Hot ashes, lava and stones poured into Pompeii. The eruption caught Pompeians by surprise: "They heard the crash of falling roofs: an instant more and the mountain-cloud seemed to roll towards them, dark and rapid, like a torrent; at the same time, it cast forth from its bosom a showe of ashes mixed with vast fragments of burning stone! ... The decoration of the tablinum has a band along the base of the wall (a dado), which is mounted by painted and stuccoed imitations of large stone blocks (orthostates). ...

• Word Count: 2432
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School