Unearth the secrets behind the buried ancient civilization of Pompeii 

Over the course of several centuries, numerous civilizations developed and then disappeared as well. Archaeological studies acquaint us with the fascinating diversity of human culture, traditions, beliefs and history that they held. From the Indus Valley to the Ancient Egyptian civilizations, each of them offers unique knowledge which is applicable even in today’s modern times. One such civilization with a despairing yet intriguing story is that of Pompeii. Read on to learn more about it, its history and the harrowing tale of how it was destroyed. 

What is Pompeii? 
Pompeii, a bustling city located in Southern Italy was completely lost and forgotten in the pages of history until the year 1748, when it was rediscovered through archaeological excavations. Existing nearly 2000 years ago, it was a thriving and sophisticated part of the Roman empire. In close proximity to it stood Mount Vesuvius, a volcanic mountain, which would go on to become the cause of its catastrophic destruction.  

What exactly happened in Pompeii? 
In A.D. 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted and spewed smoke and toxic gas as far as 20 miles into the air. It did not take long for this gas to spread across Pompeii. The devastation this event caused was unprecedented, and is still considered to be one of the world’s most destructive natural disasters of all time. The entire city was covered in approximately 19 feet (6 meters) of ash and volcanic debris. Within a single night, the entire city and as many as 10,000 of its residents were buried under a blanket of this ash.  

The first volcano eruption occurred in the early afternoon, with the ash clouding up the entire city so much so that the people could not even see the sun. Some tried escaping the city, while others hid and stayed put in their homes, but the ash kept falling. At midnight, the situation worsened as burning hot clouds of ash and other debris rushed out of the volcano and scorched everything they encountered. By the following morning, the city of Pompeii lay in its horrific destruction.  

What have archaeologists found? 
Today, Pompeii has become a popular site for tourism. People from all over the world visit the historical ruins to explore remains such as buildings and artwork which were actually preserved due to the excessive ash. Based on these ruins, archaeologists have discovered that the city was prosperous prior to its destruction, and was immaculately planned. It had wide pavements, public baths, amphitheaters, etc. for its residents.