Vesuvius, AD 79: The Destruction of Pompei and Herculaneum

Now available in English, this book tells the story of the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum from a combined volvanological and archaeological persepctive. The authors paint a picture of what life was like before the eruption, transporting us back to the rustic villas and vineyards of the countryside around the slopes of the mountain, set within the context of seismic events from AD 62 to 79. The eruption itself is dealt with in detail, from the rumblings in the early morning of August 24th to the obscene loss of life, the devastation of the cities, the local economy, changes to the coastline and the rive Sarno, and so on. The aftermath of the eruption, the 'recolonisation' of Pompeii more than a millennium later and the discovery and impact of the buried remains of the Roman cities in the 18th century, complete the book.