious $145 million effort. Since it began in 2012, it has made a lot of progress.

Archaeologists recently shared their discoveries of a fresco featuring what looks to be a pizza. They also uncovered a bakery-prison. There, donkeys and enslaved men had been made to live and work milling flour for bread.

“In the past, people were mostly fascinated by the rich,” says Steven Ellis. He is one of the archaeologists at Pompeii. But, Ellis says, these days researchers are focusing on the lives of Pompeii’s ordinary residents. And they have many questions.

How diverse was Pompeii? What was life like for the city’s enslaved people? For children? For persons with disabilities?

“You walk over it, and you know that underneath your feet, there’s still so much that future generations will be able to discover,” says Ellis.

What secrets has Pompeii yet to reveal?