On August 24, in the year 79 CE, the sky in Pompeii, Italy, grew dark and ominous. An orange glow illuminated the blackened sky.
When the city’s residents heard the first of what would be a terrifying series of earth-shaking rumbles, they looked to Mount Vesuvius, six kilometers in the distance. A pillar of gray ash was pouring from the volcano’s gaping mouth. The residents of Pompeii were caught by surprise. Many of those who noticed the impending eruption grabbed their family members and their valuables and fled the city. As you can see from the picture, not everyone was so lucky.
If you were there when Vesuvius erupted, how might this passage make you feel?
a.
reminiscent
c.
excited
b.
sad
d.
fearful
For someone who has gone through such a terrible disaster, this passage could only produce fear.
Mount Vesuvius´ eruption came unexpected, it devastated the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, killing thousands of people.
The sudden explosion was followed by 12 hours of volcanic ash and a hail of pumice stone showering Pompeii and forcing its citizens to escape in a panic, but many stayed, wishing the eruption not to be so bad, but they couldn´t survive the lethal asphyxiating air followed by a flood of volcanic mud that buried the city.
