The Mediterranean area remains today, as in classical times, very
geologically active. There have always been earthquakes, volcanoes
and tidal waves. The eruption of Thera in 1628 BC was not the only
major eruption of a volcano in ancient times.
In 79 A.D. Mt. Vesuvius erupted, burying the Roman towns of Herculaneum
and Pompeii in millions of tons of ash and debris. This eruption
killed 3,360 Romans, probably everyone in town. This catastrophe
provided archaeologists with a unique snapshot of ancient life.
Click on the picture of Vesuvius to the right for a more in depth
look.
Below you will see a couple of pictures taken during the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Oregon, USA in 1980 AD. Although the ejected plume of ash and the explosive nature of this eruption are very much like that of Thera and Vesuvius, it was not nearly as powerful as the two in ancient times.
Thera and Vesuvius remain today active volcanoes. Nearly 2 million people live near enough to Vesuvius today to be in danger if there was another eruption like in 79 A.D.