![]() And he did this with such calm and presence of mind that he actually dictated his observations on the dreadful spectacle to an amanuensis en route. Hurrying, then, to the very place that others fled, he set his course directly for the center of danger. He ordered galleys to put to sea, and went on board, planning not only to save Rectina, but also to bring aid to the numerous towns of that beautiful coast. So he changed his mind, and what began as a scientific expedition, now became a noble and selfless mission of rescue. She therefore begged my uncle to come over and save her. For her villa lay at the foot of Vesuvius, and there was no way to escape except by sea. And, as a matter of fact, he had given me something to write.Īs he was coming out of the house, he received a note from Rectina, the wife of Bassus, who was terrified at the danger. But I said I would rather go on with my work. He ordered a light ship prepared, and told me I could come along if I liked. To a man of such learning as my uncle, this phenomenon seemed extraordinary and well worth investigation. At times it was bright, at others, dark and mottled, depending on the density of the earth and cinders within it. For it shot up to a tremendous height like a tree trunk and then spread out at its summit into branches, which arose, I suppose, either by the decreasing speed as it shot upwards, or by the weight of the cloud pressing back upon itself. I can give no better description of it than by likening it to a pine tree. But he rose at once and went to high ground where he could get a better view of this remarkable phenomenon.Ī cloud - it was unclear, at that distance, which mountain emitted it, although it was later found to be Mount Vesuvius - was ascending to the heavens. He had been sunbathing earlier, which he had followed with a cold bath and a light lunch. On August 24th, about one in the afternoon, my mother asked him to look at a cloud of the most peculiar size and shape. … He was at that time with the fleet under his command at Misenum. The following is the relevant passage (from Letter 6.16, translated by E. ![]() An account of the death of Pliny the Elder is given in a letter from his nephew, Pliny the Younger, to the historian Tacitus.
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