Using the latest in scientific techniques, this amazing study pieces together an hour by hour timetable of destruction that helps to solve the mystery of exactly how the great city of Pompeii died.
On August 24 AD79 the beautiful Roman cities of Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum came to a devastating end. In just 19 hours the entire city of Pompeii and all its inhabitants were engulfed in volcanic ash. The showers of wet ashes and cinders that accompanied the enormous eruption then formed a hermetic seal around the cities.
The eruption and its aftermath saved the crown of Emperor Titus and shaped the fate of the Roman Empire, but the twin cities lay undisturbed under metres of volcanic debris for more than 1500 years, during which time all memory of them faded. Excavations only began in 1748 but since then have been undertaken continuously. A massive area has now been excavated, however, even today more than a quarter of Pompeii remains to be excavated.
What the excavations have revealed has amazed the world. The seal of wet ashes preserved many public structures, temples, theatres, baths, shops and private dwellings. In addition remnants of some of the victims, including gladiators, soldiers, slaves and their masters, and entire families, were found in the ruins.
Using the latest scientific evidence and forensic techniques, Pompeii, pieces together a terrifying picture of what happened on that fateful summer's day. Hour by hour it recreates a vivid timetable of destruction that helps to solve the mystery of exactly how the city died.
