History of the Ancient City of Pompeii

Pompeii is an ancient city in Italy. The city is located in the southern state, in the Gulf of Naples. The city of Pompeii is famous for disaster - for the fact that it was one of three ancient Roman city in the region destroyed by the explosion of the volcano Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79.AD.

The city of Pompeii was founded around the 6th century BC by people Osci or Oscan, a community group in central Italy. At that time, the city is already used as a safe port by Greek and Phoenician sailors. When the Etruscan people threatening to attack the city of Pompeii allied with the Greeks who then controlled the Gulf of Naples. In the 5th century BC people Samnium occupied it (along with all the towns in Campania). The new rulers imposed their architecture and expand the area of ​​the city. It is believed also that during the occupation of the people Samnium, Rome could retake Pompeii for a while, but this theory has not been proven.

Pompeii took part in wars started by the cities of Campania against Rome, but in the year 89 BC the city was besieged by Sulla. Although the Social League army led by Lucius Cluentius help in the fight against Rome in 80 BC Pompeii was forced surrender after Nola conquered. Pompeii and then became a Roman colony with the name: Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum. The city became an important route for goods coming by sea and should be sent to Rome or Southern Italy which lies along the Via Appia is not far from there.

In the year 62 AD, a great earthquake destroyed Pompeii along with many other towns in Campania. In the period between the year 62 AD until the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, the city was rebuilt, perhaps more grandiose in the field of buildings and works of art than ever.

Explosion of Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius devastating eruption occurred on August 24, 79.Konon year was the first eruption after the volcano was asleep for centuries and according to legend abad.Gunung Vesuvius which means "Son Ves / Zeus" aka Hercules, located in the area near the Bay of Naples Campagnia , not far from the industrial and trading city of Pompeii when it has a population of more than 20 thousand inhabitants. Nearby there is also a summer resort town of Herculaneum, which filled villas, Roman baths, and do not forget the gambling. All around you can find extensive wineries, as well as some smaller cities like Stabiae.

The eruption in the year 79 was preceded by a major earthquake in the year 62. But the Romans at that time did notconnect the earthquakes with volcanic activity . Maybe it's because of them, especially in Campagnia, already familiar with many of vibration and shock-earth, small and Pliny the Younger described besar.Seperti, the philosopher who was in the Bay of Naples during the eruption occurred, in his letter to Tacitus, ash thrown high up into the above such as the stem, then widened and eventually trickle down to earth. High bursts are believed to reach 30 kilometers, and for nearly 12 hours later, Pompeii like coated volcanic ash and gravel a few inches thick.

Pompeii residents panicked and began to flee out of town, leaving 2,000 people who still survive in hiding holes waiting for the eruption ended. But at the latest the next day, they died because of poisoning after inhaling gas and volcanic ash.

The eruption lasted for nearly 24 hours, at which Vesuvius releasing four cubic miles of it implies, mainly ash and rocks. The region that suffered the worst damage was in southern and southeastern regions of the mountain. The total number of victims who died reached 10 thousand people.