Pompeii was an ancient city destroyed by the Vesuvius volcano around 79 CE (a Roman town when it was destroyed). Scientists say it was a huge eruption which could eject the lava and soil around 35 Km into the sky. The Pompeii residents didn't suffer rivers of hot lava first, rather ash raining down from the sky. Afterwards the lava. That's how the architecture, frescos, and the like were safer to see even today and didn't destroyed from the eruption.
In addition, researchers have found some evidences that even before the Pompeii eruption there were some volcanic eruptions. They found some footsteps on volcanic ash and they believe those were made by a bronze-age person 2000 years before Pompeii.
You can enjoy some snaps from my picture blog here..
http://tasteofcosmos.blogspot.com/2010/12/pompeii-exhibition-december-2010-in.html
