This is the History of the World Podcast with me Chris Hasler

And you're listening to volume three the classical world

episode 44

the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Oh, It was on the 16th of August, 1763 that a large rock of marble was excavated in the kingdom of Naples. On that piece of marble was the following inscription.

By virtue of authority conferred upon him by the Emperor Vespasian Caesar Augustus, Tetus Sudius Clemens, Tribune, having instigated the

facts and taken measurements, restored to the citizens of Pompeii public places illegally appropriated by private persons.

Emperor Vespasian was clearly on a program of writing wrongs to the citizens of Pompeii

as he was likely to be doing for many Roman citizens in many Roman cities in the aftermath of the irresponsible

reign of Nero. However, there were two other factors about this marble stone that have superseded the contents of the

inscription. Firstly it was among the first major archaeological breakthroughs as archaeology was quite a new science during the 18th century. Secondly, what we were to discover about this mysterious city called Pompeii has become an icon of a real life

apocalypse which has stirred the imagination and the horror of many who have

become privy to its detail.

Over the last 250 years, much excavation and preservation work

has been performed at this site. The site of a buried

and forgotten Roman city complete with theatres, baths, temples and other public

and private buildings.

As the excavation revealed more and more of the ancient city,

strange human body-shaped cases were discovered,

and the casing was hardened volcanic ash and

pumice making it obvious that this city was likely overcome by an eruption of the

nearby volcano known as Vesuvius.

Vesuvius would have been a familiar friend to the residents of this city

...