Q 01/05

Which volcano buried Pompeii in 79 AD?

A) Etna

B) Vulcano

C) Vesuvius

D) Stromboli

Answer · why

C) Vesuvius

It also buried Herculaneum, Stabiae and many surrounding villas under 4 to 6 metres of ash and pumice.

Q 02/05

Pompeii lies near which modern Italian city?

A) Naples

B) Palermo

C) Bari

D) Rome

Answer · why

A) Naples

It sits in the Campania region, about 8 km from the volcano and today some 700 metres inland from the sea.

Q 03/05

Roughly how deep was the layer of ash and pumice that buried Pompeii?

A) 4 to 6 metres

B) 15 to 20 metres

C) 1 to 2 metres

D) 30 to 50 centimetres

Answer · why

A) 4 to 6 metres

Up to twelve separate layers of tephra fell; Herculaneum was buried far deeper by pyroclastic flows.

Q 04/05

The name Pompeii is thought to derive from the Oscan word 'pompe', meaning what?

A) Fire

B) Harbour

C) Wall

D) Five

Answer · why

D) Five

It may refer to five original hamlets founded by the Oscans in the 8th century BC.

Q 05/05

Which Roman general besieged Pompeii in 89 BC, leaving ballista craters in its walls?

A) Sulla

B) Julius Caesar

C) Marius

D) Pompey

Answer · why

A) Sulla

Pompeii had joined the revolt of the Social War; it became a Roman colony settled by Sulla's veterans.