Hidden and soon forgotten, the city was rediscovered in the 18th century much to the surprise of budding archaeologists. Today Pompeii remains one of the most popular archaeological sites of an ancient area in the modern world. The 79 A. Before the eruption even started, there were numerous tremors in the days prior, warning the area of the destruction to come.
But due to the city already enduring numerous earthquakes throughout its time, most of the citizens merely brushed it off. Mount Vesuvius then blasted a large cloud of smoke which rained down ash that covered the city in a thick layer as deep as 25km. This smoke and ash created a suffocating and muggy atmosphere, with the Pompeii people wrapping tunics around their mouths as make-shift masks.
The world was shaking, with numerous buildings crumbling down and hitting escaping townsfolk. But the main cause of death in the city was due to the pyroclastic gas, a hurtling hot wave of ash, toxic gas, and debris that sped down and burnt the people alive on impact, burying the city and its citizens.
Archaeologists have determined from past documents and artefacts that there were around 20, people living within the city at the time of the eruption. From studying the skeleton remains, they estimated that around 2, people died in the eruption. With those who survived either not in the city at the time of the eruption or carried to safety in Misenum by the Roman navy. The process involves pouring liquid chalk into cavities left by decomposing bodies; this plaster fills gaps in preserved bones and teeth, creating a cast of the bodies as they looked at the moment of death.
This is not art, it is not imitation; these are their bones, the remains of their flesh and their clothes mixed with plaster, it is the pain of death that takes on body and form. Pompeii now contains the bodies of more than people preserved as plaster casts. The villa is on private property, and government-commissioned excavations only began there in , when archaeologists stepped in to help prevent looters from tunneling into the site and stealing artifacts. Research teams also found a whole street of large houses lined with balconies.
You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! Archive All posts by date. Advertise With Us. Great Recordings T. All rights reserved.
Open Culture was founded by Dan Colman. Open Culture openculture. Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.
We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent.
You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies.
0コメント