The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD is known as one of the most catastrophic and violent events in history, which changed the face of Roman Campania forever. The cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Oplontis were buried under a blanket of ash, lapilli, and pyroclastic flows, suddenly losing their economic, social, and cultural vitality.
One of the most famous volcanic eruptions, it was perfectly described by Pliny the Younger, who witnessed the terrible event with his own eyes.
An eruption that, as he himself reported, lasted about three days. First, the volcano emitted ash and lapilli, which, due to the direction of the winds blowing southward, struck Pompeii, covering it with about three meters of material. Then, when it seemed to have stopped, it suddenly resumed with unprecedented force. “A gigantic pine tree more than 20 km high rose into the sky and collapsed along the walls of the volcano, overwhelming all the cities on its slopes.” It was the pyroclastic flow, a mixture of ash, water vapor at very high temperatures (about 400°C) and gas that devastated everything.
Most of the population of Pompeii was unable to escape: thousands of people died trapped in their homes, temples, and streets. However, some sources and archaeological finds indicate that there were also numerous survivors who fled to the coastal areas or the surrounding hills. To date, it is estimated that about 10% of the population died. This figure is still uncertain and cannot be quantified with certainty, considering that the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum have not yet been fully excavated. New remains and sensational discoveries could still come to light.
But what happened after the eruption of 79 AD?
In the aftermath of the terrible eruption of 79 AD, the area at the foot of Vesuvius appeared deserted and barren, with vegetation and life wiped out forever.
However, just a few days after the terrible tragedy, Emperor Titus attempted to reorganize the area in an effort to revive the economy of what had been one of the most important regions of the empire. In fact, large and small towns and the entire road network had been completely wiped out in this area.
As the seasons passed, life slowly resumed in this area, starting with the areas furthest from the volcano, with the reconstruction of the main roads and some towns.
But Herculaneum and Pompeii suffered a different, harsher fate: they were never rebuilt. Emperor Titus was unable to bring these most important cities in history back to life with the means and resources available 2,000 years ago.
Pompeii after the eruption of Vesuvius
Nevertheless, it has recently been discovered that Pompeii was repopulated for a brief period after the eruption of 79 AD. According to archaeological findings, this brief interlude brought new life to the city destroyed by the volcano until the 5th century AD.
In fact, during explorations, traces of ‘re-entries’ were found in houses and public buildings. Probably the upper floors of some large buildings or private domus emerged from the blanket of ash and lapilli, making it possible for those who had lived in those places until recently to find their bearings in the gray shroud that had covered the city.
Homeless people, with nowhere else to settle, returned to Pompeii, trying to reclaim what the volcano had taken from them.
But the endeavor apparently failed. Those places became only basements and caves, where they set up hearths, ovens, and mills. But the attempt to bring back to life the old Pompeii, now buried by hard materials after the eruption of 79 AD, failed.
Herculaneum after the eruption
For the area around Herculaneum, however, the eruption had far more devastating effects. The burning clouds that quickly arrived from Vesuvius first burned all life in the city area. Everything was then buried by several waves of volcanic mud that accumulated to a depth of over 20 meters. The mud then quickly hardened, sealing these remains forever.
It was impossible for any form of life to return to Herculaneum, as the hard, thick materials made any attempt impossible. Even subsequent archaeological excavations, despite the tools available, were very complicated. It is no coincidence that only a quarter of the city of Herculaneum has been unearthed, with the rest still lying under the thick layer of mud that covered the city 2000 years ago.
