Escape from Pompeii

Synopsis

Travel back in time to view the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the Roman Empire.

Join Tranio, the son of an actor, and his friend Livia, the baker's daughter, in witnessing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. Tranio, like most Roman boys, likes to watch whatever is going on: tradesmen selling their goods, ships unloading their exotic cargoes, politicians making speeches in the forum. But one hot August day a very different scene unfolds. The ground begins to shake, the sky to darken. People run gasping for air. Heading for the harbor, Tranio and his friend Livia hide on a boat and witness one of the most terrifying moments in recorded history-the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of their beloved city, Pompeii.

Although this book handles the sensitive subject of a tragic natural disaster, this book perfectly pitched for years 2 and 3. It is great in explaining the daily life of Romans from a child's point of view.

Perfectly aligned to the KS2 curriculum, for those studying the Romans in school. 

Summary

Chapter 1: The Festival of Vulcan

The story begins on August 24, 79 AD, during the Festival of Vulcan, the god of fire. The wealthy merchant Marcus Attilius Primus is hosting a lavish banquet at his grand home in Pompeii. Among the guests are his wife, Rectina; their children, Flavia and Octavius; and their trusted slave, Esca. As the festivities begin, the ground rumbles beneath their feet, but the guests dismiss it as harmless tremors.

Chapter 2: The Mountain Stirs

The rumbling intensifies, and Mount Vesuvius, which looms over the city, erupts with a thunderous roar. Initially, the people of Pompeii are in disbelief, but as ash and pumice rain down on the city, panic sets in.

Chapter 3: The House of Primus

The Primus family and their guests frantically gather their belongings and make their way to the stables to escape in their chariot. However, the streets are becoming crowded with terrified citizens, making it difficult to move.

Chapter 4: The Flight

Esca guides the chariot through the chaos, dodging falling debris and desperate people. As they flee towards the Herculaneum gate, they witness the devastation unfolding all around them.

Chapter 5: The Deadly Ash

As the chariot approaches the city gates, the ashfall becomes thicker and hotter. Flavia and Octavius gasp for air, their lungs burning. Primus orders Esca to stop the chariot so they can seek shelter in a nearby villa.

Chapter 6: The Villa of the Mysteries

The family and their slaves take refuge in the Villa of the Mysteries, where they hide in a cellar. However, the ash and pumice continue to accumulate, threatening to collapse the villa upon them.

Chapter 7: The Final Hours

With no way to escape, the Primus family and their companions brace themselves for the inevitable. As the ash and pumice continue to suffocate them, they share their last words and thoughts.

Chapter 8: The Legacy

In the years following the eruption, the ruins of Pompeii were excavated, revealing the tragic story of its people. The remains of the Primus family were discovered, providing a poignant reminder of the horrors experienced by those who perished that fateful day.