Run, sail, or hide? How to survive the destruction of Pompeii

Last updated over 2 years ago
7 questions
Directions: Watch the following video and answer the questions below.

Let’s Begin…

It’s a bustling day in Pompeii. After a quick visit to the market, Fabia spots her brothers, Lucius and Marcus, crossing the Forum. The siblings begin discussing Lucius’ wedding — but a deafening boom interrupts them. They watch Vesuvius spew smoke, ash, and rock — and realize they’ve been living in the shadow of a volcano. Gary Devore follows the siblings as they attempt to survive the disaster.
If you can't see the video above, here is the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9klE-iUxX0c&t=217s
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1

The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 began around this time of day:

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1

What is tephra?

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1

In what direction did the only sibling to survive the eruption go when the disaster began?

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Which city did the a pyroclastic surge first engulf?

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When did official excavations begin in Pompeii and Herculaneum?

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2

What sort of Roman material do you think survives hundreds of years buried underground? What sort of material do you think rots away and doesn’t survive?

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Which evacuation option would you have chosen and why? Run, sail, or hide?

Additional Resources for you to Explore
Check out this link to learn how Archaeologists and volcanologists can accurately reconstruct what the eruption of Mount Vesuvius looked like. They can also tell us many things about the victims of the disaster.   The skeletons found in Herculaneum’s dock area are a valuable resource for investigating the lives of the victims.
Source: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/run-sail-or-hide-how-to-survive-the-destruction-of-pompeii-gary-devore#watch