On August 24, AD 79, the people of Pompeii began their day just like any other day. They went to the public baths, visited a local amphitheater, or just worked with one another. Towering above the city there was the volcano, Mount Vesuvius. During the day the volcano started streaming smoke. None of the people noticed until the ground started shaking, but still some of the people didn’t pay attention because they were used to small earth tremors. They might have escaped if they paid attention to the signs but many didn’t. The sky got dark from all the ash, and day transformed into night. First, large rocks called pumice stones rained down. Then poisonous gases engulfed the city. Over the next day or so the town of Pompeii was buried under tons of ash and pumice. Nobody knows how many people died in Pompeii and Herculaneum, a nearby town.
In 1719 a farmer was digging a well and discovered some marble. Later scientists dug and found jewelry, food, and dead people and animals. They made plaster casts of the people and animals which can be found today in museums.
During our vacation in Italy we will be visiting Pompeii. I’m kind of scared, because Vesuvius is still an active volcano. But I think Pompeii will be fascinating anyway.
These are a couple of the books I read about Pompeii.
This was my favorite book on Pompeii. I also read her Magic Tree House book, Vacation Under the Volcano, when I was younger and liked it too.
This book was creepy but cool.
