Which volcano’s eruption buried Pompeii in AD 79?

Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79 and buried Pompeii. The volcano, located near modern Naples in Italy, released pumice, ash, and hot volcanic flows that overwhelmed Pompeii and nearby Roman settlements.

The eruption is traditionally dated to 24–25 August, although later evidence has led some scholars to argue for an autumn date. Pliny the Younger described the disaster in letters to the historian Tacitus, providing a valuable eyewitness account of the eruption and its aftermath.

Pompeii was buried under layers of ash and lapilli, while the nearby town of Herculaneum was covered largely by hot pyroclastic material. The deposits preserved streets, buildings, household objects, graffiti, food, and human remains, creating an unusually detailed record of Roman urban life.

Vesuvius remains an active volcano, though it has been quiet since its last eruption in 1944. Its location beside a densely populated metropolitan area makes it one of the world’s most closely monitored volcanoes.