Pliny the Elder sets sail for Pompeii
Surely everyone with an interest in history knows the story of Pompeii. But while they may well know that the Roman city was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius, the volcano which looms large over the Bay of Naples, erupted, the true story of the daring effort to rescue the citizens of Pompeii. To be fair, though, not even professional historians have a full picture of what happened on that fateful day. However, there is certainly enough evidence to show that, not only was a rescue mission launched but that it most probably saved hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.
On August 24, in the year 79 AD, Vesuvius finally erupted after spewing smoke for several days. While several other smaller Roman towns and settlements were affected, Pompeii was worst hit. Many of the inhabitants simply died on the spot as a wave of intense heat swept through the city streets. Others tried to flee but could not outrun the soot and ash. They were simply buried alive, their bodies perfectly preserved and now a popular tourist attraction. Only a small portion of the people managed to get out alive, and some of them had Pliny the Elder to thank for their lives.
We know of the statesman’s mission through the writings of his nephew, Pliny the Younger. According to his accounts, he was initially curious when he saw the black smoke billowing out of the top of Vesuvius. As well as being a politician, philosopher and historian, Pliny the Elder was also a man of science and he was keen to learn more. But what he first thought would be a scientific expedition from his villa at nearby Misenum turned into a dramatic rescue mission. Upon receiving a message from stricken friends close to Pompeii, he decided to act.
As Admiral of the Roman Imperial Fleet at Misenum, Pliny the Elder had men and ships under his command. It’s believed he chose 12 of his fastest warships, each with more than 150 oarsmen. The small armada set out on the 30km journey across the Bay of Naples. They got there just in time. Lifeboats were launched to shore and hundreds of citizens, not just Pliny’s own friends, were brought to the larger ships to safety. However, as Pliny the Younger noted, their leader chose to go back one more time. He was determined to find his friends. As he was bringing a small group of survivors to the beaches and the waiting lifeboats, they were all overcome by a cloud of poisonous gas. They died there and Pliny the Elder’s body was never recovered.
According to one recent study, as many as 2,000 people might have been saved by the rescue mission. Whether Pliny the Elder was driven by humanitarian concerns or simply saw a chance at glory will never be known. Interestingly, however, archaeologists are hopeful that they will soon be able to make use of the latest technology to identify his body from the many found lying in and around the ruins of Pompeii. If they do, surely he will be given a true hero’s burial.