Pompeii and Herculaneum: Forgotten Victims of Mount Vesuvius, and the Obscured Story of Stabiae

Mount Vesuvius, one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes, erupted in 79 AD, forever altering the course of history. While Pompeii and Herculaneum are renowned for their catastrophic destruction, the city of Stabiae, located nearby, is often overlooked in the annals of this volcanic disaster. This article explores the reasons behind this historical discrepancy.

The Impact of Prevailing Winds on Destruction

The prevailing winds played a significant role in the distinct destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The first two pyroclastic flows were exceptionally hot, reaching 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, and primarily affected Herculaneum. The extreme heat combined with winds reaching 600 miles per hour incinerated Herculaneum's population. Subsequent flows, numbering six in total, buried the city under 60 meters of ash, pumice, and volcanic debris.

Pompeii, on the other hand, experienced cooler pyroclastic flows, at 850 degrees Fahrenheit, and winds at 450 miles per hour. These hotter flows buried the southern sections of the city in 30 meters of volcanic material. Due to the reduced heat, victims were merely entombed in volcanic debris, making it possible for plaster casts to be made of their death poses.

Evidence of evacuation suggests that the only reported evacuees were those who fled to the north, settling around 17 miles away. This geography influenced the fate of Herculaneum more than Pompeii, as the prevailing winds drew the deadliest flows towards it.

Historical and Archaeological Influences

The destruction of Herculaneum and Pompeii garnered more attention for several reasons. Pliny the Elder, a prominent figure of his time, attempted to rescue residents of Pompeii but died in the process, making him a tragic hero. His nephew, Pliny the Younger, chronicled this event extensively, leading to a detailed record of the city's fall.

Pompeii was a city frequented by the rich and famous, leading to more extensive documentation and records. Additionally, the city's downfall was marked by burial under ash rather than pyroclastic flows, which preserved the city in a more recognizable state.

In contrast, Herculaneum, affected by pyroclastic flows, was rapidly buried under massive, red-hot particles moving at high speeds, leaving less evidence for subsequent excavations. Even though Herculaneum was discovered in the 16th century, it wasn't extensively excavated until the mid-18th century, when it became a subject of both looting and haphazard exploration. It wasn't until the mid-twentieth century that proper archaeological work began.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, Pompeii and Herculaneum have been the focus of numerous studies and excavations. The city of Stabiae, though also affected, was not buried as deeply. It saw a resurgence and continued as a community for several centuries, making it a less controversial topic in historical discourse.

Despite these narratives, Stabiae remains an important artifact of the Vesuvius eruption. Locally significant, it was home to several wealthy Romans and was rebuilt after being destroyed by fire in 89 BC. Major archaeological discoveries at a necropolis in 1957 shed light on this lesser-known community.

Conclusion

The reasons for the relative obscurity of Stabiae in historical records are multifaceted. Its burial depth, geographical location, and gradual rediscovery over centuries have all contributed to its less prominent status. However, archaeologists continue to uncover new insights into the lives and deaths of the residents of this ancient community, ensuring that the full impact of Mount Vesuvius's 79 AD eruption is fully understood.