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Annual reminder that although it is claimed, this probably *wasn’t* the day that Vesuvius erupted in AD 79 burying the landscape in volcanic debris and covering the Roman cities of #Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as rural villas in the area. 
According to letters Pliny the Younger wrote to Tacitus, detailing his eye-witness account of the AD 79 eruption, it happened on August 24th.
Except that it probably didn’t. We only have transcribed copies of these letters & so there’s a chance the date was copied down wrong.
Except that it probably didn’t. We only have transcribed copies of these letters & so there’s a chance the date was copied down wrong.
The most persuasive archaeological evidence we have from the cities that Vesuvius buried to indicate the eruption may have been later in the year, are ripe pomegranates. These generally ripen & are harvested in autumn not August. The eruption date is probably in Sept or Oct.
Had the great honour of talking to @pompeii_sites Director General, @MassimoOsanna, at the site of his new excavations: the first in 20 years to entirely dig through the 4 metres of ash and pumice stones from the AD 79 eruption.
Such an exciting project to watch unfold. #Pompeii
Such an exciting project to watch unfold. #Pompeii
@pompeii_sites @MassimoOsanna A few more views of the incredibly exciting first glimpses of the tops of the walls emerging from the volcanic ash & amphorae nestled in the pumice in the new excavations in Region V, #Pompeii.
Latest photographs from the new excavations in Region V of #Pompeii. Painted wall plaster emerging from the pumice and a winged putto (cherub) sees daylight once more.
[images courtesy of @MassimoOsanna]
[images courtesy of @MassimoOsanna]
