Eruption

Eruption

1. Pliny the younger

   • Only first person account
   • exaggerated
   • "bits of pumice"
   • "ashes mixed with pumice stones"
   • "blacker and denser than night ever is"
   • "breathing was impeded by the dense fumes"

2. Interpretation of physical remains

   • 'pugilist pose'
     • indicates exposure to intense heat

3. First Stage

   • Cloud of ash and pumice
     • showered down onto Pompeii
       • Heavy weight of the deposits

4. Second Stage

   • Series of pyroclastic surges
     • avalanches of hot ash, poisonous gases and molten rock
     • Haraldur Sirgudsson suggests
       • separated into two surges
     • stages 1-2 dissipated before reaching Pompeii
       • 3rd stage, widespread preservation

5. Estelle Lazer suggests

   • causes of death
     • asphyxiation
     • thermal shock, hence 'pugilist pose'
     • Concussion from projectiles
       • shown from breaks and bone fractures