Registration opens:
August 18th, 2025

Pompeii's Final Day: The Eruption of Italy's Mt. Vesuvius

Join author and retired Professor Matt Davis for a unique look at the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.

Join author and retired Professor Matt Davis for a unique look at one of the greatest disasters in history. Matt will describe the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. The eruption lasted only 24 hours, and both cities were buried and forgotten until their ruins were rediscovered almost 1500 years later. He'll share what the well-preserved ruins have taught us about life in Ancient Rome and discuss the volcanic risks still facing metropolitan Naples today.

About the Speaker
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Matt Davis was a psychology professor and researcher at Dominican University of California for 30 years. His research focused on how at-risk populations react to the threat of natural disasters, and he conducted surveys of how residents living beneath Italy's famous volcano, Mt. Vesuvius, perceive their risk from potential eruptions. He was an invited speaker at dozens of conferences and workshops across the U.S. and internationally and was a featured expert who discussed his research on the 2006 Discovery Channel documentary: Could It Happen Here?

Registration is encouraged but not required. Sponsored by the Wilbraham Friends of the Library. 

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