Archaeologists have unearthed a skeleton at the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy and the internet turned it into a meme.
In 79 C.E., Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii and residents in a thick layer of ash and turning the city into a virtual time capsule. On Tuesday, at study published by Pompeii Sites described of recently discovered remains of a man who was trying to flee the legendary volcanic eruption.
The victim, who experts said was a 30-year-old male, was crushed by a falling boulder as he attempted to escape the doomed city, as clouds of volcanic gas and dust enveloped everything in their path.
"The thorax was crushed by a large block of stone, and the body hurled back by the force of the pyroclastic flow, in a desperate attempt to flee the fury of the eruption. The first victim which emerges in the site of the new excavations of Regio V, does so in this dramatic position."
As a result, his throat was crushed, and his head is believed to be buried beneath the giant rock. "A formidable stone block (perhaps a door jamb), violently thrown by the volcanic cloud, collided with his upper body, crushing the highest part of the thorax and yet-to-be-identified head," wrote Pompeii Sites, "which lie at a lower height of the lower limbs, and probably under the stone block.
Analysis of the man's bones revealed that he had a bone infection, which would have made it difficult for him to get away. Archaeologists said that he was knocked down by the wall of gas and material ejected from the volcano.
"Initial observations would appear to indicate that the individual survived the first eruptive phase of the volcano, and subsequently sought salvation along the alley now covered in a thick layer of lapilli," the study said.
But even in death, the poor guy just can't catch a break. Twitter turned him into a meme, comparing him to modern day moods and giving him a hard time. All in good fun though!
