Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE and preserved under volcanic ash.
The Roman city stood near the Bay of Naples in what is now Italy. On 24 August 79 CE, according to the traditional date, Vesuvius released pumice and ash, followed by fast-moving surges and flows that buried Pompeii and nearby settlements.
The covering material preserved streets, houses, wall paintings, inscriptions, tools, and casts formed from cavities left by decomposed bodies. These remains provide unusually detailed evidence about ordinary Roman urban life, including food, commerce, religion, and entertainment.
Nearby Herculaneum was also destroyed, but its remains were buried mainly by volcanic mud and pyroclastic material. Pompeii is not simply a “frozen” city: excavation and preservation continue, and parts of the site remain vulnerable to weathering.