Random Things Most People Don't Know About Pompeii (17 items)

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  (#4) The Citizens Of Pompeii Had No Word For "Volcano"

  When most of us hear the word “Pompeii,” our minds probably go to volcanoes and hot lava. The citizens of Pompeii themselves, however, didn’t know what a volcano was. 

  At the time of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, there was no word for volcano. It came from Mt. Etna in the 1610s. The word is derived from “Vulcan," the Roman God of Fire.  
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  (#17) Want More Pompeii?

  The eruption of Mount Vesuvius was an unimaginable tragedy, but it's because of that tragedy that we have such a clear image of the daily life of a 2,000-year-old society. For history lovers, the allure of Pompeii is its surprising modernity. There is an abundance of books and documentaries that explore this archaeological wonder, and even a first hand account of the eruption. If you're interested in learning more about Pompeii, we encourage you to check out the following.

  The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found. In this thoroughly researched book about Pompeii before the eruption, Mary Beard offers an engaging, evocative glimpse of a thriving Roman town. In her absorbing prose, Beard describes what it was like to live, worship, and even negotiate traffic in ancient Pompeii.

  The Letters of the Younger Pliny. Fair warning: prose written in the 2nd century is not everyone's cup of tea. However, if you love primary sources - and Ancient Rome in particular - you cannot do better than Pliny's Letters. Pliny offers a first hand account of the Mount Vesuvius eruption, detailing the geological and emotional terror as it unfolded before his very eyes.

  If you're looking for a well-produced documentary on Pompeii, the History Channel's Doomed City is a great place to start. If you don't mind a few Hollywood flourishes, 2014's Pompeii starring Kit Harrington is an entertaining action film.

  For home decor, there are some dynamic (even frightening) paintings that imagine Vesuvius's eruption, but also this lovely triptych that showcases modern day Naples.

  And finally, for further reading, Ranker has numerous lists that investigate the various aspects of Pompeii, from the most surprising photos to the most recently discovered facts:

  • Fascinating Photos Of Pompeii That Made Us Say 'Whoa'
  • Weird Oddities Found At Pompeii That Aren't Bodies
  • Facts About Pompeii We Just Learned That Made Us Say 'Really?'
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  (#5) Pompeii’s Citizens Had Perfect Teeth

  During the 1800s, the skeletal remains found in Pompeii were cast in plaster for protection. This made research and examination impossible for scientists at the time, but, thanks to contemporary technology (more specifically, multi-layer CT scans), modern Italian scientists were able to make 3-D reconstructions of the skeletons that provided interesting insights into life in Pompeii.

  One of the things that surprised researchers the most was the exemplary teeth of the majority of Pompeii's citizens. Their dental fortitude was mainly due to their good diet (rich in fruits and vegetables), as well as extremely high levels of fluorine that existed around the volcano.
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  (#8) Graffiti Was A Trend In Pompeii

  If you think graffiti is a modern invention, think again. Even today, visitors can see the vast amount of well-preserved graffiti in Pompeii (and other, more explicit wall paintings), which gives us insight into the local society at the time. Among others, you can see graffiti on the wall of a brothel that reads, “Myrtis, you suck well.” Way to keep it classy, ancient humans. 
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  (#2) Archaeologists Discovered Crushed Remains Of A Man Who Tried To Flee The Blast

  Roughly 2,000 years after the initial explosion, archaeologists working at the ancient site discovered the remains of a man who appeared to be fleeing the eruption. The skeleton was stuck under a large rock – perhaps a stone door jamb – and lesions on the bones made the scientists suspect an infection may have impaired his escape.

  Scientists initially believed the man survived the first phase of the eruption only to be pinned to the ground by the block, which was thrown into the air by the force of the volcano's pyroclastic flow. They have since discovered the man's skull and declared his death the direct result of the pyroclastic flow itself – meaning he perished from asphyxiation within a superheated cloud of rock and ash.
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  (#6) The Ash Didn't Kill Everyone; The Heat Did

  The estimates as to how many people were killed in Pompeii vary greatly, and the number has been a topic of debate among historians for decades. Regardless of how many people actually perished, it seems that we were wrong in our belief that most of the victims died of suffocation from the ash in the air. 

  New studies suggest that most died instantly from the extreme heat. According to Italian scientists, residents of Pompeii may have been exposed to temperatures well over 1,000 degrees. 

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