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Factors Contributing to the Wrong Destruction Time for Pompeii
The traditional belief that Pompeii was destroyed on August 24, 79 AD is now considered incorrect. Recent research indicates that the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius occurred around October 24, 79 AD. Several factors contributed to the wrong destruction time.
1. Misinterpretation of Historical Sources:
The primary historical source for the destruction of Pompeii is a letter from Pliny the Younger to the historian Tacitus. In this letter, Pliny states that the eruption began "on the ninth day before the Kalends of September," which roughly translates to August 24. However, scholars now believe that Pliny's account was written several months after the event and may have contained inaccuracies due to faulty memory or misinterpretation.
2. Cultural Bias:
In the 18th century, when archaeological excavations began at Pompeii, many European scholars held the belief that ancient Roman cities typically held religious ceremonies in August. This assumption led to the incorrect interpretation of Pliny's letter and the conclusion that the eruption occurred on August 24.
3. Limitations of Early Excavation Techniques:
The early archaeological excavations at Pompeii were limited by the technology available at the time. Excavators often relied on digging trenches and removing artifacts without carefully documenting the context and stratigraphy of the site. This made it difficult to accurately estimate the timing of the eruption.
4. Discovery of Carbonized Objects:
In the 20th century, advances in scientific techniques such as radiocarbon dating allowed researchers to analyze organic remains found at Pompeii. Carbonized fruit and other materials pointed to a destruction date in autumn rather than summer. Additionally, the discovery of cool-weather clothing and agricultural products indicated that August 24 was too early to be the eruption date.
References:
Beard, M. (2019). Pompeii: The Life and Death of a Roman City. Profile Books.
De Carolis, E. (2014). The Destruction of Pompeii. Thames & Hudson.
Lanciani, R. (1892). Ancient Rome in the Light of Recent Discoveries. Houghton, Mifflin and Company.
Pliny the Younger. (1961). Letters. Translated by Betty Radice. Penguin Classics.
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