When Was Pompeii Destroyed? Mount Vesuvius Eruption in 79 AD

When Was Pompeii Destroyed? The Story of a Roman City Buried in Time

The City of Pompeii, also called ancient city, is with little chance of dispute, the most well known and visited historical site. One question many will ask is, "When was Pompeii destroyed?" This is a clear and simple question to answer: The Mount Vesuvius. A Stratovolcano in present day Campania erupted and caused one of the deadliest eruptions in history.

The ancient Roman city of Pompeii was lost in 79AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted. Within one day this thriving city was buried under ash and hot gas. Thousands died, houses collapsed, and the city disappeared for centuries. Yet in a strange twist that is the nature of this disaster, Vesuvius preserved Pompeii so well that we can still walk the streets today and see how Romans lived 2000 years ago.

But this story is not merely a date to discuss. In order to understand Pompeii, we need to asks some other questions: How was Pompeii destroyed? How many people died in Pompeii? How was Pompeii preserved? This article will summarize the history of Pompeii, daily life before the eruption, the day of the eruption and what we can learn today.

Before we discuss the catastrophe, let's first learn about the history of Pompeii. Pompeii was a thriving Roman city along the Bay of Naples in Italy. It was established around the 7th or 6th century BC by the Oscans and was eventually absorbed into the Roman Empire.

Pompeii was not a small town. It was a prosperous city with approximately 11,000 - 15,000 inhabitants. It consisted of theaters, markets, temples, and even an amphitheater for entertainment purposes. Traders, farmers, and craftsmen comprised many of the inhabitants of Pompeii. The city was renowned for its vineyards, olive oil, and fishing trade.

Life in Pompeii appeared highly modern for its day. The city boasted aqueducts that supplied it with fresh water, public baths, paved roads, and lovely houses adorned with mosaics and wall paintings.

Life every day in Pompeii was colourful and active. Let's see the way people used to live before the tragedy.

Food and Drink The inhabitants of Pompeii consumed bread, cheese, olives, fruit, and seafood. There were stone ovens for bakers, and a lot of loaves of bread were preserved in the ash.

Clothing  The men had tunics and togas, and the women had stolas (long clothes). Wealthy citizens enjoyed jewellery and luxurious fabric.

Entertainment Gladiator games were staged in the amphitheater, and plays were performed in theaters. Street festivals were also conducted.

Homes The wealthy resided in big houses with gardens, but poor families resided in small apartments.

Religion Roman gods such as Jupiter, Venus, and Apollo were worshipped by people. They also prayed for protection to household gods. 

You can also explore more about ancient deities in this article on Greek Gods and Goddesses: Fascinating Myths of Ancient Greece.

This provides us with an idea of what was lost when Pompeii was destroyed.

Therefore, when did Mount Vesuvius erupt? It erupted on 24 August, 79 AD (there are some historians that believe it might have erupted in October). It lasted for roughly 24 hours.

First, individuals observed a big dark cloud ascending into the air. Ash and pumice rocks started to descend upon the city. Buildings began to topple from the weight of falling material. Then, hot gases and rapid-moving currents of ash, known as pyroclastic surges, flowed into the city.

This tells us how Pompeii became dead. It wasn't merely lava. Rather, it was the product of the lethal combination of ash, pumice, fire, and poisonous gases that engulfed the town.

Interestingly, another ancient city faced a mysterious end as well  How Was Mohenjo-Daro Destroyed? Ancient City Mystery.

Historians are still investigating how many people died during the event in Pompeii. Archaeologists think that reflected in the finds are around 1,500 preserved bodies, but they believe from 10,000 to 15,000 persons lived there. While some fled to safety, thousands who for whatever reason couldn't made their way to death.

Ash preserved these bodies and gave haunting images of some of the last moments of individuals-fleeing, some were hiding, and others were cradling their loved ones.

The answer is simple: Pompeii was destroyed in 79 AD, a date that stood out ever since as one of the most tragic periods in Roman history. The eruption also obliterated nearby towns like Herculaneum, Oplontis, and Stabiae.

If someone inquires, “What year was Pompeii destroyed?” In that year, a powerful volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted with a great deal of force near the city. In this eruption, Pompeii was covered in ash, stones, and hot gases. The eruption buried everything, the city itself and its inhabitants. Although the damage occurred suddenly, it preserved the ruins of Pompeii, which we can still see with our own eyes today, as a glimpse into life in ancient Rome.

Here are some fast facts regarding the eruption of Pompeii:

1. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD lasted for about 24 hours stream.
2. The volcanic cloud stabilized at more than 30 kilometers.
3. Ash from Vesuvius buried Pompeii in approximately 13 – 20 feet.
4. About two-thirds of the population may have perished.
5. The city and its remains were lost to history until the rediscovery of Pompeii in the1700s.

You might be thinking to yourself, how did Pompeii get preserved? The answer is ash. When Pompeii was buried, oxygen and air could not get to a lot of objects and this helped preserve buildings, furniture, food, art, and even people.

Archeologists often make plaster casts of the ash filled with body. The casts provide us with viable representations of the individual in time of death. This adds a real dynamic connection to the past.

In 1748, the rediscovery of Pompeii marked a greatly significant moment in history Since then, archaeologists have uncovered many artifacts

1. The Forum  or the main square of the city, featuring temples and public buildings.
2. The House of the Faun  a grand villa with a famous mosaic of Alexander the Great.
3. The Villa of the Mysteries  decorated with lovely wall paintings, Bakeries providing several ovens as well as carbonized bread inside.
4. Graffiti or writings on the walls, with jokes, love notes, and political slogans. All of these artifacts can give us a glimpse into Roman life.

Many people ask, “Who destroyed Pompeii?" Well, there was no person involved; it was nature itself. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD buried the city in ash and lava, destroying it in a matter of hours. This event serves as an example to remind us how powerful nature really can be, that no person can fight against it, and that an instant in time can change history forever.

As of today, Pompeii is one of the world’s most well-known archaeological sites. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is visited by millions of people every year. The buildings exist today in a state of preservation, allowing us an opportunity to see something of the everyday life of a Roman, showing us the decisions and actions of people in the past, and teaching us the capriciousness of nature.

Q1. When was Pompeii destroyed?
Pompeii was destroyed in 79 AD during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Q2. How did Pompeii get destroyed?
It was buried under ash, pumice, and toxic gases from the volcanic eruption.

Q3. When did Mount Vesuvius erupt?
Mount Vesuvius erupted on 24 August, 79 AD (or possibly October 79 AD).

Q4. How many people died in Pompeii?
Thousands died, but the exact number is unknown. About 1,500 bodies have been found.

Q5. What year was Pompeii destroyed?
The year was 79 AD.

Q6. Who destroyed Pompeii?
Not humans, but nature. Mount Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii.

Q7. How was Pompeii preserved?
It was preserved by layers of volcanic ash that protected buildings and objects.

Q8. What are some facts about Pompeii eruption?
The eruption lasted 24 hours, buried the city under 13–20 feet of ash, and killed thousands.

When, exactly, when was Pompeii destroyed?? Pompeii, of course, met its destruction in 79 AD, during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. But the story of Pompeii is not just about a destruction, but also a story of preservation, of discovery, and of learning.

Today, Pompeii speaks to us through time. It speaks of Roman beauty, the power of nature, and the importance of remembering history.