One peaceful August day in A.D. 79, the people of Pompeii were going about their business—baking bread, eating lunch, lounging in the afternoon heat. Suddenly there was a great explosion, and tons of rock, ash, and gas were spewed into the air. Mount Vesuvius was erupting! In just 19 hours, most of the inhabitants were dead, and a layer of ash had buried the city. This is the story of what happened to the advanced city of Pompeii on that fateful day—and how we’ve learned about its people and culture thousands of years later by digging through the deadly ash.

The beast beneath the mountain is restless... No one in the bustling city of Pompeii worries when the ground trembles beneath their feet. The beast under the mountain Vesuvius, high above the city, wakes up angry sometimes -- and always goes back to sleep.But Marcus is afraid. He knows something is terribly wrong -- and his father, who trusts science more than mythical beasts, agrees. When Vesuvius explodes into a cloud of fiery ash and rocks fall from the sky like rain, will they have time to escape -- and survive the epic destruction of Pompeii?

Pompeii was one of most advanced cities of its time; it had a complex water system, gymnasium, and an amphitheater. Despite it's advancements, there was one thing it wasn't ready for: Mount Vesuvius—the volcano that led to its ultimate doom. The 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius was one of the worst disasters in all of European history. In a near instant, over 15,000 people were dead and a city was completely destroyed. This book looks at the rise, fall, and rediscovery of the great city of Pompeii.

Describes the events that occurred on the day Mt. Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the city of Pompeii in 79 A.D.

A fascinating look at Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Vesuvius eruption in comparison with other historically significant volcanic eruptions, including the World Trade Center disaster. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, which obliterated the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, was a disaster that resounds to this day. Now palaeontologist Charles Pellegrino presents a wealth of new knowledge about the doomed towns – and brings to vivid life the people, their last moments, and the aftermath. The lessons learned from modern scrutiny of that ancient eruption produce disturbing echoes in the present. Dr Pellegrino, who worked at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack, shares his unique knowledge of the strange physics of volcanic 'downblast' and 'collapse column', drawing a direct link from past to present, and providing readers with a poignant glimpse into the last moments of the 'American Vesuvius'.

The eruption - Lost, preserved, recovered - Businesses - The town - Medicine - Food & dining - Private residences - Luxury & beauty - Relgious beliefs - Burial practices - Body casts - Vesuvius through the ages.

When Mount Vesuvius erupts in 79 A.D., Tranio and his friend Livia flee from their homes in Pompeii, Italy, and run to the harbor.