Just nine miles north of Pompeii lay the seaside resort of Herculaneum, home to nearly 5,000 residents. Some of Rome's wealthiest citizens had homes here, where they could relax in the public baths that looked out on the sparkling ocean. Indeed, one of the most luxurious homes yet known in the Roman world was uncovered in Herculaneum—The Villa of the Papyri. Discovered by chance in 1750, the Villa rose high above the cliffs of the sea, with an ideal panoramic vista to the Bay of Naples and an expansive swimming pool. Among its many treasures, the Villa's library produced as many as 1758 papyrus scrolls, including texts of the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus of Gadara and some Latin texts.

But even the grandeur of the Villa of the Papyri was no match for Vesuvius’ rage.  Herculaneum was mostly spared from the initial phase of the eruption on August 24—residents stared in shock at the column of gas and volcanic material which rose above Vesuvius, and were filled with anxiety when tremors shook the streets.  But they remained in the city, uncertain what to do. Experts speculate that residents only began to flee the city in the late afternoon when the cloud rose so high that it blocked out the sun.

By one o’clock the next morning, the column collapsed, producing the first lethal surge—a burning cloud of gas and ash that reached temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees F. Rolling along the flanks of Vesuvius, the volcanic material reached Herculaneum within minutes.

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