Pompeii and Herculaneum
Pompeii was an ancient Roman town in the Italian region of Campania, near modern day Naples. The city of Pompeii lay in the shadow, south of Mt. Vesuvius, and when it erupted was destroyed and buried under 4-6m of ash, pumice and other debris in 79AD.
It is thought that Pompeii was founded by the Oscans in around the sixth or seventh century BC. It was conquered and became a Roman colony in 80 BC after unsuccessfully rebelling against the Roman Republic alongside other towns in the area. Around the time of the eruption, 160 years after this, the population had grown to around 11,000 people. The city boasted complex water systems, as well as an amphitheatre.
Nowadays Pompeii is a popular tourist destination and has been for over 250 years and attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors every year. It has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Herculaneum (Ercolao in Italian) is located north-west of Pompeii and west of Mount Vesuvius. It was also greatly affected by the eruption but to a different extent than Pompeii. It was buried under approximately 20m of debris, unlike Pompeii which was about a quarter of this. The first surge to hit Herculaneum would have killed it's inhabitants immediately due to fulminant shock because of the extreme temperatures. The preservation left buildings and bodies in a good state as a result of the complete covering of Herculaneum, preventing collapse. The intense hit from the surge destroyed all organic materials and water which cause damage over time. This rock also formed an air tight, 20m thick seal around the town.
It is thought that Pompeii was founded by the Oscans in around the sixth or seventh century BC. It was conquered and became a Roman colony in 80 BC after unsuccessfully rebelling against the Roman Republic alongside other towns in the area. Around the time of the eruption, 160 years after this, the population had grown to around 11,000 people. The city boasted complex water systems, as well as an amphitheatre.
Nowadays Pompeii is a popular tourist destination and has been for over 250 years and attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors every year. It has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Herculaneum (Ercolao in Italian) is located north-west of Pompeii and west of Mount Vesuvius. It was also greatly affected by the eruption but to a different extent than Pompeii. It was buried under approximately 20m of debris, unlike Pompeii which was about a quarter of this. The first surge to hit Herculaneum would have killed it's inhabitants immediately due to fulminant shock because of the extreme temperatures. The preservation left buildings and bodies in a good state as a result of the complete covering of Herculaneum, preventing collapse. The intense hit from the surge destroyed all organic materials and water which cause damage over time. This rock also formed an air tight, 20m thick seal around the town.
Timeline
c700BC - First signs of settlement in Pompeii.
c650-474BC - The Etruscans (from what is now known as modern Tuscany) are the dominant group in the region.
420BC - Samnites (south-central Italy, spoke Oscan) invade the area.
338BC - Pompeii becomes a Roman ally.
c300BC - First signs of settlement in Herculaneum.
91-89BC - Many of Rome's Italian allies rebel, including Pompeii and Herculaneum. This is known as The Social War.
89BC - Both Pompeii and Herculaneum are besieged and captured by Roman armies. Latin becomes the official language of cities in the area replacing Oscan.
43-31BC - Following the assassination of the Caesar, civil wars break out.
31BC - Augustus defeats Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium and becomes the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
AD14 - Emperor Augustus dies.
AD62/63 - 17 years before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, an earthquake causes major damage around the Bay of Naples, including Herculaneum and causing considerable damage to Pompeii. (600 sheep near Pompeii died from 'tainted air' according to Seneca the Younger. This was compared to similar circumstances surrounding the deaths of sheep in Iceland from pools of volcanic carbon dioxide, and it is speculated that the earthquake was related to Mt. Vesuvius and the 79AD eruption.)
AD79 - On August 24th, Mt. Vesuvius erupts, burying Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as the surrounding area. (Some experts even speculate that the eruption might not have take place until October 24th.)
AD203-1944 - Mt. Vesuvius erupts sporadically and with varying degrees of severity.
AD1709-10 - While working to sink a well-shaft, the theatre in Herculaneum is discovered. Statues are removed (but not recorded) and dispersed across Europe.
AD1738 - The King of Naples orders Herculaneum to be excavated.
AD1748 - First formal excavations of Pompeii begin.
AD1750 - Excavation begins at the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum. Statues as well as a library of carbonised scrolls are discovered (giving the name Papyri.)
AD1763 - An inscription is found that formally identifies the ruins as Pompeii.
AD1780 - Excavations at Herculaneum cease as interest turns to Pompeii.
AD1816-77 - Excavation work is sporadic at boths sites during these years.
AD1860 - Italy is unified and Pompeii rises to fame.
AD1875 - Landowners oppose the excavation of Herculaneum and as a result work is abandoned.
AD1924-1961 - Excavations begins again at Pompeii and Herculaneum, overseen by Amedeo Maiuri.
AD1943 - Pompeii is bombed by Allied Forces
AD1944 - Most recent eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
AD1962 - Excavations become restricted to certain areas to prevent further ruin.
AD1980 - A major earthquake causes significant damage to Pompeii. Many areas have been closed since and have not reopened.
AD1981-98 - Excavations on the beach near Herculaneum uncover around 300 bodies and also in the Villa of the Papyri
AD1997 - Pompeii is included in a special law that grants them financial autonomy, meaning all money collected at the gates of Pompeii will go towards conservation and tourist facilities.
AD2001 - The Herculaneum Conservation Project is launched.
AD2011 - A major initiative is launched in an effort to conserve the houses and other artefacts in Pompeii.
c650-474BC - The Etruscans (from what is now known as modern Tuscany) are the dominant group in the region.
420BC - Samnites (south-central Italy, spoke Oscan) invade the area.
338BC - Pompeii becomes a Roman ally.
c300BC - First signs of settlement in Herculaneum.
91-89BC - Many of Rome's Italian allies rebel, including Pompeii and Herculaneum. This is known as The Social War.
89BC - Both Pompeii and Herculaneum are besieged and captured by Roman armies. Latin becomes the official language of cities in the area replacing Oscan.
43-31BC - Following the assassination of the Caesar, civil wars break out.
31BC - Augustus defeats Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium and becomes the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
AD14 - Emperor Augustus dies.
AD62/63 - 17 years before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, an earthquake causes major damage around the Bay of Naples, including Herculaneum and causing considerable damage to Pompeii. (600 sheep near Pompeii died from 'tainted air' according to Seneca the Younger. This was compared to similar circumstances surrounding the deaths of sheep in Iceland from pools of volcanic carbon dioxide, and it is speculated that the earthquake was related to Mt. Vesuvius and the 79AD eruption.)
AD79 - On August 24th, Mt. Vesuvius erupts, burying Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as the surrounding area. (Some experts even speculate that the eruption might not have take place until October 24th.)
AD203-1944 - Mt. Vesuvius erupts sporadically and with varying degrees of severity.
AD1709-10 - While working to sink a well-shaft, the theatre in Herculaneum is discovered. Statues are removed (but not recorded) and dispersed across Europe.
AD1738 - The King of Naples orders Herculaneum to be excavated.
AD1748 - First formal excavations of Pompeii begin.
AD1750 - Excavation begins at the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum. Statues as well as a library of carbonised scrolls are discovered (giving the name Papyri.)
AD1763 - An inscription is found that formally identifies the ruins as Pompeii.
AD1780 - Excavations at Herculaneum cease as interest turns to Pompeii.
AD1816-77 - Excavation work is sporadic at boths sites during these years.
AD1860 - Italy is unified and Pompeii rises to fame.
AD1875 - Landowners oppose the excavation of Herculaneum and as a result work is abandoned.
AD1924-1961 - Excavations begins again at Pompeii and Herculaneum, overseen by Amedeo Maiuri.
AD1943 - Pompeii is bombed by Allied Forces
AD1944 - Most recent eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
AD1962 - Excavations become restricted to certain areas to prevent further ruin.
AD1980 - A major earthquake causes significant damage to Pompeii. Many areas have been closed since and have not reopened.
AD1981-98 - Excavations on the beach near Herculaneum uncover around 300 bodies and also in the Villa of the Papyri
AD1997 - Pompeii is included in a special law that grants them financial autonomy, meaning all money collected at the gates of Pompeii will go towards conservation and tourist facilities.
AD2001 - The Herculaneum Conservation Project is launched.
AD2011 - A major initiative is launched in an effort to conserve the houses and other artefacts in Pompeii.