Due to the US Government shutdown, the Smithsonian is temporarily closed. The Global Volcanism Program website will remain available but will not be monitored or updated. Status updates will be available on the Smithsonian homepage.
Logo link to homepage

Image GVP-00027

Casts of victim's bodies from the 79 CE eruption of Vesuvius were uncovered during excavations of the buried city of Pompeii.  The Pompeii fatalities were caused by pyroclastic flows, which swept as far as 30 km from the summit.  Fine-grained ash hardened around the bodies, preserving features in great detail. Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1971.

Casts of victim's bodies from the 79 CE eruption of Vesuvius were uncovered during excavations of the buried city of Pompeii. The Pompeii fatalities were caused by pyroclastic flows, which swept as far as 30 km from the summit. Fine-grained ash hardened around the bodies, preserving features in great detail.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1971.

Copyrighted image used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Contact photographer for any usage requests.


Vesuvius