On August 24, 79 A.D., Mt. Vesuvius exploded and spewed tons of molten ash, pumice, and sulfuric gas into the atmosphere. Pompei, with a population of 20,000 at the time,
and other communities in the area, were buried under a thick layer -- 20 meters, according to our tour guide -- of volcanic material and mud. The number of people killed by this natural catastrophe varies from account to account. So far the range that I've found is 2,000 to 16,000, with more of the estimates in the lower range.
As you can see from the following series of photos, taken on Thursday, June 5, the volcanic eruption both destroyed and preserved Pompei.
Basilica
Forum
Entrance to Baths
Cold bath
Hot bath
Entryway to home (floor is original)
Street view
No chariots allowed beyond this point
Bakery
Amphitheater
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