Pliny the younger
Primary accounts of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D are written by Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, more commonly known as Pliny the younger who was a lawyer, author and magistrate of ancient Rome. He was born in 61 A.D and was raised and educated by his uncle Pliny the Elder. Pliny the elder was a scholar wrote the first encyclopedic called Naturalis Historia that became a model for all other encyclopedias The two letters that describe the eruption
were written approximately 25 years after the eruption as a response to Pliny the younger' s friend Tacitus the historian, who was interested in the
events of Pliny the Elders Death. It can be argued that due to the great lateness of which the letters were produced that certain limitations
are created. But in perspective due to the great accuracy of the letters and detailed descriptions, the letters remain as a great historical value. For
example in his descriptions he talks about the first emotions and sights he witnessed
". . .the buildings were now shaking with violent shocks, and seemed to be swaying
to and fro as if they were torn from their foundations. Outside, on the other
hand, there was the danger of failing pumice stones, even though these were
light and porous; however, after comparing the risks they chose the latter. In
my uncle's case one reason outweighed the other, but for the others it was a
choice of fears. As a protection against falling objects they put pillows on
their heads tied down with cloths. " and then of the real
terror "You could hear the shrieks of women, the wailing of infants,
and the shouting of men; some were calling their parents, others their children
or their wives, trying to recognize them by their voices. People bewailed their
own fate or that of their relatives, and there were some who prayed for death in
their terror of dying. Many besought the aid of the gods, but still more
imagined there were no gods left, and that the universe was plunged into eternal
darkness for evermore."
Pliny the younger,
like all romans strived for immortality and through literary form, Pliny
discovered his way to remain present throughout history. He was considered
no genius but his letters are the only accounts of the eruption of Mt.
Vesuvius.