A NATURAL EVENT THAT HAPPENED DURING THE PERIOD OF FLAVIUS: ERUPTION OF THE VESUSVIUS VOLCANO (24 AUGUST 79 A.D.)
FLAVİUSLAR DÖNEMİ’NDE MEYDANA GELEN BİR DOĞA OLAYI: VEZÜV YANARDAĞI’NIN PATLAMASI (M.S. 24 AĞUSTOS 79)

Author : Cengiz Karaeli
Number of pages : 70-86

Abstract

By the eruption of Vesuvius Volcano in the Campania Region of Italy 24 August 79 A.D., a devastating disaster took place in Pompeii,Herculaneum and Stabiae cities and various settlements around the region.The region was swallowed under the volcanic ashes and Stones.Despite the Emperor Titus’effort for help these cities have been wiped off the map,and almot forgotten untill the day they will be explored.Though the region,passed into history as Avellino eruption,has faced many similar danger, it has lastly been warned by Campania earthquake (A.D.62).This eathquake has a significant importance since it is a precursor of the big eruption in 79 A.D. Altough Vesuvius has erupted several times in the past years none of them has created reactions as August 79 A.D. What makes August 79 A.D –so called as the Vesuvius Event-is neither the people died nor the constructions buried under ashes have been demolished untill the very present day.Especially,the condition of people that have been brought to light by archaeological excavations have another importance as they show the extent of the disaster. We are now able to learn by letters written by Young Plinius-who was in Misenium at he time of the eruption- to historian Tacitus in 104 A.D. that both it will end with his uncle Old Plinius’ death and what the story of him and his mother together is. On the other hand; the letters which writers and artists such as Goethe and Mark Twain wrote imparted –they visited the area in the 19th century-give us information about this event.

Keywords

Vesuvius, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Avellino, Younger Plinius

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