The book tells about the notorious eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, which buried several cities under lava and ash and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people. Thanks to the amazing state in which Pompeii and Herculaneum, which tragically died during the eruption of Vesuvius, were preserved, archaeologists were able to recreate the life of their inhabitants and the circumstances of their death in great detail. The book tells how the history of two Roman cities was reconstructed. CONTENTS: PART I. WHEN DARKNESS FALLED ON THE EARTH 9 ESSAY: The Hour of Death 35 PART II. THROUGH THE CENTURIES, THE NOISE OF LIFE 45ESSAY: God is on every corner 71PART III. THE POMPEIANS AT THEIR HOME 85ESSAY: Houses Raised from the Ashes 111PART IV. WONDERS AND SECRETS OF HERCULANUM 125ESSAY: A Vigilant Love of Nature 151Chronology 160Acknowledgments 162Illustrations 162Bibliography 163Index 165Notes 168