AD 79: THE DESTRUCTION OF POMPEII

The eruption of Vesuvius, which took place in 79 AD, was probably the most catastrophic event of Antiquity. The towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Oplontis, along with three minor hamlets, were swept away from the map. More than 20,000 people were killed. But why did an ancient Italic population decide to found a town at the foot of an active volcano? And why did the residents shrug off the weird phenomena that took place before the eruption? Both answers are in this text.