* Pompeii: This thriving city, famous for its well-preserved architecture, frescoes, and mosaics, was completely buried under a thick layer of ash and pumice.
* Herculaneum: Located closer to the volcano than Pompeii, Herculaneum was devastated by a pyroclastic flow, a fast-moving current of hot gas and rock debris. This flow buried the town under a layer of volcanic material up to 20 meters deep.
While Pompeii is often cited as the main victim of the eruption, Herculaneum was also significantly affected. Both cities were rediscovered centuries later and have provided invaluable insights into Roman life and the devastating power of volcanic eruptions.
