5 Interesting & Mind Blowing Facts about Pompeii

The place that attracts over 10,000 visitors every day, Pompeii screams the deadly historical events. Lying at the base of Mount Vesuvius, the city is still under immense danger that could rattle the city anytime soon.

Pompeii is located near Italy’s Bay of Naples and is one of the most famous archaeological sites. On a day trip from Rome to Pompeii, the visitors will notice a city which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Other nearby cities such as Naples and Sorrento would likely raise your curiosity.

Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano that erupted in 79 A.D. and swept off the entire population of Pompeii, submerging it completely beneath layers of ash and pumice. Those who survived with seer fate fled to the nearby towns and cities carrying along with them. Following are the interesting facts about Pompeii,

Destruction of Pompeii & Herculaneum
Destruction of Pompeii & Herculaneum
Following are some interesting facts about Pompeii
Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius
1. Mount Vesuvius is categorised as a stratovolcano, which could erupt any time without even any warning signs. It is hard to predict when, but the Government has already prepared a stable evacuation plan. Historian also claims that before Pompeii being a Roman town it was occupied by Greek inhabitants.

The specific dates of their establishment are not known, but there are fragments of a Greek Doric Temple in Pompeii, which provides a living picture of Greek culture dated back to the 6th century B.C.

Roman Architecture Technology
Roman Architecture Technology
Rome to Gothic — Sacred Architecture
Rome to Gothic — Sacred Architecture
2. UNESCO announced Pompeii as a Heritage Site in 1997. It is a living example of Roman life, architecture, and community.

During the evacuation at Pompeii, the archaeologist noticed that the site was well preserved and was loudly narrating the history and social condition of that time. There is a lot of graffiti, which have been there even before the deadly eruption. It spreads an undeniable awareness about Roman society and its state affairs such as private messages, public announcements, and election notices.

Bodies of Pompeii
Bodies of Pompeii
3. The archaeologists discovered many bodies underneath the rubble of ash and pumice that submerged the entire city when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The plaster casts of the bodies of the people who were buried alive at Pompeii are the restored version after it was suggested by Giuseppe Fiorelli to reinstate the grandeur in 1863. These bodies might have left holes within the ash layers when it started disintegrating.

Now the restored formation serves as a resource for researchers and architects in their effort to learn more about what exactly happened when the great tragedy strike in Pompeii.

Movie — Pompeii
Still from the movie — Pompeii
4. Pompeii appeared in literature and music and has been a topic of discussion for long. Pompeii’s Roman Amphitheatre created history at the “Rock Music” genre in the year 1972, when rock band Pink Floyd conducted a live performance. The live performance was recorded without viewers and audiences, but the acoustic was undeniably wonderful. Undoubtedly Pompeii carries a history and legacy, but it does not fail to astonish you.

Pompeii appears in the pop culture in time and over again. A song titled Pompeii was constructed by a British-based band Bastille. Also, the book entitled “The Last Days of Pompeii” written in 1834 was made into many Italian movies, British and French movies. It also appeared in video games, TV shows, art exhibitions and more.

Eruption Mt Vesuvius
Eruption Mt Vesuvius
5. The wind usually blows south-west ward in Pompeii, but on the day when the deadly Vesuvius erupted the wind was said to have blown south-west ward, which buried the entire town under the debris, and it remained under the rubble for hundreds of years. Instead of ashes blowing away from the town it covered the town, causing much death and destruction, leaving behind a well-preserved Roman city.

Deadly as it was, but we may step out and take some time to admire the art, culture, and sociological evidence of the city through it archaeological ruin and remaining.