Pompeii as it happened

Today, we embark on a journey through the ancient streets of Pompeii, unveiling the cataclysmic events of a fateful day in 79 AD. In this narrative, we shall encounter the lives of Pompeiians, basking in what appeared to be their idyllic existence, only to later face the unimaginable horrors of their deaths.

-10 minutes

August 24, 79 AD, just after midday. Within the splendid confines of a friend's house, young lovers Decimus and Livia frolic in the courtyard. Oblivious to the ominous puff of smoke emanating from Vesuvius, the fiery mountain revered as the domain of Jupiter, the God of the sky and thunder. In the backdrop, Cornelia, an affluent matron of mature years, tends to her garden's vibrant flora. Entering the courtyard, Cornelius, a friend of Decimus and Livia, shields his eyes from the blazing sun, suggesting he may have indulged in some wine earlier. Livia inquires if he has frequented Amarantus's tavern yet again, known for its captivating dice games and fine Pompeian wine. Cornelius, his gait somewhat unsteady, regales them with tales of his morning spent at the gladiator tavern adjacent to the gladiatorial barracks. His purpose: to monitor the progress of a promising fighter named Felix, a robust and skilled slave. Cornelius casually mentions the twenty men he left behind at the barracks, unaware that they are on the precipice of a life-or-death struggle. His affinity for combat, once demonstrated in a brawl during the Nocera incident of '59, endures. Cornelius recalls the sensation of a man's jaw shattering beneath his clenched fist, a testament to his unyielding resolve. For him, life revolves around the twin passions of women and bloodshed, a sentiment shared by many young Pompeian men. Unprovoked laughter erupts from Cornelius, prompting Livia's curiosity. He proceeds to divulge his one-hour sojourn on the second floor of the brothel nestled between the forum and the North-South business district. Brothels are ubiquitous in Pompeii. Cornelius, during a previous visit, had etched onto a wall, "Hic ego puellas multas futui," translating to "Here I enjoyed the company of many girls." Livia finds such antics somewhat juvenile, though Decimus confesses to partaking in a bit of graffiti during his visits to the brothel with female slaves. Cornelius then amuses them further by disclosing his latest addition to the brothel's wall: "Decimus enjoyed Felicia." Laughter ensues, even from Livia. At this juncture, life appears carefree. Little do they know that the elderly woman tending her garden will soon endure a harrowing demise, that Amarantus will scream in terror at a celestial spectacle even the Gods would dread, and that Felix the gladiator, along with his comrades, faces a perilous trial. Of the three friends in the courtyard, only one will survive. It is a race against destiny.

-8 minutes

Gaius Plinius Secundus, renowned as Pliny the Elder, a distinguished Roman author and natural philosopher, now commands the Roman naval fleet anchored near Misenum, situated close to the bay's end. In the distance, they observe the ominous plume of smoke ascending from Vesuvius. Misenum stands approximately 13 miles from Pompeii. Pliny's seventeen-year-old nephew, Gaius Caecilius, known as Pliny the Younger, betrays an unease as the smoke unfurls. Pliny reassures him, dismissing the phenomenon as common, a mere indication of Jupiter's presence, devoid of peril. Having just concluded his bath and luncheon, Pliny the Elder's sister, Pliny the Younger's mother, also exhibits concern about the escalating smoke. Pliny the Elder, appearing unperturbed, retrieves a book. He insists that all is well, a rare misjudgment on his part, for they are on the cusp of an impending catastrophe. However, before delving deeper into the annals of Pompeii's tragedy, a question arises: Is anything hindering your happiness or obstructing your aspirations? Whether grappling with clinical mental health issues like depression or anxiety, or simply navigating the challenges of life, therapy can furnish invaluable tools to approach existence differently. This moment, we are delighted to introduce our sponsor, BetterHelp, on a mission to render therapy more accessible and affordable. Finding a therapist can be an arduous task, especially when constrained by geographical limitations. BetterHelp offers an online platform, facilitating therapist matching through a brief questionnaire, sometimes yielding results within a few days. Sign-up is effortless, and you can access the service via the link provided. By doing so, you not only support this channel but also secure a 10% discount on your inaugural month with BetterHelp. Should you encounter a mismatch with your therapist, which is common in therapy, you can transition to a new therapist without the complexities associated with insurance or network constraints. In moments of struggle, contemplate the potential benefits of online therapy with BetterHelp. Click the link in the description or visit betterhelp.com/infographics. We extend our gratitude to BetterHelp for their support. Now, let us return to the chronicles of Pompeii.

-4 minutes

On this fateful day in Pompeii, nearly 11,000 souls inhabit the city, enclosed by approximately 2 miles of protective walls. Seven gates punctuate the fortifications, permitting ingress and egress. An imminent stampede awaits those attempting to flee. Beneath the radiant sun, many have just savored a repast at the Thermopolium, a favored luncheon destination for Pompeii's denizens. Cafes, dotting the streets, echo with the animated conversations of men relishing wine and recounting their exploits. The local marketplace, the macellum, teems with activity as slaves trail behind their masters, laden with goods. At the palaestra, the local athletic complex, men engage in pugilism, wrestling, and various athletic pursuits such as javelin-throwing and discus. The gymnasium and swimming pool draw sizable crowds. Devotees congregate at the temple, some perturbed by recent tremors. The public baths, known as batos capiebat, primarily cater to elderly men who revel in sharing anecdotes. As the workday concludes, the populace will converge at the baths, with the affluent opting for the exclusive forum baths, while others frequent the more accessible stabiam or central baths, where separate chambers house men and women, each featuring frigidarium (cold baths), tepidarium (moderate temperature), and calidarium (hot baths). The two theaters, for the most part, remain sparsely populated today. The smaller one boasts a roof, accommodating various performances, while the larger venue, a personal favorite of Cornelius, can host up to 5,000 spectators. It has witnessed enthralling spectacles, from brutal animal hunts and executions to the beloved gladiatorial combats. Anticipation thrives among Pompeii's populace, eagerly awaiting the next such event. This optimism prevails despite recent earthquakes and plumes of smoke. Eruption Pliny the Elder momentarily forsakes his book, his concern palpable. His nephew bears a look that silently conveys an "I told you so." Ste

pping outdoors onto elevated terrain, Pliny the Elder gazes toward the expanding cloud shrouding Pompeii and neighboring Herculaneum, emanating from the menacing Vesuvius. A sense of dread envelops him; something is awry. This is Vesuvius, and the time for concern has arrived. Beside him, Pliny the Younger joins in this ominous observation. The sight in the sky eludes comprehension—a towering pine tree ascending heavenward, linked to a robust trunk, branches stretching and thickening with an almost violent force. Alternating between a fiery crimson and somber, speckled hues, the enigmatic phenomenon defies explanation. As an authority in matters of nature, Pliny the Elder discerns this as profoundly abnormal. He dispatches orders to disseminate the message throughout the encampment: prepare a vessel. An invitation extended to his nephew is met with refusal, as he remains engrossed in a writing task delegated by his uncle. He fails to grasp the impending danger. The elder Pliny is on the brink of experiencing the most harrowing day of his illustrious life.

+5 minutes

The populace emerges from their market stalls, craning their necks to behold the mysterious smoke ascending into the sky. In the brothels, men sense the earth tremble, distinct from the earthly pleasures with which they are familiar. While tremors have occurred before, this one feels more formidable. Even the typically unflappable Decimus, Livia, and Cornelius venture to the front of the house, where the shops line the streets, to scrutinize the unfolding spectacle. Their chained dog whimpers and cowers, birds take flight overhead as if fleeing an impending tempest. The sky remains clear above, yet a colossal cloud in the distance burgeons, casting an ominous shadow over their countenances. Laughter has ceased. In the barracks, gladiators lower their wooden training swords to the ground. A shield-bearing man removes his helmet, beads of sweat coursing down his cheeks into his luxuriant beard. These men fear naught; they routinely confront death in the arena. However, unease now creeps into their midst.

+30 minutes

Ash commences its descent from the heavens, settling upon the denizens of Pompeii. Initially, it drifts gently, but this does not deter some from contemplating escape. However, many remain sheltered within their homes, concealed from the ash's touch. Some are incapable of fleeing due to circumstances beyond their control.

+45 minutes

Ash and white pumice stones now rain upon Pompeii at a rate of approximately 4-6 inches per hour (10-15 cm per hour). The pumice, which registers between 250° and 280° F (120-140° C), heats the roofs of houses. Entire families huddle within their chambers, awaiting respite from this deluge. An unprecedented phenomenon unfolds before their eyes. Everything lies blanketed in ash. Yet, the populace remains largely unaware that escape is still possible, albeit time steadily dwindles.

+120 minutes

Pliny the Elder perceives the Pompeiians to be in imminent peril. Preparing several vessels, he endeavors to orchestrate a rescue mission. Anxiety courses through him. The immense cloud now looms menacingly over the land below. Decimus, Livia, and Cornelia find refuge within the shelter of their dwelling. Cornelia's frailty impedes her movement. She consoles herself, declaring that the ordeal will soon conclude, deceiving herself with false assurances. Cornelius, however, remains unconvinced; he is determined to depart the city. A profound sense of foreboding has taken hold. He addresses Decimus and Livia: "Farewell, my friends. May the Gods watch over you." With those words, he departs, racing through the gray pallor enveloping the city, passing the chained dog, now yelping and shrouded in scorching ash.

+3 hours

The open-air pools have transformed into a viscous amalgamation of water and ash. Gladiators conceal themselves within the barracks. Not a soul ventures forth into the streets, except for those whose intuition warns of impending calamity. While they remain uneducated regarding the cause of these events, they have heard tales—once dismissed as fiction—of fire consuming the Earth. Unbeknownst to them, the rich soil of Pompeii owes its fertility to past volcanic eruptions. Living near a volcano entails enduring both its blessings and curses. These Pompeians, however, remain oblivious to these facts. Escape is still plausible, but it necessitates immediate action. The ash blankets the ground, and fragile rooftops groan under the weight. Now is the time for decisive action. Escape or perish in agonizing torment.

+5 hours

Rocks, now the size of fists, plummet from the sky, relentlessly assaulting the city. Some attempt to flee toward the southern harbor, only to be struck down by falling debris. In hindsight, the northward route appears wiser. The barrage intensifies mercilessly. Heat and ash clouds envelop those seeking escape, scorching their flesh. Their anguished cries pierce the gathering darkness, as the sun is concealed by the ash. People collapse under the weight of asphyxiation. Decimus, Livia, and Cornelia, sheltered within their abode, witness their protective roof disintegrate. Cornelia's inability to move swiftly leaves her ensnared in the debris. Hot ash sears her skin. Decimus and Livia strive to find sanctuary, but each path is obstructed by cascading debris. They clutch one another in a desperate embrace as searing rocks rain down upon them.

Meanwhile, Cornelius awaits at the bay, scanning the horizon for a rescue ship. The ash settles upon him, and falling rocks obliterate the canopy of trees.

+6 hours

On his vessel, Pliny the Elder witnesses the rocks and ash concealing the once-beautiful coastline. He can discern individuals below, stranded on the shore, their hands raised in supplication, seeking refuge from the deluge. He instructs his crew to maintain their course toward the coastline, despite the escalating cinders, which grow denser and hotter as they draw nearer. He recalls the descriptor he once encountered in a text: Vesuvius "vomiting fire." Now, that vomit engulfs his vessel. The magnitude of the disaster in Pompeii remains beyond his comprehension. One of his men suggests a retreat, acknowledging that there is no hope of salvation for those on land. Pliny the Elder, however, sees the people waiting for the rescue ship. He remains steadfast in his belief that fortune favors the brave. He instructs his men to steer toward Pomponianus, a Roman Senator located approximately three miles from Pompeii in Stabiae. He believes salvation is still attainable. He remains unaware that the worst is yet to unfold.

+6 hours 30 minutes

Pliny reaches Pomponianus and greets him as a long-lost brother. Ash and stones continue to fall from the sky. Pliny is convinced that they will emerge unscathed from this calamity. He is so confident that he takes a bath to cleanse the ash from his body. Sitting down with Pomponianus to share a meal, they devise their escape plan. In the distance, Vesuvius appears to be encircled by flames, illuminating the darkening

sky. The sea roils. Pliny, though, is resolute; the villages in the vicinity have already been evacuated. There is no rush; they must await a favorable wind. Pliny dozes off, snoring before his bewildered hosts and comrades.

+8 hours

Buildings crumble in all directions. Survivors within Pompeii are compelled to flee into open fields. Some affix pillows to their heads, crying out as they are pelted by stones. Many collapse after covering only a short distance from their homes. Delay has proven costly. Some succeed in reaching the shore, but an even graver peril awaits them. Virtually all remaining residents in central Pompeii have sustained injuries. Dazed individuals roam, choking on toxic gases and ash.

+12 hours

The skyward cloud now reaches a towering 20 miles (32 km) in height. The most dire events are yet to unfold—the pyroclastic surges. These searing torrents sweep into cities and towns, claiming the lives of those fleeing to the south, burning those in Pompeii to the extent that their brains vitrify. Gases and rocks, emanating at temperatures between 360–430° F (180–220° C), advance upon the settlements, annihilating all in their path. The last vestiges of survivors, clinging to life, meet their end, either by incineration or asphyxiation.

The surges surge through Pompeii and expand their reach, perpetrating further devastation.

+14 hours

A second pyroclastic surge, this one surging between 430-500° F (220-260° C), ravages the region. In the opulent residences, silverware liquefies, for little can endure the searing heat. Those who managed to escape lie miles away, wondering about the fate of those left behind. Unbeknownst to them, everyone who remained in Pompeii has perished.

+16 hours

Gases have engulfed Pliny and the remaining individuals in Stabiae. Pliny attempts to rise but is overcome by coughing and choking. His slaves support his considerable bulk. His obesity and preexisting health conditions exacerbate his suffering. He collapses. In Misenum, Pliny the Younger and his mother, although removed from immediate danger, remain cognizant of the looming peril. The ash has reached them, prompting them to flee farther inland. Pliny looks back, observing a dense, dark mist approaching, shrouding the countryside. Together, they peer toward Pompeii, where visibility has diminished. The city has nearly disappeared.

+17 hours

Although there is no one left in Pompeii to claim, the fourth, fifth, and sixth pyroclastic surges are unleashed. The entire city is submerged beneath 2 feet (6 meters) of ash and debris. Had any living being been suddenly transported to Pompeii, they would have been enshrouded in thick, scorching smoke. Approximately 1.5 million tons of debris per second, accompanied by a thermal energy output 100,000 times that of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, render survival impossible. Even cockroaches would have found no sanctuary.

+18 hours

The cloud now ascends to a staggering height of 21 miles (33 km). Pliny the Younger later writes a letter to the historian Tacitus, recounting the terrifying sights he witnessed. During his flight, he encounters people who are convinced that a portion of Misenum has been consumed by the cloud. Fear grips them all, as though the world itself is unraveling. Pliny explains, "You might hear the shrieks of women, the screams of children, and the shouts of men; some calling for their children, others for their parents…one lamenting his own fate, another that of his family; some wishing to die…some lifting their hands to the gods; but the greater part convinced that there were now no gods at all, and that the final endless night of which we have heard had come upon the world."

Nearly two thousand years later, modern tourists equipped with smartphones wander among the remnants of Vesuvius' destruction. They are individuals Pliny the Elder could never have imagined in his wildest dreams. Molds created from the ash-covered bodies reveal the agonizingly frozen moments of people's lives, many of them ensconced within buildings, seeking refuge from the falling ash. However, countless others perished in the devastating pyroclastic surges. In a recent archaeological discovery, the skeleton of a man who attempted to flee but was struck down by a plummeting rock, decapitating him, attests to the potential for escape, albeit limited to the initial hours of the eruption. Most of those who ran sought refuge in the south, toward the sea—Naples was the path to salvation.

The lives led by these Pompeians, their indulgence in luxuries, and their penchant for decadence, which this narrative weaves, are drawn from the historical context. The depiction of Cornelius, embellished with fictional friends, is grounded in the existence of a real individual, Cornelius Fuscus. He did, indeed, escape Pompeii, leaving behind an inscription attesting to his residency in the city prior to his service in the Roman army. As for the events of that fateful day in '79, those who escaped Pompeii have remained unknown to history, their stories lost in the sands of time. Of the 15,000 to 20,000 residents of Pompeii and Herculaneum, approximately 2,000 lost their lives.