Pompeii was founded by Greek colonists, probably around the 9-8th century BC. After many centuries and battles it became a Roman city.
Nearby, Herculaneum was a wealthy seaside escape for prosperous Roman citizens.
The two cities are about 11 miles apart.
They both were destroyed on August 24th AD 79 when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The devastation of the eruption was unprecedented.
Around 2,000 people died in
Pompeii and 300 are known to have died in Herculaneum, however, the entire
death toll in the area could have been around 16,000.
Both cities are currently UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
