On October 24, 79 AD. Pompeii was invaded by a terrible eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which destroyed the Vesuvian city in a matter of days, burying it for centuries under a blanket of ash and lapilli.
The eruption that day was catastrophic, violent, and gave no escape to the Pompeiians, who were unable to escape Pompeii and died overwhelmed by the volcanic stones and the powerful pyroclastic flow.
It was around 1 p.m. when the plug obstructing Vesuvius’ crater leaked out; within hours a cloud filled with ash and gas over 20 meters high rose to the sky.
Lapilli began to invade the streets and houses of Pompeii. Roofs began to collapse under the weight of the lapilli, overwhelming many Pompeians who had taken refuge in their homes in the hope that it would all end soon, but they died crushed.
Others, however, died of suffocation and asphyxiation overwhelmed by the powerful pyroclastic flow.
Pompeii remained submerged for centuries by more than 3 meters of volcanic material and was not found until several years later.
The eruption recounted in a letter by Pliny the Younger, accurately describes the moments of the explosion. But the question many are asking is why didn’t Pompeiians flee before Vesuvius erupted?
There are several reasons for this behavior, including lack of awareness of the danger, reliance on the protection of the gods, and lack of means to escape.
Casts of Pompeii
Temple of JupiterPompeians did not understand what was happening
First, it must be said that the Pompeians were probably unaware of the danger they were facing. For them, Vesuvius was not a volcano, but a friendly mountain, rich in vegetation that gave them food and the necessities of life.
Although Vesuvius had had a few minor eruptions in previous years, an eruption of such magnitude had not occurred for centuries. So the Pompeians were not prepared for what was happening.
Even the earthquakes that had occurred in previous years had not been interpreted by them as signs of an impending eruption, and this led people not to flee initially.
They believed in the power of the gods
Second, Pompeians had a strong belief in their gods and their protective power. The city was famous for its worship of Jupiter, who was said to protect Pompeii from natural disasters.
In addition, there was a strong belief that their deceased ancestors would protect the city from the realm of the dead. This belief was so deeply rooted that many Pompeians probably believed that it was impossible for the gods to allow the city to be destroyed.
They did not have the means to escape
Finally, many Pompeians did not even have the means to escape. Most people lived in small, modest houses, and did not have access to means of transportation such as horses or chariots.
In addition, Pompeii’s roads most likely became impassable after the ash and lapilli fell, which slowed the escape of its inhabitants. Who did not have a chance to escape the moment the eruption began.
Unfortunately, their poor knowledge of the real nature of Vesuvius and their beliefs did not lead Pompeians to flee, at the first signs of the impending eruption. And many died without even having a chance to escape.
