the eruption

Question 1

what source do we have for the eruption?

Answer 1

PLiny’s letter to Tacitus provided only first hand account, which has since been proven with analysis by Sigurosson of the volcanic deposit at P.

Question 2

why were ppl of Vesuvian unprepared for the eruption?

Answer 2

although new Vesuvius was volcano, didn’t know it was active as no record of precious eruption c.1200BC and no awareness of association between seismic activity and eruptions

Question 3

what happened on Feb AD62?

Answer 3

massive earthquake

destruction to P, H, Nuceria

Question 4

what did Seneca and Tacitus say about earthquake?

Answer 4

“i have just heard that P… has just been laid low by an earthquake which also disturbed all adjacent districts” -Seneca

earthquake “ largely demolished the populous Campanian town of P” - Tacitus

Question 5

what was Nero doing at time of AD62 earthquake?

Answer 5

Nero performing at Odeon

Question 6

what are the 2 phases of the eruption?

Answer 6

‘plinian’ phase - lasted bout 18 hours and produced rain of pumice
‘Pelean’ phase or nuee ardente devastating pyroclastic surges and flow

Question 7

what happened in the plinian phase?

Answer 7

cloud column of toxic gas, ash and debris from volcano, basalt and lapilli (pumice stone) rose 20-30km. as Pliny the younger stated, resembled an ‘umbrella pine’

Question 8

what explosion was heard on the morning 24 August AD79?

Answer 8

phreatomagmatic explosion showered fine ash over sides of mountain

Question 9

when was the eruption?

Answer 9

24 august, AD79

Question 10

how much of P was covered in layer of pumice by first phase?

Answer 10

2.8m think layer

Question 11

what was the reaction of people of H in first phase?

Answer 11

estimated 5000 inhabitants escaped by early sign by boat (lack of it), others gathered on beach and vaulted boat houses (100 bodies found) on harbour front waiting for rescue

Question 12

reaction of first phase in P?

Answer 12

10 000 inhabitants fled during 1st phrase - absence of horses and other animals for transport
at house of Meanders, cart packed with wine jars left behind
but family pets left behind e.g. dog with chain still attached to neck .

Question 13

what may have impeded the people’s escape from first phase?

Answer 13

although create distance between volcano, increasing fallout, darkness and constant earth tremors at night may have impeded their escape with 48 bodies found outside town wall in direction of Harbour.

Question 14

What happened to those waiting inside?

Answer 14

rising layer of ash and pumice trapped them inside.

394 victims found in layers of pumice at P, most inside home

Question 15

to those venturing outside?

Answer 15

died from falling masonry e.e. temple of isis priests as crossing triangular forum, columns toppled over them.

Question 16

what hit the towns on 25 August AD79?

Answer 16

hit by 6 surges (volcanic ash and superheated gases) and flows (larger fragments of volcanic material following topography of town made fluid like by high temp.)

Question 17

what happened in second stage at H?

Answer 17

first surge blasted through town with force of hurricane.

e.g. women body crushed skull and pelvis found.

Question 18

how did most victims die in second stage?

Answer 18

die of asphyxiation or thermal shock (bodies baked by intense heat) within two mins of surge.
struck down by projectiles and entombed by flow

Question 19

what bodies was found in 1980-82?

Answer 19

discovered bodies in vaulted chambers of sea wall at H. Found body in natural position indicating death was instantaneous, incinerated by temp around 500 degrees.

Question 20

what was the second surge at H like?

Answer 20

hotter and more powerful, responsible for widespread destruction of buildings

Question 21

What did these two surges do?

Answer 21

both surges completely destroyed and covered H, failed to reach P stopping at Opolontis and Boscoreale

Question 22

What happened with surge 3-6 at H?

Answer 22

grey pumice fell again and eruptive columns rose, collapse turning into surges and flows. these added volcanic debris to H, hidden under 20m of hardened volcanic material

Question 23

WHat was different at H than P?

Answer 23

less pumice/ash fell and slow moving lava gave time for most ppl to escape

Question 24

What happened by pyroclastic phase at P?

Answer 24

not hit by surge 1 or2 but hit by S3-6, ppl killed by asphyxiation or thermal shock

Question 25

What happened with Surge 3 at P?

Answer 25

swept against city north wall demolishing parts of it, more grey pumice fell before more surges.
buildings interrupted various flows, hence layers of debris dense in countryside than inhabited areas.

Question 26

S6 at P?

Answer 26

most severe, covering P with 90-110cm of material and knocking down all walls above layers of pumice from 1 phase that hit P.

Question 27

Where were most bodies in layers of ash from surges and where? in P.

Answer 27

650 bodies found in open areas and streets or near city gate.

Question 28

What did the fine ash left by surge allow for in P?

Answer 28

casts of body that reveal fine details

Question 29

PLiny the younger description of S6:

Answer 29

“everything appeared change, covered by thick later of ashes like an abundant snowfall”

Question 30

conclusion, what happened to P and H?

Answer 30

both devastated by pyroclastic surge/flow, not just pumice and ash in P and mudslides in H
TOtal number of fatalities unknown

Question 31

The eruption P: when?

Answer 31

24 August AD79

Question 32

The eruption P: according to pliny, what did it look like?

Answer 32

a pine tree shaped coloumns of super heated gases, ash and lapilli/pumice

Question 33

The eruption P: what happened?

Answer 33

violent tremors - many ppl fled. Some remained in city

Question 34

The eruption P: rate of air fall deposits fell

Answer 34

at approx 12-15cm per hour

Question 35

The eruption P: wht phase was fatal?

Answer 35

hot gas avalanches mixed with other debris (second stage)

Question 36

The eruption P: what probs accounted for most of death?

Answer 36

gaseous surges

Question 37

The eruption P: how much ash covered?

Answer 37

4m thick mantle of ash

things grow on it and disappear

Question 38

The eruption at H: why would the experience be diff from P?

Answer 38

due to wind direction (town was upwind of Mt Vesuvius) and topographical location.

Question 39

The eruption H: what was it spared?

Answer 39

the fall of ash and lapilli, but surge of gas and ash rolled down upon city.

Question 40

The eruption H: what did the super hot volcanic debris and mud do?

Answer 40

carbonised many wooden and organic materials, hardened into rock like consistency. it then flowed into sea.

Question 41

within how many hours did both cities decimate/disappear?

Answer 41

18 hours

Question 42

what could the Roman residents see and smell?

Answer 42

according to dio cassius, could see and smell the clouds of ash

Question 43

what made recovery/excavation ineffective?

Answer 43

winter rain hardned ash and pumice

Question 44

what did the cities disappear under?

Answer 44

soil and grass and cities on top

Question 45

how much ash was covered in H?

Answer 45

13m covered in more debris than P

Question 46

after eruption, what happened to the 2 cities

Answer 46

eruption spanning 2 days, bureied under 4-6m of ash and pumice for 1500 years.
only rediscoered in 1599 by accident

Question 47

value of P?

Answer 47

today, is a world heritage site (most popular arch. site due to preservation) and very popular tourist desitination