On this day: Vesuvius eruption buries the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum
Nearly two thousand years ago, on 24 and 25 August in the year 79 AD, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under layers of ash. The anniversary of the event falls on 24 August.
On 24 and 25 August of the year 79 AD, one of history's most devastating natural disasters occurred — the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which buried two cities of the Roman Empire, Pompeii and Herculaneum, under a thick layer of ash and volcanic deposits.
Both settlements lay close to the volcano, and the force of the eruption was so great that the cities were completely covered, preserving their structures and many traces of everyday life underground for centuries.
Rediscovery and modern significance
The ancient cities remained buried until the mid-18th century, when systematic excavation began. Since then, Pompeii and Herculaneum have become major sites of archaeological research, offering valuable insight into the daily life, architecture and culture of ancient Rome.
Today, both sites are also popular tourist destinations, drawing large numbers of visitors each year who come to see the traces of antiquity preserved by the volcanic ash layer.
