What can you tell me about Pompeii

A.� The question has come from Deiter, who's considering a visit. It's an ancient Roman city, south-east of Naples that was buried by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD.< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

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Q.� And when was it founded

A.� Pompeii is thought to have been settled before the Sixth Century BC, at the mouth of the River Sarnus (now called Sarno). It got its name from the gens pompeiana, who belonged to the Osci, one of the oldest of the Italic tribes. Pompeii became an important road junction and port, lying on the only north-south route, between the sea and fertile valleys.

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Q.� Who governed

A.� The Greek state of Cumae, until 474BC when the Etruscans took over. Then came the Samnites, who were defeated by the Romans in 310BC, when Pompeii became part of the emerging Roman state. Pompeii joined the Italic revolt against Rome in 91-87BC, which was crushed by the dictator Sulla (full name Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix).

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Q.� They destroyed the city

A.� No, but Pompeii lost its independence, becoming a colony called Colonia Verni. Pompeii grew from a modest farming town to an important industrial and trading centre.

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Q.� And then the disaster

A.� Yes, but not what you're thinking. In 62AD, an earthquake reduced the city to rubble. The survivors set about rebuilding and soon restored Pompeii's commercial activities, even expanding trade.

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Q.� And then...

A.� Calamity. Vesuvius, which for centuries had been considered extinct, suddenly returned to life on 24 August, 79AD. Flames soared high into the sky and a black cloud soon blacked out the sun. Volcanic debris rained down on Pompeii. Walls and roofs collapsed and ashes covered the city. The whole area, including the neighbouring city of Herculaneum, was buried at depths of 15ft to 20ft. About 20,000 citizens died.

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Q.� From suffocation

A.� Findings released this month by experts excavating Herculaneum say they were killed instantly by a cloud of gas heated to more than 500 degrees C. Tests on the bodies of 80 victims showed they died in a fraction of a second. Their organs would have vaporised so quickly that they did not even raise their arms to protect themselves. Their skeletons, after nearly 2,000 years, are still in a relaxed position.

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Q.� Was Pompeii rebuilt

A.� No. After the eruptions calmed down, some of the survivors tried to tunnel into the solidified lava in search of possessions. Some succeeded. Vesuvius remained active and the city remained buried for nearly 2,000 years, disturbed only occasionally by looters.

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Q. Until

A. 1707, when a Prince d'Elboeuf, hearing of some interesting finds during the digging of a well, starts digging for treasure. In 1738, the prince's diggers find a stone engraved with the Latin for Theatre of Herculaneum. Pompeii is discovered a decade later. By the mid-18th Century, scholars made the journey to Naples and their reports caught the imagination of Europe.

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Q.� So it's well worth a visit

A.� Absolutely. And look out for the graffiti.

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Q.� Surely modern-day yobs haven't been desecrating this ancient site

A.� No, these were ancient vandals whose daubings were discovered on excavated walls. My old Latin teacher used to oberve that form 2C�often got its Latin grammar as mangled as they did. Here are a few examples of the Kilroys of their day:

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• Gaius Pomidius Dipilus was here on 3 October
• Publius Comicius Restitutus stood here with his brother
• Epaphra is not a ball-player. While I am alive, you are my enemy, Death
• This is no place for idlers. On your way, loafer
• Ampliatus Pedania is a thief
• Let anyone who invites me to dinner prosper.
• Marcus loves Spendusa
• Serena hates Isidore
• Thyas, don't love Fortunatus
• Sarra, you're not acting very nicely, leave me alone
• I have [made love to] many girls here

And finally:

• I am amazed, o wall, that you have not collapsed and fallen, since you must bear the tedious stupidities of so many scrawlers

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