Eruption and effects on P&H

Eruption — Plinian Phase

• As recorded by volcanologist Sigurdsson (using stratigraphic evidence)

  • Ash, gas and pumice spewed from the top of Mt Vesuvius in a "pine tree”shaped cloud

    • Blanketed Pompeii in ash and pumice (2.8m)

    • People dying from projectiles and collapsing structures

    • Fast departure due to lack of human remains found in relation to large population

    • Herculaneum spared from this phase due to NW winds blowing the debris/ash fall towards Pompeii

    • lack of boats suggest many attempted to flee during this phase

Pliny’s account

• Ash, gas and pumice spewed from the top of Mt Vesuvius in a "pine tree”shaped cloud

• Tsunami and further Earthquakes “saw the sea sucked away”

• Brief reprieve

• Heavier showers of ash

• Daylight returned, leaving a yellow haze

Eruption — Palean phase

• Pyroclastic flow and surges (fast-moving hot gases up to 400 degrees)

  • Herculaneum more affected than Pompeii (affected by 6 surges vs surges 2 —> 4&5)

  • Appears many in Pompeii tried to escape at this stage as 48 bodies were discovered just outside the city’s walls

  • Herculaneum skeletons found in boat sheds and on the beachfront indicates attempted to escape just before this phase

  • Landscape of Campania permanently altered (2km added to coastline)

Where can we read the only first-hand account of the eruption

Pliny the Younger’s 2 letters to Tacitus

Reactions of people

“Shrieks of women, the wailing of infants and the shouting of men”

“they put pillows on their heads tied down with cloths”

Some prayed for death, “many besought the aid of the gods”

Reliability

• Written around 25 years after the events

• May have been trying to impress Tacitus to promote his uncle’s bravery and thus exaggerated some elements of the eruption

• Did not mention Pompeii and Herculaneum but rather other towns such as Misenum and Stabiae

Date of the eruption

• 79 CE

• Month is contended

  • October (Dio Cassius says Autumn)

  • 24th August (as cited in Pliny’s letter)

    • Issue = heavier clothing than expected to be worn in August

    • Carbonised fruits found in shops more typical of Autumn

    • Coins found which should not have been minted until later

    • October-dated charcoal graffiti which would not have lasted under normal circumstances