In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius, a stratovolcano located in the modern-day region of Campania, Italy, erupted, causing one of the deadliest eruptions in history. Vesuvius violently ejected a cloud of super-h
The Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum (c. 1821) by John Martin
The Last Day of Pompeii. Painting by Karl Brullov, 1830–1833
Inside the crater of Vesuvius
Pompeii, with Vesuvius towering in the background
Pliny the Elder
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Gaius Plinius Secundus, known in English as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, scientist, naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, procurator, and friend of the emperor Vespas
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
…after the event. Observing the first volcanic activity from Misenum across the Bay of Naples from the volcano, approximately 29 kilometres (18 mi) away, Pliny the Elder (Pliny the Younger's uncle) launched a rescue fleet and went himself to the rescue of a personal friend. His nephew declined to join the party. One of…
19th-century portrait of Pliny the Elder
One of the Xanten Horse-Phalerae located in the British Museum, measuring 10.5 cm (4.1 in). It bears an inscription formed from punched dots: PLINIO PRAEF EQ; i.e., Plinio praefecto equitum, "Pliny prefect of cavalry". It was perhaps issued to every man in Pliny's unit. The figure is the bust of the emperor.
City and Lake of Como, painted by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, 1834
Colossal head of Titus, son of Vespasian. Glyptothek, Munich