🌋 HOMESCHOOL HISTORY: The Last Days of Pompeii

Although there is some debate among scholars, the 24th of August in the year 79 is generally believed to be the date on which the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed and buried by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The event was of course well known in ancient times — many ancient writers and historians saw it and described it — but the destruction was so complete and the surrounding region was so devastated that the area couldn’t be reoccupied, and as the centuries passed, people gradually forgot where exactly the two cities had been located. It was not until the 1700s that Pompeii and Herculaneum were again found and correctly identified, and interest among early archaeologists — and looters and treasure hunters — began to grow.

Here’s a short and very effective professional animation of what it would have looked like from inside the city of Pompeii on that day — sufficiently realistic, perhaps, that it might be a bit too frightening to share with small children. No narration, just a series of clips from morning until the next day from a single vantage point — open it up to full screen for best viewing with your students:

And here’s a full-length dramatized documentary on Pompeii that tells the whole story of what is now one of the most famous archaeological sites — and one of the best-documented ancient cities — in the world:

You can find mentions of Pompeii on pages 110–112 in your River Houses history encyclopedia, along with lots of historical context that will help you teach an excellent little lesson on this notable anniversary.

What other historical events and anniversaries have you and your students been examining in your homeschool this Hercules Term? 😊

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