79 A.D: When the sky went dark

On August 24, 79 A.D (although there has been some recent questioning around the exact date), the Roman Empire was shaken by a natural disaster quite unlike anything seen before. Mount Vesuvius, long dormant and situated along the idyllic Bay of Naples in Italy, erupted in such a catastrophic manner that those who witnessed it believed they were observing the end of the world.  The ensuing… (more)