On August 24, 79 C.E., Mount Vesuvius began to erupt. Volcanologists believe that the first explosion, which rained down pumice and ash on the two cities, would probably not have prevented the inhabitants from escaping.
भित्तीचित्रांवरून व इतर अवशेषांवरूनही स्पष्ट होते की त्या समाजात अनैतिकता आणि चंगळवाद बोकाळला होता.