Kristian Ferrell
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 killed nearly 2,000 people in the nearby ancient Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. However, thousands more may have survived. The obvious destination for these survivors included towns and cities around Campania, where friends and family may have offered shelter. Most stayed along the southern Italian coast, resettling in the communities of Cumae, Naples, Ostia and Puteoli. However, it was not easy to escape by boat. One source describes how Marcus tried to go seaward with his family, but the waves were 'brimming with volcanic matter, making it impossible for boats to navigate close enough to shore'. Another source describes how Pliny and his mother walked to safety in the open country because the wind direction made it impossible to escape by boat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Could survivors escape by boat? | No, the waves were "brimming with volcanic matter, making it impossible for boats to navigate close enough to shore" |
| Where did survivors go? | Towns and cities around Campania, including Cumae, Naples, Ostia, Puteoli, and Misenum |
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What You'll Learn
- Survivors of Pompeii couldn't flee by boat because of high waves and strong winds
- Some survivors of Pompeii walked to safety in the open country
- The obvious destination for survivors included towns and cities around Campania, where friends and family may have offered shelter
- Most survivors stayed along the southern Italian coast, resettling in the communities of Cumae, Naples, Ostia and Puteoli
- Some survivors of Pompeii may have travelled east
Survivors of Pompeii couldn't flee by boat because of high waves and strong winds
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 killed nearly 2,000 people in the nearby ancient Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The volcano's molten rock, scorching debris and poisonous gases destroyed the towns. Those who did survive would find nothing left of their homes. Most stayed along the southern Italian coast, resettling in the communities of Cumae, Naples, Ostia and Puteoli.
Some survivors were able to get out in the first few hours of the ash fall, most likely by catching a boat or by travelling east. Pliny and his mother returned to Misenum.
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Some survivors of Pompeii walked to safety in the open country
It is unlikely that the survivors of Pompeii escaped by boat. One source suggests that the waves were "brimming with volcanic matter, making it impossible for boats to navigate close enough to shore". Another source suggests that the wind was blowing in the wrong direction for boats to escape.
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![Pompeii [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81bdEzffK+L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The obvious destination for survivors included towns and cities around Campania, where friends and family may have offered shelter
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 killed nearly 2,000 people in the nearby ancient Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The obvious destination for survivors included towns and cities around Campania, where friends and family may have offered shelter.
Most survivors stayed along the southern Italian coast, resettling in the communities of Cumae, Naples, Ostia and Puteoli. Some sources suggest that the best course of action would have been to flee to the north, towards Herculaneum and Naples. However, the waves were brimming with volcanic matter, making it impossible for boats to navigate close enough to shore.
One source suggests that the logical escape direction would have been south or southwest, as the wind was blowing in that direction. However, the winds were blowing in the wrong direction for boats, and later, high waves made it impossible to flee by boat. Others suggest travelling east to escape.
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Most survivors stayed along the southern Italian coast, resettling in the communities of Cumae, Naples, Ostia and Puteoli
Most survivors of Pompeii stayed along the southern Italian coast, resettling in the communities of Cumae, Naples, Ostia and Puteoli. Given that this was the ancient world, they didn't travel far. It is thought that an estimated 2,000 people died during the eruption, meaning thousands more may have survived.
The obvious destination for survivors included towns and cities around Campania, where friends and family may have offered shelter. However, it was difficult to flee by boat because of the wind direction and the waves, which were "brimming with volcanic matter, making it impossible for boats to navigate close enough to shore".
Some survivors, such as Pliny and his mother, returned to Misenum. Others, such as Fabia, chose to join the stream of people walking southeast, away from the volcano.
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Some survivors of Pompeii may have travelled east
It is likely that some survivors of Pompeii travelled east, as the wind direction at the time meant that the logical escape direction would have been south or southwest. However, it is also possible that some survivors travelled by boat, as the waves were "brimming with volcanic matter, making it impossible for boats to navigate close enough to shore".
Most survivors of Pompeii are thought to have stayed along the southern Italian coast, resettling in the communities of Cumae, Naples, Ostia and Puteoli. These towns and cities around Campania would have been obvious destinations for survivors, as friends and family may have offered shelter.
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Frequently asked questions
No, they couldn't escape by boat because the waves were 'brimming with volcanic matter, making it impossible for boats to navigate close enough to shore'.
They mostly stayed along the southern Italian coast, resettling in Cumae, Naples, Ostia and Puteoli.
They walked to safety in the open country, in a south or south-west direction, because of the wind direction and ash fall at the time.
An estimated 2,000 people died during the eruption, meaning thousands more may have survived.
Mount Vesuvius decimated Pompeii with ash, stone, toxic gas, and debris. Even those who did survive would find nothing left of their homes.
