ACHIEVEMENT STANDARD CLASSICAL STUDIES
91202 V.1 - Demonstrate understanding of a significant event in the classical world
Background Information
Pompeii was a Roman town in the South of Italy. It was not an important town of Rome as it was one of the many medium sized towns in Italy but it is significant in providing insight into the life of ancient Romans. Pompeii was located 10km south of Mt. Vesuvius, overlooking the Bay of Naples. At the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius the population of Pompeii was approximately 20 000. On August 24, 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius erupted. The eruption lasted more than 24 hours, spewing tonnes of molten ash, pumice and sulphuric gas into the atmosphere. Herculaneum was a wealthy town located west of Mt. Vesuvius. It was a popular trading and holiday spot for wealthy Romans as it was in close proximity to the Gulf of Naples. Herculaneum was eventually covered in 22 meters of ash while Pompeii was covered in 2.7. Herculaneum and Pompeii became forgotten towns of Rome until Pompeii was rediscovered in the 18th century and excavations began. Due to the burial of these towns by volcanic ash, their remains had been preserved for hundreds of years including the bodies of those who died in the eruption.
Pompeii was a Roman town in the South of Italy. It was not an important town of Rome as it was one of the many medium sized towns in Italy but it is significant in providing insight into the life of ancient Romans. Pompeii was located 10km south of Mt. Vesuvius, overlooking the Bay of Naples. At the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius the population of Pompeii was approximately 20 000. On August 24, 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius erupted. The eruption lasted more than 24 hours, spewing tonnes of molten ash, pumice and sulphuric gas into the atmosphere. Herculaneum was a wealthy town located west of Mt. Vesuvius. It was a popular trading and holiday spot for wealthy Romans as it was in close proximity to the Gulf of Naples. Herculaneum was eventually covered in 22 meters of ash while Pompeii was covered in 2.7. Herculaneum and Pompeii became forgotten towns of Rome until Pompeii was rediscovered in the 18th century and excavations began. Due to the burial of these towns by volcanic ash, their remains had been preserved for hundreds of years including the bodies of those who died in the eruption.