Vesuvius was an extinct volcano near the Bay of Naples. At least that’s what the ancients living in the area believed, but in the year 79 they erupted without any sign. The exact date is controversial today, with some agreeing on August 24th, while others agreeing on October 24th. It fired roasted lava at a kilometer altitude with tremendous force and speed. Then, accompanied by a terrible roar, the summit of the mountain erupted and the lava began to flow. For three days, volcanic ash billowed over the area, covering the city of Pompeii at the foot of the mountain, 5-6 meters thick.
Many locals took refuge in the basements of their homes, but under the weight of ashes and small stones piled up on the buildings, the roofs collapsed after a while and the houses could no longer escape because the streets were covered in ash several times. Meters, the doors simply did not open. , Windows. Those who quickly crossed their minds headed for the nearby beach.
Interestingly, Pompeii was not damaged by hot lava, but by a thick layer of volcanic ash. Another nearby settlement, Herculaneum, does. In the aftermath of the disaster, a rescue operation was organized in the town of Messinum and lifeboats were launched off the coasts of Pompeii and Herculaneum. We learn of the volcanic eruption and subsequent destruction from two original contemporary letters written by Pliny the Younger to the Roman historian Tacitus.
The reporter’s uncle – Pliny the Elder, writer, historian, scientist, soldier, and multi-historian – was commander of the Misenum fleet, and the contemporary rescue operation began under his command. Two thousand people were rescued from the town of Stabia, but were killed by the toxic gas that exploded and inhaled in the aftermath of the explosion.
History of Skeleton No. 26
Presumably, the Romans sent lifeboats to each of the cities shown on the map above, including neighboring Pompeii and Herculaneum. In the 1980s, near the coast, north of Pompeii, archaeologists discovered about 300 skeletons that were discovered from solid lava flow and debris. Among them was one described as a soldier in the past, but today it turns out that he could have been a much more important person than a mere soldier, writes BBC.
Italian archaeologists working around a volcanic eruption, who to this day discover memories of the disaster, are increasingly confident that the skeleton 26 could cover a person who was a hallmark of the contemporary rescue operation. A fully-fledged man, aged between 40 and 45, immediately lost his life when the explosion struck the Earth with a terrible force and kept the Earth’s layer and lava above it in this position. Not far from 300 skeletons – near the shore – were also found the remains of a larger boat, which could have played a role in the rescue.
Francesco Serrano, the archaeologist in charge of the excavations in Herculaneum, believes that the objects found in Skeleton 26 prove that the man played a more important role in the rescue than previously thought.
He was perhaps a high-ranking officer in a naval rescue launched by Pliny the Elder, who sought to help those who lived in contemporary settlements around the Bay of Naples.
he added. Next to them were found 12 silver and 2 gold dinars, which at that time was the monthly wage of the Praetorians. It was an elite unit in the Roman army, organized from the finest soldiers, and consisted mainly of bodyguards of warlords and emperors, so it was a well-paid corps. He wore a belt decorated with gold and silver, and the handle of his sword was made of ivory, which was typical of soldiers, that is, ordinary soldiers.
However, the most surprising items came out of his bag. These were only special tools Naval Architect Uses, that is, shipbuilders and carpenters with special knowledge used by the Roman fleet. Archaeological excavations at Herculaneum will soon resume after the surprising proposal.
(Cover photo: Visitors touring the archaeological site of Mount Vesuvius. Photo: Antonio Balasco / ControlApp / Light Rocket / Getty Images)
