natural disasters- pompeii

ADVERSE EVENTS CAUSED BY NATURAL PROCESSES OF THE EARTH

One such powerful disaster struck an ancient city .....and changed its history forever!

WHERE DID IT HAPPEN?• City of Pompeii (ancient Rome, Italy)

WHEN DID IT HAPPEN?

Year: Early 79 AD.

A usual day in the city of Pompeii,located about five miles from mountain Vesuvius,Known for its scenic beauty,it was also a flourishing resort for Rome’s most distinguished citizens.

Early afternoon on 24th August, as people went about their daily chores,

Disaster struck!!

• Summit of Mount Vesuvius erupted, with no warning.

WHAT HAPPENED?

• Pompeii along with its neighbouring city Herculaneum was totally destroyed.

Consequences!• A black river of ash and lapilli (a small, lightweight pebbly material) showered

on the city, leaving death and destruction in its wake.

• No one survived; the city was believed to consist

of about 20000- 30000 people.

• The magnificent ancient city was left buried under 20 feet of earth and ash. It was lost under the pile of ash until its earlier discovery in 1599 and a rediscovery in 1748 almost 150 yrs later.......

WHAT CAUSED THE ERUPTION ?

• Pompeii was in a highly active, earthquake prone region, having experienced , several tremors ( including a recent massive earthquake in AD 63).

• Scientists today believe it was due to this earthquake that caused the deadly ‘plinean’ eruption

• But ancient Romans just ignored the warning signs of the upcoming disaster.

• Even when they first saw smoke rising from the top of the mountain, they were merely curious. They had no idea what was coming .....

• If we visit Pompeii today, we’ll be able to see the statues of the people who were buried in the ash.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE?

HOW DO WE KNOW ALL THIS STUFF ?

• It was because of an inhabitant of Pompeii named Pliny,

the Younger.

• He provided a first-hand account of the eruption and devastation, from across the Bay.

THE DISCREPANCY OF THE ARCHEAOLOGISTS

The eruption was recorded by historians and is accepted as having started on 24 August, 79, depending on one version of

Pliny's letter.

• BUT archaeological excavations of Pompeii suggest -city was buried about..

THREE MONTHS LATER.

This is supported by another version of the letter which gives the date of the eruption as.. NOVEMBER 23, 79.

BUT HOW CAN WE KNOW MORE THAN THE INHABITANT WHO SAW

IT AND KNEW ABOUT IT ??

• People appeared to be wearing warmer clothing than the light summer clothes that would be expected in August.

• The fresh fruit and vegetables in the shops are typical of October.

So far no definitive theory as to why there should be such an apparent discrepancy.

OKAY SO THERE IS A MYSTERY !!!

THERE’S A MYSTERY BEHIND IT WHICH

HAS STILL NOT BEEN SOLVED..

A GLIMPSE OF THAT DAY

Mount Vesuvius has not erupted since 1944, but it is still one of the most dangerous

volcanoes in the world. Experts believe that another Plinean eruption is due any day--an

almost unfathomable catastrophe, since almost 3 million people live within 20 miles

of the volcano’s crater.

HOPE U LIKED THIS PRESENTATIONDONE BY JYOTIRMOY BORAL

OF CLASS IX – B ROLL NO- 24

THE END

POMPEII...WAS AT THE PEAK OF ITS KIND OF

CIVILIZATION, BUT GOT DEMOLISHED IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.....

WELL... AS THEY SAY

Que sera, sera (whatever will be, will be)