What It Was Like To Die At Pompeii

Volcanic eruptions happen in phases - it isn't simply a sudden downpour of lava over the land around the volcano. Though experts have debated which stage of the eruption people were most likely to succumb to, one thing is clear: None of them would have survived the fourth pyroclastic surge, a wall of searing ash and gas that quickly slammed into the city in the early morning of August 25.

When these boiling toxins hit someone, they immediately cause muscle contractions and what one expert called "heat shock" - and this accounts for the crouched, curled positions in which historians discovered so many of the victims. The heat and gas instantly killed anyone it hit, which included everyone who remained in the city. Since they passed in less than a second, there wasn't time for them to feel anything.

Erupting volcanoes emit gases and volcanic chaff high into the air, and Vesuvius was no exception. On August 24, the day of the fateful eruption, a giant cloud - in the shape of what Pliny the Younger described as an "umbrella pine tree" - shot out of the volcano and into the air.

It was so thick, it blotted out the sun - some Pompeians never saw sunlight again. Though it was the middle of the day, the city became cloaked in darkness. Anyone who attempted to flee the city had a difficult time seeing where they were going.

Like many ancient cities, Pompeii stunk even before that fateful August day in 79 CE. But as the volcano was erupting, the air quality worsened due to the thick, toxic gas. Pliny the Younger, witness to the natural disaster, noted how the smell of sulfur in the air intensified before the volcano erupted.

The volcano likely spewed hydrogen sulfide, heralded by a distinct scent reminiscent of "rotten eggs." Between the sulfur and smoke, the smells compelled some Pompeians to repurpose their tunics by tying them around their faces.

Though the earth trembled for days before the eruption, the situation turned deadly on August 24. By evening, the volcano was spewing rocks, some of which measured roughly 3 inches wide. Escaping the storm of stones was risky, but many tried.

Not all were successful: Many Pompeians who took the gamble lost their lives from blows to the head.

Chaos ensued as the volcano erupted and people realized the circumstances were more dire than they originally believed. As darkness descended across the city and the barrage of stones snowed down, people attempted to flee.

One survivor's account noted how the evening became filled with voices crying out for loved ones. In their last hours, Pompeians desperately wanted to stay safe with friends and family.

Vesuvius pelted Pompeii with rocks and hot ash late in the day on August 24. Though many opted to stay indoors, others braved the elements in an attempt to flee the city. Aware of the danger the volcanic debris posed, some left their homes and wore pillows tied to their heads. They intended for the soft pillow to cushion any blow to the head from falling stones.

Historians still don't know whether this protective gear proved effective.