The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and the subsequent burial of Pompeii is one of the greatest disasters known to man. The volcano erupted in 79 BC after a major earthquake in 62 BC woke up the mountain. The towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Boscoreale, and Oplontis were buried early morning on August 25, 79.
Oplontis and Boscoreale were the first towns to be destroyed; they were buried in the first weak lava flows and explosions. After the first and second surges of lava, Herculaneum was cleanly buried. Pompeii was last to be destroyed; it was buried by six surges of molten lava. The first and second flows didn’t reach Pompeii; they destroyed the other three towns. Surge number three, however, reached the northern end of Pompeii, demolishing building and opening the way for later flows. The fourth deluge went straight through the town, wreaking havoc. It is estimated that the flow killed 650 people, if not more. The fifth wave reached the southern end of the town, killing more people, and the layer
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Vesuvius and the subsequent destruction of the area: that of Pliny the Younger. Pliny the Younger was the nephew of Pliny the Elder, a well-known historian. Pliny the Younger wrote a letter to Tacitus, a famous historian of the time, about the eruption and the death of his uncle. He told of how his mother, uncle, and he were on the other side of the bay from Vesuvius when they saw the enormous ash cloud. Pliny the Elder then received a letter from Tacitus’ wife, Rectina, telling him she was at the foot of the mountain and was terrified. Pliny and some men prepared a ship to go save Rectina and as many people as they could. Pliny the Elder never returned, he was buried with the people in the lava flows. Pliny the Younger told of all the destruction that occurred, then he sent his letter to Tacitus and it was included in his history books. This is the only known eye-witness account of the eruption of Mt.