Classical history researcher Stephen Tuck from the University of Miami has uncovered secrets about the residents of Pompeii who survived the eruption of Vesuvius. According to the scholar, more than two hundred citizens of the ancient Roman city not only survived but also settled nearby after the tragedy.
“After eight years of studying databases containing tens of thousands of Roman inscriptions on walls and tombstones, I found evidence of over 200 people who survived in 12 cities,” Dr. Tuck shared.
The eruption of Vesuvius on August 24, 79 AD was a true 24-hour nightmare, burying Pompeii, Herculaneum, and several neighboring towns under layers of volcanic ash. The disaster claimed the lives of thousands. The exact death toll remains unknown. According to estimates by Pliny the Younger, over 10,000 people perished as a result of the eruption.
While it is known that around 30,000 people lived in Pompeii and about 5,000 in nearby Herculaneum before 79 AD, only a fraction of that number was found in the buried cities.
According to Stephen Tuck, researchers did not find many items that should have remained in the homes of these large cities. For instance, carts and horses were missing from the stables, and many houses lacked money and valuables. This indicated that many people had fled, as reported by the Daily Mail.
What the Researcher Discovered
Dr. Tuck focused on names unique to the residents of Pompeii and Herculaneum, such as Numerius Popidius and Aulus Umbricius. He then searched for records of people with those names or their relatives who lived in the outskirts of the affected cities shortly after the volcanic event. He also sought evidence of changes in infrastructure in neighboring communities where refugees might have settled.
Ultimately, north of Vesuvius, “beyond the area of greatest destruction,” the scholar identified 12 cities that contained evidence of the presence of refugees from Pompeii. Some of these places were not kind to their new inhabitants, but others became quite successful.
For example, the Caltilii family, who fled to the port city of Ostia, amassed enough wealth to pay for an elaborate tomb in honor of their relatives.
According to Dr. Tuck, those who escaped the searing, suffocating volcanic ash and debris were not left to fend for themselves.
The authorities of Ancient Rome invested significant resources in the region, restoring damaged structures from the eruption and building new infrastructure for the displaced population, including roads, water supply systems, amphitheaters, and temples.
“This model of disaster recovery could serve as a blueprint for today,” Dr. Tuck noted.