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    Investigating Pompeii and Vesuvius: Delta - Truth or Myth?

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    Silvia Dewi Aritonang
    The document summarizes information about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that devastated the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It describes how archaeologists have been able to make plaster casts of the spaces left by decomposed bodies and tree roots to learn about the final poses of victims and what plants were grown. It also mentions the discovery of a dog skeleton found chained to a post, thought to have been a pet.

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    Investigating Pompeii and Vesuvius: Delta - Truth or Myth?

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    Silvia Dewi Aritonang
    32 views4 pages
    The document summarizes information about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that devastated the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It describes how archaeologists have been able to make plaster casts of the spaces left by decomposed bodies and tree roots to learn about the final poses of victims and what plants were grown. It also mentions the discovery of a dog skeleton found chained to a post, thought to have been a pet.

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    The document summarizes information about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that devastated the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It describes how archaeologists have been able to make plaster casts of the spaces left by decomposed bodies and tree roots to learn about the final poses of victims and what plants were grown. It also mentions the discovery of a dog skeleton found chained to a post, thought to have been a pet.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    32 views4 pages

    Investigating Pompeii and Vesuvius: Delta - Truth or Myth?

    Uploaded by

    Silvia Dewi Aritonang
    The document summarizes information about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that devastated the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It describes how archaeologists have been able to make plaster casts of the spaces left by decomposed bodies and tree roots to learn about the final poses of victims and what plants were grown. It also mentions the discovery of a dog skeleton found chained to a post, thought to have been a pet.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    Investigating Pompeii and Vesuvius

    In the year AD 79, Mount Vesuvius famously erupted, causing devastation to


    the nearby Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Buildings were destroyed
    and many lives were lost. The entire area was covered in layers of ash and other
    volcanic debris. Many years later, the remains of the buildings were uncovered
    and some interesting discoveries made.

    The bodies of the buried victims decomposed over time, leaving just skeletons
    behind. However, they also left hollow cavities in the space that they occupied,
    with compacted earth and volcanic ash all around. Archaeologists filled the
    spaces with plaster to create three-dimensional replicas of those who perished.
    Experts are now able to examine the final poses of the people of Pompeii and
    the resulting plaster casts have helped them to piece together clues about life
    in the ancient cities.

    Evidence has been found of animal remains as well as human. One particular
    dog appeared to have been wearing a collar and was chained up to a post –
    this suggests that it was probably kept as a pet or guard dog. A famous plaster
    cast shows the dog in the position in which it died: lying on its back with its
    legs in the air.

    Incredibly, scientists have even been able to make plaster casts of the spaces
    occupied by plant and tree roots in the soil. The moulded root casts have been
    used to identify what types of plant Romans were growing in the soil at the time.

    The remains at Pompeii are now a huge modern tourist attraction. The well-
    preserved ancient buildings make it one of the most visited archaeological sites
    in the world.

    Delta – Truth or Myth?

    Some sources mention evidence of another dog being discovered, lying above
    the body of a child. Speculation has evolved that suggests that the faithful dog
    died while trying to shield the young boy from the volcanic ash and pumice. A
    collar is also said to have been found with the name ‘Delta’ engraved upon it.

    Delta, informally dubbed ‘the hero dog of Pompeii’, has been


    linked with an owner named Severinus, with stories suggesting
    that the dog had already saved the life of its owner on several
    previous occasions. The tales of Delta have inspired modern
    fiction such as the story of ‘The Pack of Pompeii’, in which
    a dog of the same name features.

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    of Originals stories each half-term. Page 1 of 2
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    Investigating Pompeii and Vesuvius

    An Eye-Witness Account
    Mount Vesuvius Facts and Figures
    Pliny the Younger was a Roman author
    whose letters have given experts Also known as Vesuvius or the
    valuable insights into various aspects Italian Vesuvio.
    of Roman life. One of these is the Last recorded height: 1281m (since
    eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the 1944)
    events that followed. Pliny and his Eruption history: The volcano had
    family witnessed the events of almost not erupted for centuries before
    two thousand years ago. He later wrote the AD 79 disaster. However, many
    them down in a letter to a historian, recorded eruptions have occurred
    called Tacitus. The accounts include his in the centuries between the years
    uncle’s fateful efforts to save people on 1600 and 2000. The last of these
    was in 1944. One of the biggest
    the day of the eruption.
    was in 1631 when around 3,000
    The writing has been translated into people were killed.
    English, so different versions have Local population: More than 2
    slightly different wording. Pliny million people are said to live in
    described a trembling of the earth and the vicinity of Mount Vesuvius,
    tottering buildings, which led to his either on its lower slopes or in the
    family attempting to escape from the surrounding area.
    area to avoid imminent danger. Women
    and children were heard screaming and shrieking as showers of ash rained down
    on them. Meanwhile, Pliny’s uncle (Pliny the Elder) took a boat to study the
    erupting volcano more closely. Upon receiving a message from a stranded local
    woman named Rectina, he changed his course in a valiant effort to save her.
    Sadly, he died in his attempt.

    Mount Vesuvius is located in the Campania region of Italy,


    near the Bay of Naples.

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    of Originals stories each half-term. Page 2 of 2
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    Investigating Pompeii and Vesuvius

    Questions
    1. Which two cities were affected by the AD 79 volcanic eruption?

    2. How were archaeologists able to recreate the poses of people who were killed in Pompeii?

    
    
    
    
    
    3. What evidence is there that people in Pompeii in AD 79 might have kept pets?

    Look at the section: Delta – Truth or Myth?


    4. What does the story of Delta suggest about the dog? Circle one.

    The dog was The dog was The dog was The dog was
    unlucky. clumsy. lazy. loyal.

    5. Can you think of a word that means the same as ‘dubbed’?

    6. Why do you think this section includes the words ‘Truth or Myth’ in the title?

    
    
    

    Look at the section: Mount Vesuvius Facts and Figures


    7. Why does the recorded height of Mount Vesuvius change over time?

    
    

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    of Originals stories each half-term. Page 1 of 2
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    Investigating Pompeii and Vesuvius
    8. Why do you think local people may have been surprised by the eruption in AD 79?

    
    
    

    Look at the section: An Eye-Witness Account


    9. Draw lines to match the people with the correct descriptions.

    A local woman who was stranded


    Pliny the Younger due to the volcanic eruption

    A Roman author who wrote letters


    Tacitus
    about his eye-witness accounts

    A historian who received some of


    Pliny the Elder
    the letters detailing the events

    Uncle of Pliny the Younger who tried to


    Rectina
    study the eruption and save lives

    10. What are your feelings about the actions of Pliny the Elder?
    Give evidence from the text to support your answer.

    
    
    
    
    

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    of Originals stories each half-term. Page 2 of 2
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