I remember when I was a child, when I saw K. Bryullov's painting "The Last Day of Pompeii", I was greatly shocked. The huge one died in a matter of hours. Why? How? For what?
Our family managed to visit Pompeii only in November 2016. I will share my photos and videos with you. Let's try to understand the causes of the tragic events.
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii in Italy was completely destroyed in 79. Buried under a multi-meter layer of ash and magma as a result of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The death of Pompeii - why didn't people leave the city?
It was one of the largest ancient cities, founded in the 6th century BC. Its favorable location on the trade route and fertile lands have served its economic prosperity.
Geologists claim that the volcano was silent for 15 centuries. That he was waking up, he warned people with a strong earthquake in 62, almost completely destroying buildings. But the residents did not move to new places, but began to rebuild it again. Without even knowing about the coming catastrophe.
And the cruel killer Vesuvius from a height of 1300 meters silently watched the human vanity and waited in the wings. And this hour came on August 24, 79.
Vesuvius warned in advance
A huge, rapidly growing brown cloud appeared over the volcano. At a height of many kilometers, it spread out to the sides, covering the sky. This was accompanied by a terrible roar and underground regiments. Every hour, volcanic ash covered the ground with a layer of up to 20 cm.
Human factor
Part of the population managed to leave Pompeii on the first day. Remaining stubborn, did not want to leave their homes and slaves, whom the owners left to guard their property. They tried to hide in houses, not realizing that they were dooming themselves to death.
The roofs of the houses were crumbling under the weight of the falling stones and ash.
The next day, a red-hot heavy avalanche of magma flowed from the volcano, destroying everything in its path. The air was saturated with hot, suffocating gas and dust, and getting into the lungs turned into cement, people were suffocating. A heavy downpour began.
Loose ash, mixed with water, rushed down from the slopes in a hot stream of mud. The inhabitants, distraught with fear, rushed to the sea, the fallen were trampled by those running after them. Those who remained in the streets were burned to death, and on the third day the clouds of dust scattered. The sun has sanctified a gruesome picture of the dead cities of Pompeii, Stabia and Herculaneum.
Reconstruction of the bodies of the victims
The buried city was discovered by chance in the 16th century. But excavations began only in the 18th century. The sudden and rapid destruction of Pompeii under a multi-meter layer of magma and ash has preserved many houses with interior furnishings, frescoes, mosaics and interesting architecture.
During excavations, the empty cavities left over from the bodies of the deceased were filled with plaster of paris and their dying poses were reconstructed.
So up to 2,000 remains were recovered. It is believed that about 15 thousand people died during this disaster.
Currently, 75% of the restored excavations are open. Up to 2.5 million people come to see in the open air a year.
The remains of an amphitheater for the providence of gladiatorial battles, residential buildings with untouched furnishings, frescoes and mosaics were discovered. Temples, baths, a large number of drinking establishments, brothels and images of the phallus in drawings, figurines and sculptures.
Punishment for ...
In ancient Rome, the phallus was considered a symbol of good luck and a talisman. His images were painted on the walls of various establishments and on the corner houses of the streets. During the excavations, many figurines of the God of Fertility Priapus with a huge reproductive organ were found.
In 1819, all objects and murals depicting sexual orgies, bestiality and sodomy (homosexuality) found in the ruins were collected in the Secret Cabin of the Archaeological Museum.
Until 2000, this collection was available for viewing only to a narrow circle of people belonging to the high society. Now it is open in the Museum of Naples, for everyone to get acquainted with this side of the life of the Romans of that era.
Judging by the assortment and number of exhibits, brothels and drinking establishments, the inhabitants were far from chastity and led a cheerful lifestyle. Maybe the catastrophe that happened was a punishment?
Present time
We saw this city on a gray rainy day. Our small amateur video will give you a glimpse of the ruined city.
Vesuvius, the culprit of a terrible catastrophe, now looks quite peaceful and is again waiting in the wings. The longer he sleeps, the more catastrophic his awakening will be. The past centuries have erased the memory of the past tragedy and people continue to settle in its vicinity.
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The mother hugs her son to her, the husband covers his mouth with his palm - these are just some of the victims of the eruption of Vesuvius. Now these figures, filled with plaster, are almost 2 thousand years old. years can be seen in Pompeii.
Pompeii and then Herculaneum were destroyed during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. n. NS.
The eruption killed thousands of people, but thanks to the special properties of volcanic ash and mud, even the smallest household items have survived to our times: jugs, bowls of wine, loaves of bread in the oven and sauce in the cooking process - these and other things are first covered with 2-3 meters a layer of pumice-based rocks, and then a 2.5-meter layer of ash. The city died in an instant.
Now, at an unusual exhibition, you can contemplate the frozen life of Pompeii in the form in which the catastrophe found them.
The last breath of the city
The frozen people of Pompeii are the skeletal remains (figures) of the victims of the volcano, which have survived under a thin layer of gypsum. This makes them look as if they were alive.
The process of extracting bones into the world and preserving them in plaster began in the 19th century. Then archaeologists became interested in Pompeii and decided to find life buried under the ashes.
One of the figures depicts a man embracing a stone step. The other is a man with a hand on his face who did not want to choke on the dust.
Finally, you can see the whole family with their arms outstretched, trying to protect themselves from the catastrophe consuming them. Even the animals weren't fast enough to escape. At the exhibition you can see, in particular, a dog with a dying grin.
One of the saddest characters is the little boy figure.
Delicate operation
These frozen people of Pompeii look like archaeologists found them under the layers of ash. When the remains are removed, they are filled with liquid gypsum, which hardens within 48 hours.
Plaster preparation is a very delicate job. Bones are fragile, so you need to be extremely careful when filling, because the shape can be irretrievably lost.
Archaeologists have immortalized more than 100 remains, although not all can be seen at the exhibition, since about 1,150 bodies have been discovered in Pompeii so far. A third of the ancient city still remains buried under volcanic ash.
On August 24, 79, the inhabitants of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii went about their usual business, unaware that these were their last hours of life. Earthquakes have continued here for several days in a row, but people in this part of the world have long been accustomed to such phenomena, so they did not react to the elements until noon on August 24. Vesuvius had not erupted for hundreds of years, so no one expected that the formidable volcano would wake up on that very day.
Over the next 2 days, the volcano hit the city as many as 6 times. Each eruption released deadly gas vapors, clouds of ash and a rain of debris to the surface, followed by pyroclastic flows even more dangerous than lava due to their high temperature and speed. After everything was over, Pompeii and all of its inhabitants were buried under a 6-meter layer of volcanic debris and ash.
After being imprisoned for almost 1900 years, the victims of the elements were removed from the ground by modern scientists who, using the latest technologies, were able to study a civilization that was erased from the face of the Earth in a matter of hours.
10. The inhabitants of Pompeii burned to death
Until recently, inhalation of volcanic gases and ash was considered the main cause of death for most of these unfortunate people. However, according to a new study by volcanologist Giuseppe Mastrolorenzo and his colleagues, hundreds of deaths occurred during the fourth wave of the pyroclastic flow, which was also the first such flow to reach Pompeii during the two-day eruptions.
Scientists found that there was much less ash in the fourth pyroclastic flow than previously thought - about a 3-centimeter layer. The temperature of this deadly river was at least 300 ° C, so the death of its victims came instantly. People did not have time to rush in agony and suffocate, and, perhaps, this is good news.
9. Approximately 75% of Pompeians are forever frozen in their last positions
Photo: steemit.com
The poses of people clearly demonstrate what they were doing when they were caught off guard by an angry volcano. Many of them remained inside the houses with their families. Children and adults alike were literally sealed with layers of ash and volcanic debris.
The fossilized remains of some of the victims were treated with gypsum plaster, and in one case even with resin, in order to preserve all the details of what happened almost 2,000 years ago. The soft tissues of the Pompeians decomposed long ago, but all these skeletons are still intact, and the voids between the bones were filled with the solutions mentioned. It turns out that in the photo in front of you are not replicas or sculptures, but real people, or at least what is left of them. Their skeletons are still inside these fossils.
In total, 86 of these plaster figures have survived, out of approximately 2,000 who died. Remains suitable for mummification with plaster are rare, which explains why so few bodies have been preserved in this way. Today, excavations are still underway in the vicinity of Pompeii, so there is a chance to find other victims. However, the plaster casting itself can severely damage the remains, so archaeologists no longer use this technology to preserve new finds.
In some cases, it was possible to preserve not only the postures of the dead, but also the expressions of their faces, full of death throes. One of the discovered victims clearly raised her hands to her face to protect herself from the approaching danger, which, of course, was an unsuccessful and purely reflective attempt to escape from inevitable fate. A heart-rending cry was forever frozen on the other face, and even the teeth in this man's mouth were perfectly preserved. Scientists also found a mother with a child, and a seated man, covering his face with his hands in anticipation of impending death, as well as a lot of people crawling, as if trying to escape their terrible fate with all their might. Archaeologists also came across the bodies of people curled up in the pose of a baby in the womb, as well as the dead, embracing each other in their last embrace.
None of us knows what our last minutes of life would be if something similar happened to us. However, in the case of one find, the experts had big questions. One man was found lying on his back with his legs spread apart and his hands pressed against his lower body. Most of the excavated victims vividly demonstrated the most anticipated scenes of escape and terror, but for some reason this find was clearly different from the rest.
8. Garden of the Runaways - the place where most of the dead were found
Photo: abc.net.au
Experts estimate that about 2,000 people died during the Pompeii disaster, although archaeologists have so far found only about 1,150 bodies. This means that almost 18 thousand inhabitants of the ancient Roman city were able to escape from here when the deadly eruptions of Vesuvius began.
In the so-called Garden of the Fugitives, the largest collection of bodies excavated in one place was found. As many as 13 people took refuge in this building, hoping to find refuge here. In the House of Riddles, scientists discovered the remains of 9 people, who were sealed inside this structure by a collapsed roof forever. In the thermal baths and in the fish market, 2 more victims were unearthed. Several other victims were found at the vegetable market.
7. Pets of the inhabitants of Pompeii
Photo: atlasobscura.com
Several animals were also found in Pompeii. It was once a thriving city, and many of its inhabitants had their own pets, including dogs. The richest Pompeians kept horses, and some of the inhabitants had their own livestock. In addition, common wild beasts roamed around the city. Many of them also could not escape the terrible fate.
At the food market, archaeologists have found a pig. A small dog with a collar was also found there. She was probably someone's loyal pet. The animal was lying on its back, and its legs froze in a pose, testifying to the terrible suffering in its last minutes of life. It seems that the owners left poor Fido (Fido, as the scientists called the dog) on a leash on the territory of the market, and during the first eruption he managed to survive, climbing higher on the ash and pumice that filled the covered area. As a result, the animal, never free from its chain, perished when the fourth wave of pyroclasticity surged in, now reaching Pompeii. Perhaps the owners of the dog left her chained to guard their belongings, hoping to return after the eruption when the city was safe. Instead, they effectively sentenced the poor beast to a gruesome death.
Recently, archaeologists have discovered several more horses at the stable of one of the local villas. Apparently, at least three animals had time to be taken out, and two horses were just equipped and prepared for their hasty evacuation. Alas, it was not possible to save them. The straps with valuable iron and bronze details left characteristic marks on the heads of the dead animals, which led scientists to believe that they had found very expensive pets. Perhaps it was a noble breed of racers or other ceremonial horses.
In addition, at the excavation site, archaeologists stumbled upon the remains of donkeys and mules, but they did not make plaster figures out of them, so as not to damage the fragile skeletons of these ancient Roman animals.
6. Exotic food and Pompeian ketchup
Archaeologists have discovered perfectly preserved ancient Roman bread under a layer of dust and ash. Of course, there is nothing exotic in bread, but it still deserves special attention. It was an intact round baked product cut into 8 pieces and marked with a special baker's seal because bakeries of that era were required to mark their products. The discovered bread retained its shape and texture for almost 2 thousand years. By some miracle, he survived the eruption of Vesuvius and spent centuries under a 9-meter layer of ash and soil. Finding something like this at the site of an ancient catastrophe is a real sensation.
An extensive study by the University of Cincinnati has shed light on what the people of Pompeii ate and drank. To do this, scientists analyzed the organic matter they found in the kitchens and toilets of the defeated city. Yes, experts have studied ancient and already fossilized fecal matter. As a result, they were able to identify traces of grain crops, lentils, olives, eggs, nuts, fish and meat. All of these foods were the basis of the Pompeian diet.
The richer and more noble townspeople ate imported food, including exotic spices, shellfish, sea urchins, pink flamingos, and even giraffes. Moreover, archaeologists have found the remains of a giraffe in the kitchen of a local restaurant. Study co-author Steven Ellis, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, said: “This is believed to be the only giraffe bone ever found during archaeological excavations in Roman Italy. Since a fragment of a slaughtered animal was found in the most ordinary city restaurant, we are talking not only about a fairly developed trade in exotic and wild animals from distant countries, but also about the fact that the diet of even ordinary residents was quite rich and varied. "
The researchers also learned that the people of Pompeii were very fond of garum, a fermented sauce made from the blood and entrails of fish. To prepare such a sauce, the Romans left salted fish in the sun, and within 2 months it rotted to the required state. Some experts compare this product to Thai fish sauce, but for the ancient Pompeians it was more of a kind of ketchup. By the way, the highest quality garum was considered a very expensive product.
5. The inhabitants of Pompeii had very healthy teeth
Photo: Ancient Origins
A recent scan of the recovered bodies revealed that the Pompeians had surprisingly beautiful and white teeth for those times, which at the same time indicates excellent overall health. The first century AD was never associated with a reasonably good level of oral care, but the inhabitants of Pompeii had better teeth than the average European of those years. As the researchers note, the Pompeians watched their teeth more closely than even most of us.
This phenomenon can be explained by the healthy diet of the ancient townspeople, because their diet included a lot of fruits and vegetables, and they almost did not eat sweets. In addition, fluoride was found in the local atmosphere and water, which is known to be a good assistant in the fight against tooth decay.
4. Two virgins turned out to be two men
Photo: The Telegraph
Previously, it was believed that the famous couple from Pompeii are precisely the girls who embraced in the face of impending death. The deceased were even called "Two Virgins". However, in 2017, researchers determined that the bodies found were in fact male. They may have even been homosexuals.
The results of DNA analysis and computer scans of bones and teeth confirmed that the archaeologists found exactly the men, and they absolutely were not blood relatives (not brothers, not father and son). According to DNA analysis, one man was between 18 and 20 years old and the other at least 20.
One of the young men pressed his head to the chest of the other, as if in search of consolation or salvation. Of course, scientists cannot reliably know whether these men were lovers or not. However, the results of DNA tests and the posture in which the pair was found clearly indicate a strong emotional connection between these dead Pompeians.
3. The inhabitants of Pompeii were a very depraved people
Photo: slate.com
The sexual habits of the inhabitants of Pompeii would surely make many of you blush. No wonder the ancient Romans and Pompeians were considered followers of hedonism and people without complexes.
First buried under a layer of ash and debris, Pompeii was discovered at the end of the 16th century. The city was then excavated by workers who dug a canal to change the course of the Sarno River. They invited the Italian architect Domenico Fontana to evaluate their discovery, who was extremely embarrassed by the erotic scenes on the city's frescoes and other excavated artifacts. As a result, the architect even ordered to bury all these shameful finds back, because the artifacts were considered too scandalous and offensive for sensitive contemporaries of Domenico Fontana.
The finds remained underground until the 18th century. However, even after repeated excavations, the most delicate treasures of Pompeii were treated with caution. In 1819, Francis I, King of the Two Sicilies, was so shocked by the frankness of some Pompeian artifacts that he even ordered them to be locked up in secret. Only the most mature and dissolute gentlemen had access to these finds. Until 2000, scandalous items were actually hidden from the public.
It turned out that the inhabitants of Pompeii decorated furniture, lamps and even musical pendants with phallic symbols. Erotic scenes were depicted in mosaics and frescoes right on the walls of simple houses. Sex was everywhere. One of the most revealing finds was a detailed sculpture of the god Pan (patron saint of cattle breeding and fertility), copulating with a goat. The thing supposedly belonged to Julius Caesar's father-in-law - Lucius Pontifex.
In ancient Pompeii, brothels were quite popular establishments, and at the time of the volcanic eruption, there were about 35 brothels in the city. The prices were indicated directly on the walls of these establishments. Images of brothel services themselves were also used as wall paintings, which provided historians with useful information about what exactly awaited visitors in such hot places. For example, archaeologists have found murals in which light-skinned women in various positions have sex with dark-skinned men on decorated beds.
However, the reality was much more sad. In contrast to the spectacular paintings on the walls, the workers in this industry lived in very sad conditions. Their rooms had ordinary stone beds and didn't even have windows. And no amenities.
2. Slave in chains
Photo: theexcavationsofpopeii.weebly.com
Despite the fact that many excavations have already been carried out in Pompeii to date, the dark history of slavery in this region is still not fully understood. Almost everything we know we draw from old drawings, frescoes and mosaics. Scientists believe that slavery was a widespread practice in Pompeii, whether it was ordinary servants in houses or concubines and brothel workers. For this society, forced labor of slaves was considered absolutely normal.
As in other cultures, slaves in Pompeii were the property of the townspeople, and the owners could do with them as they pleased. The slaves of those years had very different responsibilities, but the most interesting practice for archaeologists was collecting and using urine as a cleaning agent. It turns out that the Pompeian slaves collected urine and washed the things of their masters in it. Dirty linen was soaked in tanks with urine and water, and then slaves would climb there and trample these things, almost as before in the villages they pressed grapes to make wine. Here is such a big wash ...
Of course, the saddest picture appeared before archaeologists when they unearthed an ancient prison for slaves. During the eruption of Vesuvius, the chained slave was never able to leave his prison and died in chains. The man was found lying face down, and the chains remained tied around his ankles.
1. The unluckiest guy in all Pompeii
Photo: dailyherald.com
Just imagine all that chaos that was happening in the city during the eruption of Vesuvius - all the rush and horror, fires and air full of thick ash and smoke. The earth trembles and bursts at the seams, and the buildings around you are almost falling on your head. The incandescent lava rushes straight towards you, destroying everything in its path.
And now imagine that you managed to escape from all this horror, and in your head the following thoughts have already sounded: “Yes! I can break through. " And then suddenly your head is blown off by a huge stone ... Yes, it looks like it was not your day.
This is exactly what happened to one poor fellow discovered by archaeologists in the vicinity of Pompeii. We do not know what his name was. We only know that his remains were found sticking out from under a huge cobblestone, where the deceased had been lying for almost 2 thousand years.
The experts concluded that the man managed to escape from the burning city, although they found an infection in his shin, which probably made it difficult to escape. Most likely, it was because of his leg that he did not have time to dodge the deadly boulder. The head of this poor fellow was never found anywhere.
August 24, A.D. 79 E. The inhabitants of Pompeii lived their daily lives, not suspecting that this was their last hours.
The earthquakes took place for several days, but people were already used to them and went about their business as usual. When the Vesuvius volcano woke up (there were eruptions six times in two days), real hell came. Each eruption was accompanied by the release of gases, ash and red-hot lava, moving at great speed and sweeping away everything in its path.
When it was all over, about 6 meters of volcanic debris and ash buried Pompeii and its inhabitants.
The victims buried in 1900 were examined using modern technology.
The Pompeians did not die of suffocation
Until recently, it was believed that the victims died from suffocation caused by deadly volcanic gases and ash.
A recent study by volcanologist Giuseppe Mastrorenzo and his colleagues showed that people died instantly due to the very high temperature of the stream (at least 300 degrees Celsius).
The inhabitants of Pompeii were buried in ashes where instant death caught them 
The poses of the people show how they died. Children and adults were sprinkled with ash, because of the high temperature, the ash melted and turned into plaster statues. Over the years, the soft tissues disintegrated, but the skeletons remained inside.
Of the approximately 2,000 dead, only 86 of these "statues" have survived. Excavations are still going on in Pompeii today. But all the remains are so fragile that they require great care.
Not only are the victims in the position in which death overtook, the expression on their faces, preserved thanks to the ashes, are grimaces of agony.
One victim raised her arms above her head in a defensive gesture, a feeble, reflective effort to stave off impending doom. The other's face froze in an endless scream, reflecting perfectly preserved teeth.
Outstretched hands, a mother holding a child. One person sits, covering his face with his hands, as if resigned to inevitable death.
Some people hug each other, apparently their loved ones.
Most victims in the so-called Garden of the Runaways 
Of the roughly 2,000 inhabitants of Pompeii believed to have died in the disaster, archaeologists have found only about 1,150 bodies. This means that some of the city's residents fled when the volcanic activity began.
Most victims were found in the Garden of Fugitives in one place. Thirteen people died there, the remains of nine people were found in the House of Mysteries, the roof probably collapsed there and covered all these people.
Found animal remains 
Several animals have been found in Pompeii. Since it was a thriving city, many residents had pets, namely dogs. However, most of the wealthy residents also owned horses and other farm animals.
In addition, wild animals roamed the surrounding area. They did not run away and were doomed.
A pig, also a small dog, presumably someone's pet, was found in the Olitorium (in the marketplace), lying on its back as if twisted in pain.
Recently, archaeologists have discovered several horses in the stable of the villa of Pompeii. It appears that at least three horses were killed, two of which were harnessed and possibly prepared for evacuation. Unfortunately, they never did.
Various skeletons of donkeys and mules have also been found.
Food discovered in Pompeii 
In layers of dust and ash, archaeologists have found preserved bread. It was round, intact and with a seal, bakers marked their products in this way, the bread lay for centuries under a 9-meter layer of ash and earth.
Archaeologists have analyzed the fossilized remains in kitchens and garbage cans, have a rough idea of what the Pompeians ate. These are grains, lentils, olives, poultry eggs, nuts, fish and meat.
Exotic spices, shellfish, sea urchins, flamingos (yes, the pink variety) and even giraffes have also been found.
The Pompeians were addicted to garum, a fermented fish sauce made from fish intestines. The salted fish was left to ferment (or rot) for two months in the sun. Some have compared garum to Thai fish sauce. But for ancient Pompeii it was considered the ketchup of that time, although the best garum was expensive.
The inhabitants of Pompeii had good teeth 
Recent studies show that the people of Pompeii had surprisingly large pearly white teeth, which is indicative of good health. Researchers point out that the teeth of the Pompeians were in many ways better than ours. This is due to the fact that the local residents' diet was high in fruits and vegetables with a low sugar content. In addition, the city had sources of fluoride in the air and water near the volcano.
4 "Two Virgins" are actually men 
This recognizable image was previously thought to be two women who embraced in anticipation of death. Archaeologists named them "The Two Maidens". However, in early 2017, researchers found that the individuals hugging were men, chances are they were gay lovers. Scans and DNA results from bones and teeth confirmed that they were definitely men.
The researchers further confirmed that the two are definitely not related. DNA results identified one of them as a young man aged 18-20, and the other as an adult male aged 20 and older.
Erotic items from Pompeii 
Pompeian sexual habits would make even the most daring of us blush, as ancient Rome and Pompeii were famous for their debauchery.
Pompeii was first discovered at the end of the 16th century by workers. They called the Italian architect Domenico Fontana. He was so amazed at the explicit murals and other items that were discovered. The items were considered too scandalous and offensive for the sensitive public of the time. The artifacts remained buried until the 18th century. Even after the excavations of that time, the "treasures of Pompeii" were still carefully processed. In 1819, Francis I, the future king of the two Sicilies, was so shocked by the apparent erotic nature of the objects found that he ordered them to be locked in a secret office. For the most part, these artifacts were not made available to the public until 2000.
Bound Slave 
The chained slave was unable to escape the prison when the eruption began. He was found facedown, shackled around his ankles.
The guy with the worst luck in Pompeii 
Imagine the chaos of falling fire, ash, thick smoke. The man tries to run away, but a stone falls on his head and carries it off his shoulders. The skeletal remains of this man were found 2000 years later, sticking out from under a huge boulder. The skull was not found.
Residents of Pompeii went about their daily affairs and did not suspect that these were their last hours before their death. The earthquakes had been going on for several days, but for people in this region, such "shaking" was common. But this time the volcano began to erupt.
With each subsequent explosion, lethal hot gases, ash, and veritable rain of debris burst outward, followed by pyroclastic flows, more deadly than lava due to their high temperature and speed. When it was all over, Pompeii and its inhabitants were buried under 6 meters of volcanic debris and ash.
After being buried in petrified ash for over 1900 years, the victims of Pompeii have been excavated using modern technology. So scientists were finally able to see a civilization that died almost 2 millennia ago, and literally "frozen in time."
1. The death of Pompeii
Until recently, asphyxiation caused by deadly volcanic gases and ash was believed to be the leading cause of death for the inhabitants of Pompeii. But a recent study by volcanologist Giuseppe Mastrolorenzo and colleagues showed that hundreds of deaths occurred during the fourth pyroclastic explosion, which first reached Pompeii. Scientists determined that there was much less ash in the deadly stream than previously thought - about 3 centimeters. However, the temperature was at least 300 degrees Celsius, so people died instantly.
2. Frozen in time
The poses of the people show how they died: some were trapped inside buildings, while others tried to cover their family members. When these unfortunate victims were unearthed by modern scientists, they used plaster casting technology (in one case, resin casting) to preserve the petrified figures of people. The soft tissues of the victims decomposed long ago, and inside each such petrified figure is a skeleton. Therefore, these are not statues or replicas, but real corpses, which were covered with plaster to prevent their destruction.
Of the approximately 2,000 dead bodies found, only 86 of these plaster casts of human figures were made. The conditions for creating such a figure are rare, which explains why they were not made from all the remains found. Excavations are still being carried out in Pompeii today. But plaster damages the fragile remains of corpses, so archaeologists no longer produce new "sculptures with skeletons inside." Moreover, not only the postures of the victims at the time of death have been preserved, but also the expression on their faces, which shows agony.
One of the victims raised her arms above her head in a defensive gesture - a desperate reflexive attempt to prevent impending doom. The face froze in an endless scream, showing perfectly preserved teeth in the mouth. Stretching out their hands, the mother and her child meet death. One person sits, covering his face with his hands, as if resigned to what is about to happen. Others try to crawl away, in a vain attempt to escape from their inevitable fate. A number of fossilized remains were found curled up in a fetal position or hugging their loved ones.
No one knows how he will spend his last minutes faced with such a dire prospect. However, in the case of one person, a number of questions arose among archaeologists. His fossilized remains lie on his back, with his legs spread apart, and the man pressed his hands to the lower abdomen. Thus, while most of the unearthed victims clearly demonstrate horror and anticipation of the last moments of life, one victim may have chosen to do very differently.
3. Garden of the Runaways
Of the roughly 2,000 inhabitants of Pompeii believed to have died in the disaster, archaeologists have found only about 1,150 bodies. This means that most of the city's 20,000 population managed to escape when volcanic activity began. Most of the victims who died in one place were found in the "Garden of the Fugitives". There they sought refuge and thirteen people died. The remains of nine people were found in the House of Mysteries (it is believed that the roof of the building collapsed and filled up these people). Two more victims were found in the thermal baths and at the fish market, and several more were found at the Olytorium (market).
4. Pets of the Pompeians
The remains of several animals have been found in Pompeii. Since it was a thriving city, many residents had pets, mostly dogs. Most of the wealthy residents also owned horses and farm animals. In addition, wild animals roamed the vicinity of the city, which also could not escape and were doomed.
At the Olitorium market, the remains of a pig were found, as well as a small dog (presumably someone's pet), which was lying on its back, and its paws were so twisted, as if the animal was in terrible pain at the last moments. It is assumed that the owners tied the poor dog in the atrium, and she managed to survive the first phase of the eruption, climbing up the ash and pumice, while they covered the house ... but the chain did not let her go further, and the fourth eruption killed the dog.
The owners may have left the dog to guard their valuables, hoping to return when the eruption is over. But by this they doomed her to a terrible death. Recently, archaeologists have discovered several horses in the stable of one of the villas of Pompeii. It appears that at least three horses were killed, two of which were harnessed and possibly prepared for a hasty evacuation. However, they did not manage to do this.
5. Food in Pompeii
Completely preserved ancient bread was found under a thick layer of dust and ash. Although there is really nothing exotic about it, it is worth telling about it. It was a perfectly preserved round loaf, divided into eight parts and marked with a baker's stamp (bakeries in this era used to stamp their bread so that you could immediately find who made any loaf). This bread has retained its shape and texture for 2 millennia under a 9-meter layer of ash and earth.
Following this find, scientists from the University of Cincinnati conducted a study that shed light on what the inhabitants of ancient Pompeii ate and drank. Researchers analyzed the remains of organic matter from kitchens and toilets (yes, that's right, ancient fossilized feces).
They were able to determine that the Pompeian diet consisted mainly of grains, lentils, olives, eggs, nuts, fish and meat. More senior citizens also included imported foods such as exotic spices, shellfish, sea urchins, flamingos and even giraffes.
Study co-author Stephen Ellis, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, said: "This is believed to be the only giraffe bone ever found in archaeological excavations in Roman Italy." Finally, the Pompeians were addicted to garum, a fermented fish sauce made from the guts of fish (salted fish was left to ferment (or rot) for two months in the sun). Some contemporaries compare garum to Thai fish sauce. But in ancient Pompeii it was considered a kind of ketchup.
6. "Pompeian smile"
A recent scan revealed that the inhabitants of Pompeii had surprisingly healthy pearly white teeth. Although in 79 AD. NS. there was no proper dental care, the inhabitants of Pompeii had much better dental health than the average European. The researchers point out that the teeth of the Pompeians were, in many ways, even better than those of humans today. This is due to the fact that the local residents' diet was healthy, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and also low in sugars. In addition, the city's air and drinking water had a high fluoride content due to its proximity to the volcano.
7. "Two virgins"
This iconic pair of fossilized remains from Pompeii was previously thought to be two women embracing in the face of impending death. When archaeologists found them, they called them "Two Maidens". However, in early 2017, researchers found that the individuals hugging were men, and quite possibly lovers.
Computed tomography and DNA results from bones and teeth confirmed that they were definitely men and also not related. One was 18-20 years old, and the other more than 20. One put his head on the chest of the other, as if seeking comfort or refuge. Of course, it can no longer be argued that they were gay, but the DNA results and the pose in which they were found led scientists to speculate that an emotional connection could exist between them.
8. Lust and debauchery
The sexual habits of the inhabitants of Pompeii would make modern people blush, because ancient Rome and Pompeii were considered hedonistic cultures without complexes. Pompeii was first discovered at the end of the 16th century by workers who dug a canal to change the course of the Sarno River. They reported their discovery to Italian architect Domenico Fontana, who was so impressed by the explicit frescoes and other sexual objects that he ordered it to be buried again.
The items found were considered too scandalous and offensive for that era. As a result, the artifacts remained buried until the 18th century. And even after repeated targeted excavations began, most of the "treasures of Pompeii" were hidden. In 1819, Francis I, the future ruler of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, was so shocked by the apparently erotic nature of the objects brought to him from Pompeii that he ordered them to be locked up in a secret office. Access to artifacts was limited only to the most mature masters with no excessive morality.
Most of these artifacts were not made available to the public until 2000. The Pompeians decorated furniture, oil lamps and even musical pendants with phallic symbols. Erotic scenes were depicted in mosaics and frescoes on the walls of houses. Erotica was everywhere. The most famous object is a detailed sculpture of the god Pan engaged in adultery with a goat. This thing belonged to Lucius Pontiff, father-in-law of Julius Caesar.
Also in ancient Pompeii, brothels were very popular, of which at the time of the eruption there were 35 in the city. Prices for services were written on the walls of the establishment. And what services can be obtained inside, it was also painted on the walls of brothels, and in all details. But contrary to the pictures on the walls, sex workers appear to have led a bleak life. The rooms had stone beds and were missing windows and any amenities.
9. Bound Slave
Despite the numerous excavations of Pompeii, the dark history of slavery in this place is not fully understood. All that is known, scientists have learned from paintings, frescoes and mosaics found during excavations. However, it is clear that slavery was common in Pompeii. Whether they were servants, concubines, or sex workers, slaves were everywhere in Pompeian society. As in other societies, slaves were property, and the owners could do whatever they wanted with them.
The slaves had various duties, one of the most curious of which was collecting and using urine as a cleaning agent. They would soak their owners' dirty clothes in tubs filled with collected urine and water, then climb into the bathtub and stomp on the clothes with their feet, just like crushing grapes. And the saddest picture of slavery found during excavations is a slave prison. When Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii, the chained slave was unable to escape. He was found lying face down with the shackles still shackling his ankles.
10. “Yes! I was able to escape "
One has only to imagine the chaos of falling fire, ash and thick smoke. The earth trembles and cracks underfoot. The buildings around are crumbling. Hot lava rushes towards the avalanche, devouring everything in its path. And now it is worth imagining that you managed to get out of this horror, and there is only one thought in my head: “Yes! I was able to escape. " And then suddenly the falling stone blows off the head.
Yes ... it was clearly a bad day for "the unluckiest guy in Pompeii." Nobody knows his name. It is only known that his skeletal remains were found under a huge boulder 2000 years after his death. Archaeologists were able to assume that he fled the city, but was unable to dodge the huge boulder. The poor man's head was never found.
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