, the Social War of 91-87 B.C.,and was crushed by Sulla. Although the city was not destroyed, it lost its autonomy,becoming a colony called Colonia Veernia Cornelia P, in honor of its conqueror L.Cornelius Sulla. By 79 AD, Latin had replaced Oscan as the principal language, and thelaws and culture of Imperial Rome were implanted. The romanization had began.Pompeii grew from a modest farming town to an important and sophisticatedindustrial and trading center. In 62 A.D., the first disaster, a terrible earthquake hit thecity. As the city was being rebuilt the second disaster struck. In the summer of A.D. 79,Vesuvius suddenly erupted with violence. Hot ashes, lava and stones poured into Pompeii.The eruption caught Pompeians by surprise: They heard the crash of falling roofs: aninstant more and the mountain-cloud seemed to roll towards them, dark and rapid, like atorrent; at the same time, it cast forth from its bosom a showe of ashes mixed with vastfragments of burning stone! over the crushing vines- over the desolate streets- over theamphitheater itself- far and wide- with many a mighty splash in the agitated sea- fell thatawful shower., (Bulwer-Lytton 1).The remains of about 2,000 victims out of a population of 20,000 have been found inexcavations. Some of them were trapped and killed in their homes. Others died as theyfled. Archaeologists have found the shells (molds) of the bodies preserved in the hardenedash. By pouring plaster into the shells, they can make copies of the victims, even to theexpressions of agony on their faces.Pompeii was not forgotten. Peasants in the area searched for hidden treasure andthey made tunnels. In the 1500s workers digging a tunnel to change the course of theSarno river discovered parts of a temple and the forum, but no one paid much attention. In1748, a farmer discovered a wall and the authorities in Italy began a series of excavations.After 1860, Giuseppe Fiorelli served as director of the excavatio...
