The two letters written by Pliny the Younger describing the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD
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You are in: Home Page " Naples " HISTORY OF POMPEII " THE TWO LETTERS WRITTEN BY PLINY THE YOUNGER ABOUT THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS IN 79 A.D.
THE TWO LETTERS WRITTEN BY PLINY THE YOUNGER ABOUT THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS IN 79 A.D.
Spectacular view of Vesuvius erupting
LXV - TO TACITUS
Your request that I would send you an account of my uncle's<br>death, in order to transmit a more exact relation of it to posterity,<br>deserves my acknowledgments; for, if this accident shall be<br>celebrated by your pen, the glory of it, I am well assured, will be<br>rendered forever illustrious. And notwithstanding he perished by a<br>misfortune, which, as it involved at the same time a most beautiful<br>country in ruins, and destroyed so many populous cities, seems to<br>promise him an everlasting remembrance; notwithstanding he has<br>himself composed many and lasting works; yet I am persuaded, the<br>mentioning of him in your immortal writings, will greatly<br>contribute to render his name immortal. Happy I esteem those to<br>be to whom by provision of the gods has been granted the ability<br>either to do such actions as are worthy of being related or to relate<br>them in a manner worthy of being read; but peculiarly happy are<br>they who are blessed with both these uncommon talents: in the<br>number of which my uncle, as his own writings and your<br>history will evidently prove, may justly be ranked. It is with<br>extreme willingness, therefore, that I execute your commands; and<br>should indeed have claimed the task if you had not enjoined it. He<br>was at that time with the fleet under his command at Misenum.92<br>On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, my mother<br>desired him to observe a cloud which appeared of a very unusual<br>size and shape. He had just taken a turn in the sun93 and, after<br>bathing himself in cold water, and making a light luncheon, gone<br>back to his books: he immediately arose and went out upon a rising<br>ground from whence he might get a better sight of this very<br>uncommon appearance. A cloud, from which mountain was<br>uncertain, at this distance (but it was found afterwards to come<br>from Mount Vesuvius), was ascending, the appearance of which I<br>cannot give you a more exact description of than by likening it to<br>that of a pine tree, for it shot up to a great height in the form of a<br>very tall trunk, which spread itself out at the top into a sort of<br>branches; occasioned, I imagine, either by a sudden gust of air that<br>impelled it, the force of which decreased as it advanced upwards,<br>or the cloud itself being pressed back again by its own weight,<br>expanded in the manner I have mentioned; it appeared sometimes<br>bright and sometimes dark and spotted, according as it was either<br>more or less impregnated with earth and cinders. This<br>phenomenon seemed to a man of such learning and research as my<br>uncle extraordinary and worth further looking into. He ordered a<br>light vessel to be got ready, and gave me leave, if I liked, to<br>accompany him. I said I had rather go on with my work; and it so<br>happened, he had himself given me something to write out. As he<br>was coming out of the house, he received a note from Rectina, the<br>wife of Bassus, who was in the utmost alarm at the imminent<br>danger which threatened her; for her villa lying at the foot of<br>Mount Vesuvius, there was no way of escape but by sea; she<br>earnestly entreated him therefore to come to her assistance. He<br>accordingly changed his first intention, and what he had begun<br>from a philosophical, he now carries out in a noble and generous<br>spirit. He ordered the galleys to be put to sea, and went himself on<br>board with an intention of assisting not only Rectina, but the<br>several other towns which lay thickly strewn along that beautiful<br>coast. Hastening then to the place from whence others fled with<br>the utmost terror, he steered his course direct to the point of<br>danger, and with so much calmness and presence of mind as to be<br>able to make and dictate his observations upon the motion and all<br>the phenomena of that dreadful scene. He was now so close to the<br>mountain that the cinders, which grew thicker and hotter the<br>nearer he approached, fell into the ships, together with pumice-<br>stones, and black pieces of burning rock: they were in danger too<br>not only of being aground by the sudden retreat of the sea, but also<br>from the vast fragments which rolled down from the mountain,<br>and obstructed all the shore. Here he stopped to consider whether<br>he should turn back again; to which the pilot advising him,<br>"Fortune," said he, "favours the brave; steer to where Pomponianus<br>is." Pomponianus was then at Stabiae,94 separated by a bay, which<br>the sea, after several insensible windings, forms with the shore. He<br>had already sent...