"The morning of 24 August A.D. was just another summer's day. In the town of Pompeii tradesmen removed the shutters from their shops and hung up their merchandise. Lunch was being prepared in the laundry of Stephanus. A group of gladiators met in a bar. Moedestus, the baker, stocked his oven and carefully placed the dough alongside the flames. Suddenly the air was split by a resounding crash and the ground shook. People rushed into the streets. The...