This BBC history news story by Andrew Wallace-Hadrill explores the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, AD 79. Through the eye-witness account of the Roman administrator and poet, Pliny, the author articulately depicts the people's fears and the destruction caused by the volcanic activity. The author explores the Romans' scientific understanding and compares it with our current knowledge. Anyone interested in the history of geologic events will find this Web site very intriguing. This site is also reviewed in the October 31, 2003 NSDL Physical Sciences Report.