Herculaneum's Demise
Jan. 2nd, 2019 03:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
favoritebean_writesRetired centurion Gaius Cassius surveyed the landscape before him. It was a lush vista, surrounded by rolling hills. The town was significantly smaller and quieter than Roma. A mere hop, skip and jump away, vineyards produced some of the finest nectars known throughout the Empire. Near the ports, lovely lidos beckoned, or so Gaius Cassius reckoned, during the height of holidays, while at the other end, a modern colosseum provided daily entertainment for tourists like him and his wife Vipsania.
During their three days on vacation, Vipsania pleaded with Gaius Cassius to consider this as the place to settle down. Having received a substantial pension for years of serving the Empire along with a wealthy inheritance following Cassius the Elder’s death, Gaius and Vipsania had decided to tour the lands that belonged to the Empire, and find a place worthy enough to sire their own family.
On the morning they arrived at Herculaneum, the ground began to rumble and shake. Vipsania had just departed from the temple of Juno after receiving blessings for her pregnancy. While townsfolk carried on as normal, the tremor caught Vipsania by surprise. When not one citizen seemed perturbed by the Earth’s movement, Vipsania took this as a sign from the Gods that this little town of Herculaneum is where they should stay. At this realization, the baby inside Vipsania’s belly kicked, and Vipsania smiled.
“Yes, my son, we shall live here then.”
“Are you quite certain that you wish to stay here, beloved?” Gaius Cassius asked.
“I do,” Vipsania smiled. “I cannot think of a lovelier place than here. Even little Gaius the younger seems to agree.” Vipsania patted her belly, which bounced in response.
Gaius Cassius smiled. He had been certain that Vipsania would prefer the city of Pompeii to Herculaneum, so he had only planned to break the morning fast here before setting sail for Pompeii three days prior. Many of Gaius Cassius’ neighbors had spoken about moving to Pompeii someday, it was well known for its beauty and wines.
Gaius Cassius even went so far as to take Vipsania to Pompeii that afternoon as scheduled. While the town was even lovelier to the eye, and her citizens seemed to exude vibrance, Gaius Cassius could not see any sort of flicker of excitement for the resort town. The Earth trembled just as Vipsania and Gaius Cassius set foot on the ship to take them back to Herculaneum. Tourists and natives alike looked to the skies in curiosity, but Vipsania was not swayed.
“No, I think it is best that we return. The Gods even tell us now as the Earth quakes beneath our feet. You can tell, can’t you, beloved?” Vispania said. Her brown eyes pleaded that Gaius Cassius would acquiesce and that the family could lay roots down.
“Yes, I see,” Gaius Cassius said. He couldn’t, but he loved Vipsania, and did not wish to disappoint her. So back to Herculaneum they sailed. Days later, Gaius Cassius had a plot of land with a small villa. The gulf framed the landscape from the west, and Mount Vesuvius to the east. Vineyards were nearly ready for harvest, and a servant tended to Vipsania’s needs.
On the fourth day, Gaius Cassius bid farewell to his wife, for he had business to finish in Roma. He would set sale for Neapolis, then travel north. He promised to return in a fortnight’s time. Vipsania kissed him good-bye, and Gaius Cassius realized that he too, loved the land which Herculaneum stood, and that he was eager to return to this new paradise that was not hectic or overcrowded like Roma, nor overrated like Pompeii.
Sadly, business in Roma took longer than anticipated. Gaius Cassius did not return in a fortnight, but rather two months later. As his ship departed from the Neapolis, he wondered of many things. Had little Gaius had been born yet? Were the harvests plentiful? Did Vipsania cultivate friendships with the residents of Herculaneum? Did she attend the autumn festivals and learn the noble art of wine making? Would Vipsania have grown homesick for Roma instead?
As they sailed for Herculaneum, there was a loud ruckus above, which caused several seamen to head up to the deck. Curious as to what was happening, Gaius Cassius followed the crewman. When he came about, he noticed the sky was bright red and black, and a giant arrow of a cloud seemed to float up from Mount Vesuvius in the distance.
“Sir,” the centurion said, “Vesuvius seems to have risen to the heavens!” Gaius Cassius frowned. It had to be more than that, for the heavens were red with fury. Clouds expanded across land and sea.
“What should we do, Sir?”
Gaius Cassius wanted to answer, “Not my job anymore, Centurion,” but that would show dereliction of duty. Instead, he answered, “We should sail closer to land and assist citizens that need help. I don’t think that Vesuvius is reaching heaven, I think it is raining hell upon the Earth. Steady the course for Herculaneum, and we shall ferry her citizens back to Neapolis for safety.”
As the ship neared the docks of Herculaneum, Gaius Cassius and others on board saw many citizens waiting at the boathouse. In the throng of villagers, he spied Vipsania, who appeared to clutch a bundle to her bosom tightly. “Little Gaius,” Gaius Cassius thought.
The ship docked, and the throng pushed forward to board. Flakes of ash fell from above, coating everything like a blanket of snow.
“Board quickly, please!” The young centurion called to the crowd. Dozens of men, women and children boarded. At last, Vipsania stepped onto the ship.
“Beloved!” Gaius Cassius called. He embraced her quickly before whispering, “I must help the others. Go below to safety.” Then he turned to assist a few more residents of Herculaneum onto the boat before the young centurion called out. “We shall return for the rest of you as soon as we can. About a hundred residents surged toward the ship.
“Don’t leave us! Vesuvius is angry!”
“We will return, I promise!” the centurion shouted before issuing orders to the crew to secure the refugees and set sail for Neapolis.
“Sir,” the centurion said to Gaius Cassius, “I know you are retired. I am sorry, we require your service still.” Gaius Cassius nodded curtly, and went below to help the refugees.
It wasn’t until they reached Neapolis that Gaius Cassius was able to speak to his wife. She appeared exhausted as they stood on the docks, the last to disembark the ship.
“The mountain grew and reached for the sky,” she said, “there was a loud bang, and up it rose. It was terrible. Then the sky rained ash. Trees caught fire. The priests and priestesses said that we should flee. Caelia has been coughing since.”
“Caelia?”
“Our daughter.” Vipsania presented the swaddled bundle, whose big brown eyes stared in awe of her father.
“Caelia,” Gaius Cassius sighed. “Beautiful girl.” He smiled. After all this talk about a son, he had a daughter. After all this talk about the loveliness of Herculaneum, it was on the verge of ruins. But Pompeii had fared far worse.
News at the docks was that Pompeii was completely destroyed, and citizens could see the cryogenic blast all the way from the port of Neapolis. Gaius Cassius felt the weariness set in. He was certain that if Pompeii was destroyed, then so was Herculaneum. His land, gone. His son, a figment of a dream. At least he had a beautiful wife and daughter. The centurion from the ship had just informed him that the remaining residents of Herculaneum could not be rescued. Gaius Cassius felt his heart sink further. What would happen next? Certainly, the Empire would provide for them, and he could take his job back. But he was tired, and wanted nothing more than to harvest grapes, love his wife, and play with his daughter.
***
Notes: While Pompeii is the the city best known for incurring the wrath of the Plinian eruption of Mount Vesuvius, several other Roman towns were also destroyed. Herculaneum was one of those towns, although many citizens successfully fled. You can visit some of the remains today.
Since Herculaneum was not directly in the path of Vesuvius, but to the west, many residents were able to flee from the town. Unfortunately, not all residents made it. Fifty-five skeletal remains were discovered at the boathouse in Herculaneum during an excavation in the early 1980s.
Thank you for reading.
During their three days on vacation, Vipsania pleaded with Gaius Cassius to consider this as the place to settle down. Having received a substantial pension for years of serving the Empire along with a wealthy inheritance following Cassius the Elder’s death, Gaius and Vipsania had decided to tour the lands that belonged to the Empire, and find a place worthy enough to sire their own family.
On the morning they arrived at Herculaneum, the ground began to rumble and shake. Vipsania had just departed from the temple of Juno after receiving blessings for her pregnancy. While townsfolk carried on as normal, the tremor caught Vipsania by surprise. When not one citizen seemed perturbed by the Earth’s movement, Vipsania took this as a sign from the Gods that this little town of Herculaneum is where they should stay. At this realization, the baby inside Vipsania’s belly kicked, and Vipsania smiled.
“Yes, my son, we shall live here then.”
“Are you quite certain that you wish to stay here, beloved?” Gaius Cassius asked.
“I do,” Vipsania smiled. “I cannot think of a lovelier place than here. Even little Gaius the younger seems to agree.” Vipsania patted her belly, which bounced in response.
Gaius Cassius smiled. He had been certain that Vipsania would prefer the city of Pompeii to Herculaneum, so he had only planned to break the morning fast here before setting sail for Pompeii three days prior. Many of Gaius Cassius’ neighbors had spoken about moving to Pompeii someday, it was well known for its beauty and wines.
Gaius Cassius even went so far as to take Vipsania to Pompeii that afternoon as scheduled. While the town was even lovelier to the eye, and her citizens seemed to exude vibrance, Gaius Cassius could not see any sort of flicker of excitement for the resort town. The Earth trembled just as Vipsania and Gaius Cassius set foot on the ship to take them back to Herculaneum. Tourists and natives alike looked to the skies in curiosity, but Vipsania was not swayed.
“No, I think it is best that we return. The Gods even tell us now as the Earth quakes beneath our feet. You can tell, can’t you, beloved?” Vispania said. Her brown eyes pleaded that Gaius Cassius would acquiesce and that the family could lay roots down.
“Yes, I see,” Gaius Cassius said. He couldn’t, but he loved Vipsania, and did not wish to disappoint her. So back to Herculaneum they sailed. Days later, Gaius Cassius had a plot of land with a small villa. The gulf framed the landscape from the west, and Mount Vesuvius to the east. Vineyards were nearly ready for harvest, and a servant tended to Vipsania’s needs.
On the fourth day, Gaius Cassius bid farewell to his wife, for he had business to finish in Roma. He would set sale for Neapolis, then travel north. He promised to return in a fortnight’s time. Vipsania kissed him good-bye, and Gaius Cassius realized that he too, loved the land which Herculaneum stood, and that he was eager to return to this new paradise that was not hectic or overcrowded like Roma, nor overrated like Pompeii.
Sadly, business in Roma took longer than anticipated. Gaius Cassius did not return in a fortnight, but rather two months later. As his ship departed from the Neapolis, he wondered of many things. Had little Gaius had been born yet? Were the harvests plentiful? Did Vipsania cultivate friendships with the residents of Herculaneum? Did she attend the autumn festivals and learn the noble art of wine making? Would Vipsania have grown homesick for Roma instead?
As they sailed for Herculaneum, there was a loud ruckus above, which caused several seamen to head up to the deck. Curious as to what was happening, Gaius Cassius followed the crewman. When he came about, he noticed the sky was bright red and black, and a giant arrow of a cloud seemed to float up from Mount Vesuvius in the distance.
“Sir,” the centurion said, “Vesuvius seems to have risen to the heavens!” Gaius Cassius frowned. It had to be more than that, for the heavens were red with fury. Clouds expanded across land and sea.
“What should we do, Sir?”
Gaius Cassius wanted to answer, “Not my job anymore, Centurion,” but that would show dereliction of duty. Instead, he answered, “We should sail closer to land and assist citizens that need help. I don’t think that Vesuvius is reaching heaven, I think it is raining hell upon the Earth. Steady the course for Herculaneum, and we shall ferry her citizens back to Neapolis for safety.”
As the ship neared the docks of Herculaneum, Gaius Cassius and others on board saw many citizens waiting at the boathouse. In the throng of villagers, he spied Vipsania, who appeared to clutch a bundle to her bosom tightly. “Little Gaius,” Gaius Cassius thought.
The ship docked, and the throng pushed forward to board. Flakes of ash fell from above, coating everything like a blanket of snow.
“Board quickly, please!” The young centurion called to the crowd. Dozens of men, women and children boarded. At last, Vipsania stepped onto the ship.
“Beloved!” Gaius Cassius called. He embraced her quickly before whispering, “I must help the others. Go below to safety.” Then he turned to assist a few more residents of Herculaneum onto the boat before the young centurion called out. “We shall return for the rest of you as soon as we can. About a hundred residents surged toward the ship.
“Don’t leave us! Vesuvius is angry!”
“We will return, I promise!” the centurion shouted before issuing orders to the crew to secure the refugees and set sail for Neapolis.
“Sir,” the centurion said to Gaius Cassius, “I know you are retired. I am sorry, we require your service still.” Gaius Cassius nodded curtly, and went below to help the refugees.
It wasn’t until they reached Neapolis that Gaius Cassius was able to speak to his wife. She appeared exhausted as they stood on the docks, the last to disembark the ship.
“The mountain grew and reached for the sky,” she said, “there was a loud bang, and up it rose. It was terrible. Then the sky rained ash. Trees caught fire. The priests and priestesses said that we should flee. Caelia has been coughing since.”
“Caelia?”
“Our daughter.” Vipsania presented the swaddled bundle, whose big brown eyes stared in awe of her father.
“Caelia,” Gaius Cassius sighed. “Beautiful girl.” He smiled. After all this talk about a son, he had a daughter. After all this talk about the loveliness of Herculaneum, it was on the verge of ruins. But Pompeii had fared far worse.
News at the docks was that Pompeii was completely destroyed, and citizens could see the cryogenic blast all the way from the port of Neapolis. Gaius Cassius felt the weariness set in. He was certain that if Pompeii was destroyed, then so was Herculaneum. His land, gone. His son, a figment of a dream. At least he had a beautiful wife and daughter. The centurion from the ship had just informed him that the remaining residents of Herculaneum could not be rescued. Gaius Cassius felt his heart sink further. What would happen next? Certainly, the Empire would provide for them, and he could take his job back. But he was tired, and wanted nothing more than to harvest grapes, love his wife, and play with his daughter.
***
Notes: While Pompeii is the the city best known for incurring the wrath of the Plinian eruption of Mount Vesuvius, several other Roman towns were also destroyed. Herculaneum was one of those towns, although many citizens successfully fled. You can visit some of the remains today.
Since Herculaneum was not directly in the path of Vesuvius, but to the west, many residents were able to flee from the town. Unfortunately, not all residents made it. Fifty-five skeletal remains were discovered at the boathouse in Herculaneum during an excavation in the early 1980s.
Thank you for reading.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-05 06:44 am (UTC)I read a really good book that was a historical fiction about the eruption told from the point of view of an aquaduct engineer, which role allowed him to observe some strange happenings to the spring water and geology prior to the eruption.