600 BC: Year Italian city of Pompeii was founded

80 BC: Pompeii comes under Roman rule

20,000: Approximate population of the city

AD 79: Year Pompeii was buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted

1748: Year first excavations began

Source: http://worldheritage.heindorffhus.dk/frame-ItalyPompeiHerculanum.htm