Pompeii, Italy
After we said our goodbyes to our good friends in Sorrento, we decided to stay for a few days to do some laundry, research South Africa, and catch up on homeschool. During this time, we decided to take a field trip to Pompeii which was a short train ride away.
Zach has read I Survived: The Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 and Magic Tree House: Vacation Under the Volcano and was always interested and had lots of questions. We thought this was a great opportunity to let him see it for himself.
In 79AD Mount Vesuvius erupted on the citizens of the Roman city of Pompeii. Unfortunately, the people did not realize it was a volcano. The eruption lasted for over 24 hours and killed approximately 16,000 or more people in Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum. The city was never rebuilt because it was under 14 feet of ash and debris.
Over 1,600 years passed before it was rediscovered in 1748 while building a palace for King Charles III. Because of the ash, much of the city remains and it gives us a look into the daily lives of of a first-century Roman city.
A Day in Pompeii: Interview with Zach Brown
Mom: Why have you been interested in Pompeii?
Zach: First, I love learning about the Roman Emprie, and the disaster that happened to Pompeii in 79 A.D. almost 2,000 years ago. I’ve read books about it, and I really like to learn how natural disasters happen and what they are capable of of doing in their path.
Mom: When were you first aware of the disaster in Pompeii?
Zach: I read the I Survived: The Eruption of Pompeii.
Mom: Are you interested in natural disasters and if so, why?
Zach: I’m interested in how it happens. Hurricanes, for example, the middle is called the red eye. I read that everyone was probably surprised that sulfur is underground, and it came above ground. Cattle, fish, and birds were dying from the sulfur and nobody believed that Mount Vesuvius would erupt even though there were tiny quakes.
Mom: Were the inahabitants of Pompeii aware of the volcano?
Zach: Not really, only a a small amount of people fled. Some people found out about if a few hours before.
Mom: At what time of day did the Mount Vesuvius explode?
Zach: It started around 10:00 in the morning and lasted for 3 days with ash falling when the volcano lost it’s energy.
Mom: What kind of town was Pompeii?
Zach: It was a vacation city for rich people and was ruled by the Roman Empire.
Mom: What did the people do there for entertainment?
Zach: They had an arena where gladiators fought.
Mom: Did anyone tried to save the people of Pompeii?
Zach: Some people went back and tried to dig it up and stole valuable things like marble, precious jewels, shoes, etc.
Mom: When did archeologist uncover Pompeii?
Zach: They dug up and found small artifacts in 1599 then stopped, but about 150 years later they started digging again.
Mom: What was your first impression when you entered the ruins?
Zach: That somehow people’s foot prints and cart prints were still there in the stones. The sidewalks were big stones that were 2 to 3 feet above the real road so they could cross. The wagons had to get through the cracks.
Mom: Is it possible for the volcano to erupt again?
Zach: Yes, after that it erupted 4 more times. Once in 1944 during WWII, and it could still erupt today.
Mom: Did anyone try to rebuild the city?
Zach: No, it’s like an outdoor museum.
Mom: Were there any other cities affected by the volcano eruption?
Zach: Some of Naples and Herculaneum. About 30 people died on the beach in Naples, and 10 percent of the city of Naples were killed by the big blast.
Mom: What was your favortie thing about visiing?
Zach: Seeing all the statues of Mercury, all the gods they served, and the arena where the gladiators fought.
Mom: Why should one visit Pompeii:
Zach: Because you can see how the Romans lived everyday. When we saw their daily lives, you could see the restaurants where they made bread with fire ovens. The people were sleeping, cooking, playing soccer and were just frozen in the volcanic ash. Excavators poured plaster casts in the remains of the victims to see them in their original state.
