When did Vesuvius destroy the city of Pompeii?

The story behind the answer

Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii in 79 AD, when a catastrophic eruption on August 24–25 buried the city (and nearby Herculaneum) under ash and pumice. Eyewitness letters by Pliny the Younger describe towering ash columns and deadly pyroclastic surges that suffocated residents; his uncle, Pliny the Elder, died attempting a rescue. The sudden burial preserved homes, frescoes, graffiti, and daily objects, making Pompeii a time capsule of Roman life.

Tip to remember: “79—frozen in time.” Don’t confuse it with 62 AD, when a major earthquake damaged Pompeii but didn’t destroy it. The other dates (54 BC, 31 BC) relate to late Republican Rome, not Vesuvius.