The most popular theory claims that the people of Pompeii died of asphyxia (suffocation) due to the pyroclastic flow (current of hot gases) and were buried under a layer of volcanic ash that hardened over time. Archaeologists made casts of the people during their final moment by pouring plaster inside the hollow spaces left by the decaying bodies. (See my previous video about the Pompeii dog for an image of the process)
HistorybyMae
It is so easy to forget that people thousands of years ago were like us. They had preferences, opinions, and loved.
ezekiekr
The way the man carries the child has me sobbing. Its like hes comforting his spirit saying "there there, youve been found at last."
Terragoofsoff
That bracelet of gold looks beautiful. Also poor child who was farther away from his family. It must've been scary in those final moments. I hope i can visit Pompeii one day too.
enchantedbelle
Mom and toddler 😭😭. She must've felt so helpless trying to protect her baby.
Sunflowersarepretty
It is so sad to think that for many MANY people who've come and gone in history, their last moments were filled with terror. In a perfect world we would all die peacefully.
williaml
A few important notes on this:
- they likely did not experience prolonged pain. If they died from the initial fumes, it would have knocked them out first. And even if they were conscious when the hot gas vaporized the city, it would have killed them almost instantly. There was probably a lot of fear, but not great pain.
- they are not in those poses due to pain. Their muscles just contorted after death when their bodies were exposed to high heat. That’s one reason we bind/wrap bodies for cremation
- the women was definitely with her baby, but her body was actually found on its side (fetal position) and the baby had probably been held to her chest on the floor when they died. The heat blast after their deaths caused their bodies to contort away from each other into that strange position.
JohnJacobJingleheimerSchmidt
Gentle reminder that in Pompeii death was completely instantaneous, and they would have known that they were going to die for a max of a few seconds. Their muscles seized causing the protective positions of these casts. Still tragic possibly more so since they probably thought until the moment of death they would survive.
AdriannieBio
That image of the man holding the cast is haunting for one big reason:
That man is a grandfather. He’s watched his own children grow up, and watched their children grow up. He has held at least two babies in his hands whom he would sacrifice the Earth to protect.
In this image, he’s holding the echo of a baby nobody was close enough to comfort in its final moments.
authorofone
Imagine having a beautiful, loving partner, two wonderful children. You might even have some riches that make you feel like it can not get better. One moment to the next, you know it is all over, because nature can not be contested.
Drehmomentdante
The fact he's cradling an impression of that baby is Hauntingly Beautiful.
downundabrotha
In all of the photos I’ve seen of children with their mothers/fathers they appear to have been holding them but, perhaps, because of the blast the children were taken out of their arms. I can’t image the pain they felt knowing their babies were suffering and couldn’t do anything but hold them. Their death was instant but the heat rose in Pompeii among other factors before the pyroclastic flow.
KaliG
I can’t even imagine the pain the parents experienced feeling helpless to save their children. Heartbreaking
dioris
Incredible. We have absolutely no understanding of the journey these people had to take, with all the dangers around them. The pain they have felt, the joy, the hunger and sorrow. All these emotions placed in their context.
The joy of what we can learn from them and to reflect that we don’t have it that bad as it seems.
oxidatie
May the souls of this family rest in peace 🕊️
sagarshetty
The man holding the child as if comforting her all these centuries later. Tears...
elizabethlinsay
I am always astonished at how their bodies are trapped in time, yet here they are with us. Thanks for sharing the video. Always interested in seeing content like this👍
housephone
This reminds me of the Doctor Who episode where the 10th Doctor had no choice but start Pompeii and seeing all of those people in horror and terror and Donna not being able to save them was a mind fuck to watch
cracker
The scientist holding the child evokes an indescribable emotion in me, like he’s able to comfort him even thousands of years later
KBzDvSt
You can see the pain in thier arched bodies. So, so Sad.
