The people of Pompeii didn’t realise they lived next to a volcano.
Before the devastating eruption of 79 AD, the inhabitants of Pompeii had no idea they lived beside a volcano since it hadn’t erupted in around 1,800 years. In comparison, it’s been very active since, having erupted 6 times in the 18th-century, 8 times in the 19th-century and 3 times in the 20th-century. It last erupted in 1944.
You may wonder why so many people lived, and continue to live, in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Well, the answer is simple, volcanic soil is fantastic for plant growth! The ash and lava deposits left by the volcano are rich in minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen and create incredibly fertile soil. Irpinia, a town close to Mount Vesuvius, grows the red grape Aglianico and the white grapes Fiano and Greco do Tufo, each of which makes delicious wines. Mount Vesuvius also grows a variety of tomato, ‘Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio’ that has been granted Protected Geographical Status to mark its quality.
Mount Vesuvius is listed among the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Volcanologists and geologists alike agree that the next volcanic eruption is overdue and that when it does happen, it will be big. The layer of magma that lies beneath Vesuvius measures a huge 154 square miles – that’s a lot of magma. When the volcano does eventually erupt, it has the potential to be massive, affecting over 3 million people and destroying the city of Naples. This may sound scary, but with scientists monitoring the volcano’s activity 24/7, there will be plenty of time to warn nearby residents and move people to safety.
Pompeii is a 2014 romantic historical disaster film produced and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. An international co-production between the United States, Germany and Canada, it is inspired by and based on the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. that destroyed Pompeii, a city of the Roman Empire.
As with any Hollywood flick that is roughly based on real events, the filmmakers had a fair amount of creative license. However, scholars have stated the reality of the actual eruption to be quite accurate. ... Paul W. S. Anderson cites the volcanic eruption of Mount Etna and various Japanese volcanoes as inspiration for Pompeii.