More than 2,000 years ago, extremely wealthy Romans lived on the sunny shores of the Bay of Naples at Pompeii and in opulent villas nearby, unconcerned about Mount Vesuvius in the distance. Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE), Augustus (r. 27 BCE - 14 CE), Cicero (106-43 BCE), and Emperor Nero (r. 54-68 CE) were among the famous people who lived there. In 79 CE, Vesuvius erupted and destroyed towns and villas to the southeast of the volcano. While the impact was devastating, and many lives were lost, the eruption preserved a moment in Roman history.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1552/a-visitors-guide-to-oplontis-stabiae--boscoreale/.