The Day Vesuvius Blew its Top

Computer-generated imagery of what Vesuvius might have looked like the day it exploded on Aug. 24, 79. The ensuing ash storm destroyed the Italian cities of of Pompeii and Herculaneum, killing thousands who failed to flee in time.

An Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer image of Mt. Vesuvius.

A cast of 32 victims who died in a boat shelter from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius is on display 18 October 2005 at the press opening for "Pompeii: Story from an Eruption" at the Field Museum, in Chicago, Illinois. The exhibit is about the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius on 24-25 August, 79 AD and the remains found from bronze sculptures to room size frescoes and mosaics.

Looking inside the main caldera of Vesuvius.

Ariel view of the ancient city of Pompei is seen near the mount Vesuvius volcano (in the background), is seen near the Italian city of Naples on March 31, 2009. Nearly 2,000 years after wiping out Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius is among the most closely monitored in the world, its every shudder recorded.

A cast of a skeleton made from a boat shelter near the seashore of Heraculaneum, where 32 people sought shelter during the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in A.D. 79,

A statue of Hera from Pompeii.

Mount Vesuvius near Naples 1858 (unknown artist)

"Ascent of Mount Vesuvius," an engraving from the 18th Century. Goethe ascended Mount Vesuvius on 2 March 6, 1787 and described it in the "Italian Journey." This picture is based on that story.

The Eruption of Vesuvius as seen from Naples, October 1822" from V. Day & Son. In G. Julius Poullet Scrope, Masson, 1864. Historical Draw from George Julius Poulett Scrope (1797-1876)

The eruption of Vesuvius in 1872.

Lava left over the the 1872 eruption.

A photograph inside the crater taken in 1883.

340th Bombardment Group B-25 Mitchell covered with ash from Vesuvius, 1944.

Melvin C. Shaffer World War II Photographs, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

Mt. Vesuvius eruption, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, 1944.

ves21.exe — Melvin C. Shaffer World War II Photographs, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

Mt. Vesuvius at night, eruption of 1944.

ves23.exe — Melvin C. Shaffer World War II Photographs, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

Vesuvius, 1944.

ves24.exe — Melvin C. Shaffer World War II Photographs, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

exposed interior of church destroyed by lava, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, 1944.

Photograph taken of Vesuvius in the late 19th century.

Another shot of the 1872 eruption.

View of the volcano from an airplane

An aerial view taken from an helicopter window shows the crater of the mount Vesuvius volcano, is seen near the Italian city of Naples on March 31, 2009.