History of Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii, Italy, located near modern Naples, was a hidden city for centuries. Not until the 18th century did anyone discover the remains of one of the original Roman cities.

Earthquake

Aside from the volcanoes, an earthquake in 63 A.D. destroyed the city. Homes and buildings were severely damaged. After the earthquake, artifacts show that people tried to repair broken buildings and appliances with plaster.

Volcano Eruption

The first volcano eruption of Mount Vesuvius occurred in 79 A.D. The people of Pompeii did not expect the eruption and were completely unprepared. The situation was outlined in letters written by Pliny.

Covered

The second eruption followed decades later, but was just as destructive. The eruption destroyed the entire Bronze Age settlement and buried the city with deposits known as the Avellino Pumice.

Tunnels

After the city was completely covered, Roman explorers dug tunnels around the city leading to other Roman sites. When Romans made it from site to site, they discovered they were heavily looted.

Discovery

During the 18th century, Spanish military engineer Francesco La Vega went on a mission to uncover the city. In 1748, he was successful and introduced a hidden city to the world.

References

• BBC History- Pompeii