Pompeii and the Vesuvius

February 20th, 2023.

Dr. Pia Berger gave a lecture about Pompeii and the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano to explain how Pompeii and Herculaneum were preserved. 

During the presentation of the topic about Roman Architecture for the History of Architecture subject given by Mtro. Luis Arturo Méndez Alba, Dr. Berger, a trained and experienced volcanologist, offered a scientific explanation of the natural phenomenon.

The Vesuvius´eruption was surprising and catastrophic; it killed around 16,000 persons in Pompeii, Herculaneum and neighboring villages. Nothing to cheer about.

Anyway, thanks to that natural disaster of the eruption on year 79 a.D. archeologists have been able to know the life and customs of romans in relations to the buildings they used to inhabit.

Along the area of what is now a tourist attraction, it is possible to discover houses, temples, street markets, stores, public baths, gyms arenas, theaters and so on. All of them in a great state of conservation for scholar to research. Thanks to that, many things have been discovered, like to confirmation that Pompeii was some kind of resort for rich people from the capital of the empire; Rome.

In a visit to Pompeii and Herculaneum, it is also possible to appreciate the beautiful roman art and the decoration of the interiors inside the constructions. The visitor is able to first hand witness beautiful sculptures, paintings and decorations.