How One Man Stood His Ground Against Mt. Vesuvius

When Mount Vesuvius erupted 2,000 years ago, its victims were caught fleeing from its fury. Except for one soldier - his skeleton was found facing the volcano.
From: MUMMIES ALIVE: Hero of Herculaneum
bit.ly/1HghhdA

[@ShortStorytime]

To die without a name is sad. To die a hero saving the lives of others is something to be revered and cherished.

[@MyBadBro86]

roblox.

[@Payable_Upon_Death]

Capt'n Joe what was his name, far as I can see it’s a face down skeleton so happened to be dug up. The graveyards are full of these examples, only a gravestone to preserve the name. What’s heroic is the short movie that moved you into a certain emotion of heroism. This was 100% assumed he didn’t steal all the coin in his purse. This skeleton lies in nameless oblivion, only to given an identity here on KZbin.

[@Payable_Upon_Death]

Lu99 No

[@lovelyitzylovelytxt4057]

@@MyBadBro86 yes

[@thynk-unlimited]

But he doesn't saved anyone 😉 I think he tried..

[@TheDude111]

That CGI was great.

[@REALTIMEStudios]

Thank you

[@chief_7999]

Video game material

[@restatpeacelollollol4845]

The Dude better than anime anyway

[@TheDorianTube]

The same guys that made the CGI scene also did the Subnautica trailer (the more recent and long one)

[@jturcios4607]

For once

[@javierpascualsarrazin5512]

Not the most glorious death, but a most honourable one. My respects.

[@NinjaSushi2]

Death by volcanic explosion is pretty damn glorious. Especially when you meet your fiery, horrible fate head-on in service to your community. Majestic as fuck if you ask me.

[@charmmaeonineza1501]

Death by volcanic explosion, in ancient Roman terms, sounds like meeting the gods.

[@Oj12323]

Glorious purpose

[@CullenRick]

That man should be remembered as a hero, and that is how I will see him. I'd much rather think good of a man who may not deserve it than deny a man who tried his best in impossible conditions to save lives his rightful place in history.

[@CullenRick]

Oh dear, as you clearly find the whole concept of being "of The Book" a challenge, I am afraid to say that you may need to reconsider the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed P.B.U.H. before you make yourself look any sillier on public forums by attempting to transfer your own issues into the Words of Allah, for whom you have no right to speak. Wayumkin fath eaynayk ealaa waqie 'ann yuhit bik. Maʿ al-salāmah.

[@halo45600]

Richard Cullen How about Pliny the elder? He died after sailing ships under his command to help those in danger.

[@stevejeffries1603]

Richard Cullen yes definately i second that shame we dont know hia name

[@thewoollyviking5928]

Indeed, when push comes to shove, good people will usually step up.

[@elementalbladedancer4129]

Oh what was his name😅

[@Mr.Roboto_]

Unnamed soldier: (Exists) Mt. Vesuvius: "Finally! A worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary!"

[@kentjeppsen1491]

Here's a thought. The structures seem to be boathouses, but no boats were found in them. So maybe the boats were used to take the people of Herculaneum away in relays. The people on the beach were waiting for the boats to return. This man may have supervised the evacuation. When he heard the roar of the pyroclastic flow, he ordered everyone to take shelter, then turned around see if any boats were returning before taking shelter himself. He wouldn't have realized that he and all the other people would be dead seconds later, as the Romans at the time had never before experienced a volcano.

[@Skatzz24]

You're actually right, go and read about Pliny the Elder and Pliny the younger, these were two writers of ancient Rome who documented the Eruption of Vesuvius. Pliny the Elder was commanding rescue missions to Stabiae, (another town near to Pompeii and Herculaneum also affected by the erruoption) when the last pyroclastic surge hit and killed him. There were relays of ships going to both towns to take people away from the down-wind wake of the eruption!

[@jakealter5504]

Kent Jeppsen at least not a volcano like Vesuvius. they did have some experience with Mount Etna and Stromboli, neither of which are anywhere near as violent as Vesuvius can be

[@raffaeleirlanda6966]

Actually it is been testimony by Pliny the Younger that coastline retreated (due to rising of the landmass during eruption I presume) and there was too much rough sea to land sailors or board any people of Herculaneum so the fleet had to follow the coast south to Stabiae, the only port remaining active and safe, where Pliny the Elder died being poisoned by breathing too much sulphur gases...

[@IfJesusWoreAHat]

Simon Katz You know Roman accounts aren't trust worthy right? They were fond of making shit up to make them look good. According to those accounts Mt. Vesuvius erupted in the summer, yet people were bundled up and selling winter produce.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

Kent Jeppsen: I agree with 95-99% of your observation but take slight issue with the very last portion of it -- the part about Romans not having experience with volcanoes before. The Mediterranean, being the locus where three major tectonic plates converge, interact and shape the iconic topographical features of that region, has been a geologically-, seismically- and volcanically-active area for eons. Most of that latter activity involves lesser volcanoes whose eruption cycles occur more-frequently (think Mt. Etna in Sicily), often a few times in an average human lifespan for a given such volcano; while, the eruption cycles of mega-volcanoes like Vesuvius (and the Yellowstone caldera here in the U.S.) feature dormancy periods which last much longer (often stretching for many centuries, millennia or even eons) between major eruption events -- intervals that can far surpass the collective memories of the natural history of a given location which people may have inhabited continuously for hundreds of generations. Calling Etna and other similar volcano like it in the region "lesser volcanoes" doesn't mean that their more-frequent eruption events aren't awesome and dangerous in their own right, it's just that the scale is so much more exponentially severe with regard to mega-volcanoes when they erupt -- kind of like the difference between a regular bomb blast and that of a hydrogen bomb (crude analogy, I know, but the best I could come up with). Over the several centuries that the Romans ruled the Mediterranean world, they most-certainly could have had experience with numerous eruptions from some of these lesser volcanoes like Etna, but the Vesuvius eruption was an exceptional event that they could never have anticipated preparing themselves for given just how rare such mega-eruptions are

[@myblasphemouslife9052]

Whoever this man was deserves all the respect for trying to save people. Probably, people, he didn't even know. Not many people today would commit to such a selfless act of bravery and kindness in the face of total annihilation.

[@jamesdooling4139]

Muscle is meat. When meat is cooked, it contracts. What's most impressive about the soldier is that he met his fate standing -- not cowered in a corner like most of the victims of Mt. Vesuvius. The burns indicate both initial vigilance and bravery, but also that final human instinct to turn and survive. He died more fearless than the rest. I hope his remains continue to be studied and revered for as long as humans exist to do as much.

[@ahabtheplant]

James Dooling He was a soldier who died with highest honor. He was protecting terrified civilians, who would have neither the training nor the inclination to stare a volcano in the face.

[@jakealter5504]

ahabtheplant no one really has the kind of training to deal with this kind of event while it’s already in progress. Escaping this kind of volcanic eruption on foot is impossible and seeking shelter to avoid it is also impossible

[@JZGreengo]

James Dooling of

[@jonathanbai9874]

yeah

[@UserName-ii1ce]

Why wouldn't you run lol I'd rather be a living, breathing coward than a proud skeleton

[@bb22602]

"Die trying is the proudest human thing." - Robert A. Heinlein. As the man said at the end, we don't know anything about the man's past. He may not have lived the best life, but he died trying to save others. Definitely a hero at the end.

[@awesomo845]

Mt. Vesuvius: *MUST CONSUME MANFLESH* Unnamed soldier: Come at me bro.

[@pearadiss]

Call me crazy bit i think this is a jojo reference

[@teti_99]

Honor, service and sacrifice. A true hero. Who would’ve known his story would literally be uncovered thousands of years later? Awesome tribute along with awesome CGI 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾

[@ajshim]

When others fled, went into hiding, frozen in fear. He stood his ground unwavered by the dangers before him. Although history may have gotten his name. It will never forget his bravery & duty to his people. Perhaps the sands of time may whisper a hint of his name to us one day. Truly an exemplar of how actions speak louder than words. Even after centuries.

[@justajerk1121]

A man who saw death coming, and stood his ground to try to save others. A hero.

[@gabbiem2722]

Isnt it nice that hes remembered years after his death?

[@Mr.Obongo]

Not just years but millenniums

[@denizmetint.462]

I would be quite happy to be remembered that fondly, millennia after my death.

[@DarkMatterX1]

@@Mr.Obongo Not quite. 1,942 years (give or take a few months, we're not 100% certain on the date of Vesuvius' eruption).

[@clppzy9976]

@@Mr.Obongo yep

[@longyu9336]

What we do now echoes in eternity

[@steampoweredmaniac5359]

Pompeii News Weekly: A Soldier steals 300 coins from local orphanage and pushes all of our boats into the harbor, and is found drunk and disorderly face down near docks.

[@GAZAMAN93X]

Steam Powered Maniac lmfao! 😂😂

[@justjoking5841]

Steam Powered Maniac WTF?!? ROFL 😂

[@killthebeat1069]

haha :D

[@boombuspoombus3314]

WhoWouldChooseSuchARidiculouslyLongUsernameLikeThisOneHere? It's satire.

[@boombuspoombus3314]

WhoWouldChooseSuchARidiculouslyLongUsernameLikeThisOneHere? If the joke was good, then yeah. Comedy is being able to find the good in the bad. You can say it's disrespectful, but that's subjective. There's nothing wrong with an innocuous joke. If you don't like it, ignore it.

[@mauriciomorais7818]

If he was a soldier, then he probably had hair. Bald-shaven men were usually slaves.

[@ahabtheplant]

Mauricio Morais Lots of heat equals burnt off hair? Soldiers almost always have short cut hair. When his skin burned away his hair went with it. Either that or it was easier and faster for the animators.

[@mauriciomorais7818]

Slaves were shaven bald, it was common to assume a young bald guy was a slave, they were not allowed vanity, also, no hair = less fleas and less lice in the household. If this corpse was really a soldier, then he probably had hair, and as such, they should have portrayed with hair. Short cropped military hair.

[@maximusdarkultima]

he was incinerated alive from the pyroclastic flow, what makes you think any hair would be left when even his bones are visibly scorched?

[@TheRdamterror]

hair cuts of roman solgers whas short to shaven due to batele taktiks grap by the hair and slit ther nek

[@suntheflower4281]

maximusdarkultima the cg portrayed him bald

[@georgespiggott5615]

there is nothing more human than heroism

[@frank9644]

“We are born into this time and must bravely follow the path to the destined end. There is no other way. Our duty is to hold on to the lost position, without hope, without rescue, like that Roman soldier whose bones were found in front of a door in Pompeii, who, during the eruption of Vesuvius, died at his post because they forgot to relieve him. That is greatness. That is what it means to be a thoroughbred. The honorable end is the one thing that can not be taken from a man.” - Spengler

[@maning04]

A soldier who does the right thing until his end will be remembered throughout history.. Much respect for that soldier who stood his ground to his very last moment

[@schizoking3316]

Herculaneum is a helluva place, extremely harrowing seeing all the bodies cowering in fear but then amazing seeing rooms completely preserved is astoundingly amazing

[@IamHueGraves]

seriously, who made the CG parts?

[@REALTIMEStudios]

That would be us!

[@epatman07]

RealtimeUK stunning quality.

[@scheewheed8285]

RealtimeUK what program did you guys use?

[@terrybrown1333]

IamHueGraves. okey i dont kar.

[@terrybrown1333]

sorry.

[@jamestown8398]

It is truly a heroic man who gives his life to protect others.

[@robertschmidt7625]

Which is why pyroclastic flows and surges are more dangerous than lava. Lava moves slowly giving people enough time to get out of its path. Pyroclastic flows travel in excess of 100+mph and have a temperature of over 1200F destroying and burning everything in its path, humans and animals included. There is no escape and no building is safe. This Roman soldier was a man of honor, whoever he was.

[@wambutu7679]

If there's an afterlife I would like to meet him and let him know his courage was known and deeply respected.

[@cherylridsdale-schimanskey7632]

Me too.

[@carlosvillegas5408]

Respect for that man and the camera man whi went back in time to risk his life

[@Ray19888]

I'm sure he's looking down and smiling. knowing that we haven't forgotten what he did

[@TrainGuy33]

Fascinating yet heartbreaking, I swear it’s the onions I’m cutting up for supper...

[@user-ug6hh4qg3n]

He deserves the title as a true "Man".

[@blazerthecarftygirl9185]

I felt bad for the soldiers, a Warrior,a hero,a faithful man who show mercy and respect to his people who notice him,Let the god bless this man a great live on light

[@aspieresearchmom]

THIS UNKNOWN SOLDIER is the definition of hero

[@vivekt.2038]

We need such types of people for our World .

[@rickch101]

That is a real soldier right there. Dying in order to try to save others.

[@fitrianhidayat]

Wouldn't a real soldier dying to kill other people?

[@anarchonazbol6768]

@@fitrianhidayat different cultures have different ideas of what a soldier is. I believe it's the Romans or Greeks that soldier means to let your soul die for others

[@Summer-hj8zr]

T0XIC_T0XIN “soldier” i-

[@201hastings]

@@fitrianhidayatmaybe in your country

[@KombatFlix]

The CGI is kinda awesome AF, and kinda scary AF too

[@Cryo-15]

Though no one in those vaults survived... He tried his best to save the people in the shadow of death itself...

[@bassexbn3]

Not all heros wear capes.

[@danlamont7133]

Some heroes wear capes

[@LunarLizard]

This one did

[@mayazhussain]

and he was wearing it as well

[@christasockey4660]

Bruh, Roman soldiers wearied cape like robes.

[@tiramyshu]

Maybe he did wear a cape

[@dubstepphoenix5261]

I swear the animation cgi is so realistic and so beautiful like I would watch a full movie of it

[@mizee6917]

they really should make more animation for history things like these it makes it way more interesting

[@michaelsurname609]

Specimen E26 died a hero. 2000 years later I'm glad we won't forget him. Heroes never die

[@cornycontent1915]

He died a hero to his people for saving them and now, two thousand years later an after death, he is seen as a hero again.

[@lexigrimhaive]

That man is a hero. Also, I originally thought it was the Rock.

[@emm5991]

Lol "I'd like to think he was a good guy"

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

E NC So you don't think so?

[@Artandcolorsx]

Ike Okereke they quoted something, dumb nut.

[@pineforest1442]

I feel so bad for those people. That must have been a horrible last few seconds.

[@Zakrox99]

The man became a legend

[@eightfifty2309]

"This flank will hold... even if I have to hold it myself"- Damocles

[@printicateprintingservices9487]

THIS MAN IS A LEGEND

[@hellonearth7512]

this soldier must be very brave to face off against the volcano and not cower like most victims in Pompeii. if only we know about his name, its very likely he tried to save many and let's give a moment of silence for this fallen hero we never knew

[@amphibiousone7972]

WOW! Thank You for honouring his memory. That is an incredible story.

[@morganrichards7220]

We are born into this time and must bravely follow the path to the destined end. There is no other way. Our duty is to hold on to the lost position, without hope, without rescue, like that Roman soldier whose bones were found in front of a door in Pompeii, who, during the eruption of Vesuvius, died at his post because they forgot to relieve him. That is greatness. That is what it means to be a thoroughbred. The honorable end is the one thing that can not be taken from a man - Oswald Spengler

[@grunermrk]

Damn, since when did history shows start getting such good CGI?

[@whiteknightcat]

Maybe when they started fading away from the History Channel?

[@catherineehlers8115]

Well done, good sir. Thank you for your service.

[@googleisretarded7618]

It seems like a cliche, but the man who does heroic things when tested usually is a kind of social misfit in daily life. I was in the Canadian army reserve and I remember this one dude, I thought at the time that if he wasn't in the army he'd be the kind of guy who would somehow end up in jail. He eventually volunteered to go to Afghanistan and was killed because he went back into the line of fire to save other people's lives.

[@Ericat257]

A true hero!

[@tengbernardez6043]

Death and love are the two wings that bear the good man to heaven.

[@DonkeyFilms]

Romans are bad ass

[@gazebo935]

Coffee The Bunny Pompeii was in the Roman Empire and he was most likely Roman

[@gazebo935]

Coffee The Bunny ok well neither of us know so "duck" off

[@gazebo935]

Coffee The Bunny because I'm an idiot. make a comeback for that, please, I beg you.

[@rollypolly1681]

Seeing as he was a soldier and was found in a city that was in Italy, the country where Rome began. He most likely was Roman.

[@acrustykrab]

Coffee The Bunny gtfo get rekt

[@bokvarv1926]

A true Hero! Dying trying to save as many as he could in the best way he knew how! perhaps one day history wil reveal this brave hero's name.

[@shaycormac4522]

I wanted to hear him swear the volcano! My respects though, soldier!

[@ericyoung252]

The ending of this documentary made me cry

[@elsakristina2689]

Rest in peace

[@altarush]

It is a shame that there is no movie about his heroics.

[@Theo-bk6qj]

We don’t know his story. It maybe true or false about this story being told. There’s isn’t enough evidence that he is a hero since there’s no record about this person and his position can be deceiving.

[@kreigguardsman3355]

A true solider of Rome

[@CullenBoyer]

0:57 Oh shit it's Anikan

[@gengar1284]

anakin its anakin and his hand was a robot hand he lost his left hand (due to count Dukuu) but close

[@avocadowarrior6872]

It's Dooku, not dukuu

[@VampireQueen696]

as capt'n joe said to die with no name is said to die a hero saving the lives of others is something to be revered and cherished but to add onto that saying i wish we knew this heroes name to give him the respect he deserves

[@raf984]

He was a true warrior.

[@freedomloverusa3030]

Rest in Peace, Unknow Soldier.

[@xTMillyx]

we need more people like soldier

[@elsakristina2689]

I can't even begin to imagine how painful his last moments were. Did you see how in the reenactment he looked like he was disintegrating into fire?! It even went down to the bone. That is one of the worst ways to die.

[@mrartdeco]

elsa1942 its more instant that you would think.. this is not regular fire but a scorching hot smokes and condensed air which kills u in seconds..

[@elijah7659]

Plus, I have heard that it was over 500 degrees Celsius. So in a matter of two seconds, your brain has pretty much "Exploded." Edit: Fixed a grammar error.

[@Shadowhunterbg]

It can easily reach 1,000 °C... Dx

[@margo3367]

I wonder why certain tragic events, out of all the tragic events throughout history, seem to capture our imagination: Vesuvius, the Titanic.

[@morgant.dulaman8733]

I think its because, as these things involve normal people caught up in their day-to-day lives, it's a way of looking how people handle meeting the end. Some go with the crowd till it devolves into panicked clawing, some survive and live with the horror, others must watch the last hope leave. Some even just choose to look for ways to enjoy themselves before everything goes black. Others prioritize those around. Fathers and mothers surrender their children to the care of others while they must stay behind. Some choose to stay so as not to deny others room. Some choose to spend their last moments with loved ones or comfort strangers. And some simply do their duty unto the end. It is humanity in a snapshot. When the mundane is suddenly torn asunder and human beings who were caught up in their routines with little care to the crowd around them suddenly must show their heart to all the world for one blaze of crisis.

[@margo3367]

@@morgant.dulaman8733 Your response reminded me of the Titanic band playing on.

[@failuretocomply8528]

He proly went numb within seconds or min and during his numbness he proly laughed and said so this is what it feels like... nothing. lmaooo and had good rest to the next life

[@Banken_Kusozako]

I misread the title, I thought it said "How One Punch Man Stood His Ground Against Mt. Vesuvius" and I also thought the bald headed dude was Saitama...

[@kelseysgalaxy953]

That man is very brave! He could have escaped and survived but instead he chose to help people and it ended up killing him..... He deserves to be in heaven! He was fearless except for fearful!

[@abitofapickle6255]

I might not know his name or who he was, but as a fellow soldier I salute you.

[@myname7056]

Thankyou for your service.

[@EruseanPug]

The animation in the beginning is what I live for.

[@scp-2348]

Shor was proud of this Imperial that day. I reckon he is of great renown in Sovngarde.

[@namelessjuan4696]

That animation looks so good!

[@thecashmaker1994]

or maybe he was a bit drunk at the night of the eruption

[@xzenitramx666]

ComradeSam1994 thel he should be inside the city

[@justjoking5841]

Now this would make a good movie.

[@cybercat29]

Indeed. They should make a movie about this.

[@dean1039]

"He was a soldier of Rome, who will help me carry him?"

[@3601christopher]

Let's take a moment to appreciate the animations.

[@KcLee677]

Hell fire may won, soilder or someone who have balls did get last laugh of true victories.. Making Hell fire look so bad..

[@jackrutledgegoembel5896]

What?

[@daramarzzzz]

This man deserve to be in heaven

[@ZachVanHarrisJR]

Legend has it that his intense stare into the eye of the volcano is what eventually calmed the God's wrath to halt further destruction in the region. - Zach Van Harris JR

[@ryanchan2302]

this man fought till his last breath and wanted to save his country good man

[@GhostLol302]

well you mean his city but still he was a great soldier

[@ryanchan2302]

Yes

[@riot2136]

Killereagle WOD these people could be completely wrong tho lol

[@lemniscate2218]

Going out in a blaze of glory... he shall never be forgotten.

[@shawne02]

He probably Scream 2 passing ships witness me

[@whitetigergrowl]

I believe he was there as part of his job, though it's possible he may have also been doing the honorable thing but trying to save lives. I also believe he was still alive as he was initially burning while face down as the pyroclastic flow went over him, and the hand 'grip' is actually from pain before death. Not from crawling, but pain. In other words he was knocked down by the pyroclastic flow or he fell. As it was moving over him burning him alive, he was gripping the soil in pain. Then, death came quick. Intriguing trying to put the puzzle non-the-less.

[@thedrinkinggamemaker9749]

The god Vulcan was like: "YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME, MORTAL?!"

[@maryattequine2416]

Yeah..i'd also like to believe he was a good man.

[@ZachVanHarrisJR]

Subscribed✌❤

[@tengbernardez6043]

Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.

[@gracieortega1831]

Wow great video

[@punypunic2224]

A true Roman till the very end.

[@thefiregodzapp]

At least he died without knowing his attempt to save everyone was in vain.

[@PaperThePenguin]

This guy is a hero!

[@CH-gr7tn]

Anyone know where I can find this full episode please.

[@lionking2847]

The episode is called "Hero of Herculaneum" part of the T.V show called Mummies alive. Great show btw

[@yuhangzhang2216]

The medal of Honor

[@ineffablemars]

I don’t know why this made me cry. They could make a story about him. I’d read it/watch it.

[@AndrejTelisman]

what a brave man

[@NoName-yk5xw]

What a good man but what a sad way to go out. At least he died trying to save others.

[@HenrythePaleoGuy]

What a badass.

[@stephaniedsouza2245]

A movie should be made in honour of him