06/16/2026
The volcano that destroyed Pompeii no longer exists in its original form.
Before the famous eruption of 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius was likely a single, towering volcanic cone overlooking the Bay of Naples. When the eruption devastated Pompeii and Herculaneum, it also reshaped the volcano itself.
Over time, the ancient summit collapsed and evolved into the Somma–Vesuvius complex seen today. The rugged ridge on the left, Monte Somma, is the remnant of the older volcano, while the cone on the right is the younger Vesuvius that grew within it.
The result is one of the most famous examples of a volcano changing its own shape through catastrophic eruptions.
Top image: scientific reconstruction based on geological evidence.
