Vesuvius erupts! Pompeii & Herculaneum | Ancient Romans | volcanic eruptions | Ruins archaeology

Vesuvius is a volcano in Italy near Naples. Mt. Vesuvius erupted on August 24, 79 AD, burying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The ash that destroyed Pompeii ironically preserved it, making these ancient ruins some of the most spectacular in the world. The ruins include homes of wealthy people with gardens, an amphitheater, theaters, and baths. The ruins of Pompeii show Roman architecture, including brick and mortar work, arches, concrete, and columns. The Roman Empire stretched from Spain to the Near East. The original images come from the Library of Congress, Prints and Photography Online Catalog. The animations were produced by Jeffrey Meyer, Librarian, Mount Pleasant Public Library, Iowa. Teachers, educators, librarians: this program is meant to be shown in a classroom. Archaeology for kids! Ancient history for kids! Visit your library to find out more about Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, and Herculaneum.