Pompeii: the last day: one August afternoon, a mountain's rumblings caught the people of Pompeii by surprise. What would you do if a volcano erupted, and you had nowhere to run?.INTRODUCTION Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Roman Empire was hit by the worst natural disaster to strike the ancient world. In less than 24 hours, the city of Pompeii (pom-PAY) and at least 2,000 of its 20,000 people were wiped from the face of the earth. Their killer was a volcano called Vesuvius (vuh-SOO-vee-us). The mountain had been quiet for 1,500 years--so long that people living nearby had no idea what a volcano was. It suddenly roared to life--on the last day of Pompeii. SCENE 1 Narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. A: The day--August 24 in 79 A.D.--begins like any other. About 10 o'clock that morning ... Julius Polybius: How are you feeling, Julia? Julia: Not well, Father. I couldn't sleep a wink. Polybius: Well, that's natural--you're seven months pregnant. Artist: Excuse me, sir. You wanted to see me? Polybius: Yes. I'm running for office, so I want you to redecorate re·dec·o·rate v. re·dec·o·rat·ed, re·dec·o·rat·ing, re·dec·o·rates v.tr. To change the appearance or furnishings of; refurbish. v.intr. To change a decorative scheme. this room. Make it grand! Artist: Before the election? Polybius: Of course! I need to entertain my sponsors. Narrator A: Meanwhile, at Stephanus's laundry ... Stephanus: I must run some errands. Don't let our slaves goof off v. i. 1. To shirk one's duties; to avoid work by relaxing or performing idle activities. ! Fortunata: Me? I can't control them! Stephanus: Nonsense. You are the wife of Stephanus! When you speak, they will obey. I'll be back soon. Narrator A: The ground is trembling trembling visible muscle tremor caused by fever, fear, weakness, electrolyte imbalance, especially hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia, and neuromuscular disease. trembling disease , but no one notices. SCENE 2 Narrator B: At about 1 p.m., people are startled star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. by an immense roar from Vesuvius. Africanus: A huge column of something is shooting out of the mountain! Is it smoke? It's churning so much, it almost looks alive. Celadus: It's nothing. Besides, we have things to do. Narrator B: Across the Bay of Naples Noun 1. Bay of Naples - an arm of the Tyrrhenian Sea at Naples Italia, Italian Republic, Italy - a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD in Misenum [my-SEE-num], Pliny the Elder Pliny the Elder (Caius Plinius Secundus) (plĭ`nē), c.A.D. 23–A.D. 79, Roman naturalist, b. Cisalpine Gaul. He was a friend and fellow soldier of Vespasian, and he dedicated his great work to Titus. is watching the mountain with a scientist's fascination. Pliny the Elder: Incredible. That column of smoke is rising several miles high! I must go over there to get a closer look. Nephew, do you want to come with me? Pliny the Younger Pliny the Younger Latin Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (born AD 61/62, Comum—died c. 113, Bithynia, Asia Minor) Roman author and administrator. : You gave me so much to study, Uncle. I'd better stay and finish it. Pliny the Elder: Very well. But you keep an eye on that cloud too! Narrator B: That "cloud" is actually a foaming column of molten rock shooting into the sky. Eventually, the column reaches about 98,000 feet high. Winds drive the mass directly over Pompeii, making it dark as night. SCENE 3 Narrator C: Around 1:30 p.m., people get another shock. The molten rock, now high in the sky, starts to cool. Once solid, chunks of it plummet earthward earth·ward adv. & adj. To or toward the earth. earth  wards adv. at about 100 miles per hour. Africanus: Why is everyone running? Hey! (Suddenly, he collapses.) Celadus: He's been hit! Africanus, are you OK? Narrator C: Nowlarger, heavier chunks of rock are falling. At Stephanus's laundry ... Crispus: Mistress, I'm back. Fortunata: Did you find my husband? Crispus: No. The city gate is choked with people, carts, and animals. Bodies lie dead in the streets. All your other slaves have run for their lives. Fortunata: But slaves are supposed to protect their masters' lives and property. For any slave who runs and is caught, the punishment is death! Crispus: It doesn't matter, Mistress. The gods have decided to kill us all. SCENE 4 Narrator D: By midafternoon, Vesuvius has gushed more than 100 million tons of rock onto the city. About 2:30 p.m., a messenger finds Pliny the Elder returning home. Messenger (rushing in): Sir, I have a message from your friends who live under Vesuvius. Pliny the Elder: What is it? Messenger: They fear for their lives. Their only hope is to escape by sea. People are crowding the shore but can go no farther used elliptically for) go no farther; say no more, etc. See also: Farther . Pliny the Elder: It looks as if Pliny the scientist must give way to Pliny the admiral. (To a servant) Call out as many ships as can be manned for a rescue mission. Have them follow me to Pompeii! Narrator D: In Pompeii, rocks are still falling, piling up everywhere. At Polybius's house ... Epidia: Look at my garden. It's ruined! Polybius: If this doesn't stop, we'll all be ruined! Just think of all the money I wasted on my election campaign! Sabinus (helping Julia into the room) Julia fell off the bed! Julia: I'm all right. Really! Sabinus: What about our baby? Shouldn't we flee? Polybius: Why? This house is strong. Narrator D: But Pompeii's roofs were not built to support anything heavier than rain. Epidia: Listen! The roof is groaning with the weight of the stones. Polybius: Oh, great god Jupiter! Please forgive us! (To Epidia) Where can we go that's safer? SCENE 5 Narrator E: Around 5 p.m., Pliny the Elder's rescue fleet is passing Herculaneum [hur-kyuh-LAY-nee-um], another town near the mountain. Pliny the Elder: Hold your course, men--toward Pompeii! Sailor: Admiral, the air is too thick and dark. We can't see! Pliny the Elder: We can't turn around, so steer toward the light. Let's head for the town of Stabiae [STAB-ee-eye] and seek shelter there. Narrator E: The rock storm continues. Around 1 a.m., from Misenum, young Pliny witnesses a strange and sudden change. Pliny the Younger: The mountain is shooting flames! The whole summit is alight! Every home on the bay is in danger now--including ours. Mother, we must leave! Plinia: Not until your uncle returns! Pliny the Younger: If he is anywhere near that horror, we'll never see him again. The column of smoke just collapsed and is rushing down the mountain! Narrator E: The column's molten rock, hot gases, mud, and ash come tumbling down the mountainside. Five times hotter than boiling water, the wave wipes out people on the beach at Herculaneum. The rock flow stops before reaching Pompeii, but not the ash and poisonous gases. Fortunata is running through the streets, terrified ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. . She meets Celadus. Celadus: What are you doing here? Fortunata: Seeking my husband! You? Celadus: Seeking water. My friend is hurt. Come, hide with us. Narrator E: In the gladiators' barracks bar·rack 1 tr.v. bar·racked, bar·rack·ing, bar·racks To house (soldiers, for example) in quarters. n. 1. A building or group of buildings used to house military personnel. , Africanus lies wounded. Everyone is gasping for air. Celadus: The ash is sucking all moisture from the air. We're so thirsty! Yet each sip turns the ash in our throats to a thick, suffocating suf·fo·cate v. suf·fo·cat·ed, suf·fo·cat·ing, suf·fo·cates v.tr. 1. To kill or destroy by preventing access of air or oxygen. 2. To impair the respiration of; asphyxiate. 3. paste. We are doomed! AFTERWORD af·ter·word n. See epilogue. Pompeii and Stabiae were buried in about 23 feet of ash and rock; Herculaneum, by mudflow mudflow: see landslide. mudflow Flow of water that contains large amounts of suspended particles and silt. Mudflows usually occur on steep slopes where vegetation is too sparse to prevent rapid erosion, but they can also occur on gentle slopes under . Other towns near Vesuvius were also destroyed. That day, at Pompeii alone, about 2,000 people died, including the family of Julius Polybius. Poisonous gases at Stabiae killed Pliny the Elder. Much of what we know about the disaster comes from two letters written by Pliny the Younger. For many years, people thought his descriptions had been exaggerated. They believed that all volcanic eruptions volcanic eruptions discharging of fumes, dust and lava from volcanoes. They have damaging potential in addition to those of being physically overpowering by the lava flow or the ash or dust fallout. were lava flows. Today, however, scientists know that Pliny's accounts were accurate. He had witnessed a pyroclastic py·ro·clas·tic adj. Composed chiefly of rock fragments of volcanic origin. pyroclastic Composed chiefly of rock fragments of explosive origin, especially those associated with explosive volcanic surge--a volcanic explosion resulting in a downpour of rocks and ash. It is also known as a Plinian eruption Noun 1. Plinian eruption - a volcanic eruption in which a stream of gas and ash is violently ejected to a height of several miles eruption, volcanic eruption - the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material . The ruins of Pompeii tell a story, too. Found in 1748 they are still being unearthed Unearthed is the name of a Triple J project to find and "dig up" (hence the name) hidden talent in regional Australia. Unearthed has had three incarnations - they first visited each region of Australia where Triple J had a transmitter - 41 regions in all. . The hot, dry volcanic ash See under Ashes. See also: Ash preserved buildings and the shapes of human and animal remains. Since that August day, Vesuvius has erupted many times. The most recent eruption, in 1944, destroyed two towns and parts of a third. Today, more than 2 million people live near the volcano. When will the next disaster occur? Some people say an eruption at Vesuvius is overdue. CHARACTERS Narrators A-E A-E, AE above-elbow; see under amputation. * Julius Polybius (puh-LIB-ee-us), a wealthy businessman Epidia (uh-PID-ee-uh), his wife Julia, their daughter Sabinus (suh-BY-nus), Julia's husband # Artist, a man hired by Polybius Stephanus (STEFF-uh-nus), a businessman # Fortunata (for-choo-NAH-tah), his wife # Africanus (ah-free-KAH-nus), a famous gladiator gladiator (Latin; swordsman) Professional combatant in ancient Rome who engaged in fights to the death as sport. Gladiators originally performed at Etruscan funerals, the intent being to give the dead man armed attendants in the next world. * # Celadus (KEL-uh-dos), a famous gladiator * Pliny the Elder (PLIN-ee), a scholar, scientist, and Roman admiral Pliny the Younger, Pliny the Elder's teenage nephew # Crispus, a slave in the house of Stephanus # Messenger Sailor Plinia (PLIN-ee-uh), Pliny the Elder's sister, Pliny the Younger's mother * Indicates major character. # Indicates fictitious character: Other characters, based on written accounts of the day as well as skeletons found, were real people. Words to Know * molten: in melted form * summit: top of a mountain; the peak YOUR TURN THINK ABOUT IT 1. Why didn't Pompeiians realize that Vesuvius could be dangerous? 2. Why do people still live near, and visit, Vesuvius? Would you? Why or why not? WORLD HISTORY PLAY Pompeii: The Last Day, pp. 16-19 * OBJECTIVE Students should understand * Pompeii was a city in ancient Rome Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. that was destroyed by a violent eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 A.D. * TEACHING STRATEGY Ask students: "Would you live near an inactive volcano? Why or why not?" * BACKGROUND Last November, Italian authorities set up a relocation fund for residents living near Vesuvius. The program offers up to 30,000 curds curd n. 1. The part of milk that coagulates when the milk sours or is treated with enzymes. Curd is used to make cheese. 2. A coagulated liquid that resembles milk curd. intr. & tr.v. (about $40,000) to any family wishing to move away from the volcano. Vesuvius, the only active volcano on the European mainland, last erupted in 1944; its lava flow destroyed some towns and killed 26 people. * CRITICAL THINKING COMPREHENSION: Why do you think many Pompeii residents were not alarmed when Vesuvius first erupted? (Because Vesuvius had been dormant for some 1,500 years before 79 A.D., people had no idea what a volcano was. No one understood the real danger they faced.) NOTING DETAILS: How do scientists know what kind of volcanic eruption occurred at Vesuvius in 79 A.D.? (The hot, dry volcanic ash that spewed from Vesuvius preserved buildings and the shapes of the humans and animals that perished at Pompeii. Scientists continue to unearth and examine those ruins and remains today. Also, other details of that eruption come from the eyewitness An individual who was present during an event and is called by a party in a lawsuit to testify as to what he or she observed. The state and Federal Rules of Evidence, which govern the admissibility of evidence in civil actions and criminal proceedings, impose requirements accounts written by Pliny the Younger.) * ACTIVITY SETTLE OR FLEE VESUVIUS?: Instruct students to write essays that encourage residents to either stay in or flee the area near Vesuvius. Encourage students to pose persuasive arguments, such as citing the agricultural advantages of settling near a volcano or describing the dangers posed by a volcanic eruption. STANDARDS SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8 * People, places, and environment: How the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii, Stabiae, and Herculaneum were destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. * Time, continuity, and change: How Vesuvius's destructive power has not prevented people today from settling near the active volcano RESOURCES * Balit, Christina, Escape From Pompeii Escape from Pompeii is a water attraction at Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Virginia. The attraction is based on the ancient city of Pompeii when it was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. (Henry Holt, 2003). Grades 6-8. * Van Rose, Susanna, Volcano (DK Press, 2004). Grades 5-G. WEB SITES * Pompeii-Unraveling Ancient Mysteries harcourtschool.com/activity/pompeii/index.html * Volcano World volcano.und.nodak.edu/vw.html |
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