Essay on Vesuvius Eruption In The City Of Pompei

On 24th August, 79 CE, after centuries of being dormant, Mount Vesuvius erupted in the Roman city of Pompeii. In the early afternoon, we witnessed an ominous black cloud coming up behind the city, spreading over the sky like a flood. For the next twelve hours, volcanic ash, rocks, and other debris began to shower from the sky as if God was displaying his wrath. Some were trembling in fear while others prayed to the almighty. Most of the residents had managed to leave the city before witnessing the mass destruction that followed. Some two thousand (2,000) people chose to stay, believing that the eruption would end. 

In the city, houses seemed to be swaying to and fro in a loop. Carriages were flipping over due to the forceful rumbling of the ground. The newly released debris from the eruption quickly covered the city up to a depth of more than 9 feet, crashing into houses, destroying them and the people in the streets. Sheets of fire and leaping flames flared into the black sky from the volcano. There were piercing shrieks of women, the loud wailing of infants, and the shouts of men everywhere in Pompeii. Some were calling their parents, others their children or wives, who went missing in the havoc. ”There was so much love during the havoc, all the mothers that tried to protect their children and all the lovers who held each other close as the lava came.” Rosa Marisol, a mother grieving after losing her child said before letting out a mournful cry,” There was so much love during the havoc, all the mothers that tried to protect their children and all the lovers who held each other close as the lava came.” Jose Carlos, a baker in the local bakery said,” I’ve lost all that I’ve got, my cows, my chickens. I don’t know how to survive in the new place.” The lethal cloud released by the volcanic mountain had surrounded the city and had engulfed Pompeii. The force of the eruption pushed the water away from the seashore, which resulted in sea creatures stranded on the dry sand.

Earthquakes 4 days before the eruption were felt but the people didn’t think of it much and stayed laid back. Life in Pompeii before the eruption was peaceful. It was inhabited by wealthy Romans and many holiday homes were located there. It was home to 15,000 people. It had fertile land to grow many crops. The ports were very lively with many merchants coming overseas to trade goods. The people of Pompeii were very unlucky. Had the eruption taken place on any other day they would have had a better chance of escaping because, in Pompeii, the wind usually would blow to the south which would have blown the ash away in the city but on that dreadful day the wind was blowing to the north causing the ash to be blown directly to Pompeii, blocking the people’s vision. 

Survivors who escaped by boat were sent to Italy to fend for themselves, poor and ill. For now, there are no plans of going back to Pompeii. A ceremony was held to mourn for the poor souls who lost their lives, candles were lit, all flickering in the wind.