Mount Vesuvius traditionally was believed to have erupted on August 24, AD 79, destroying Pompeii and nearby cities. This date was primarily based on a letter by Pliny the Younger, a Roman eyewitness, written about 25 years after the event. However, more recent archaeological evidence, including a charcoal inscription dated October 17, AD 79, suggests the eruption may have actually occurred later, likely in late October or early November of that year. This later dating aligns with other findings such as autumnal fruits and heating braziers discovered in the ruins, supporting the theory that the eruption happened around October 24, AD 79, rather than in August. The shift in the eruption date is supported by new research and challenges the traditional August timeline that had been accepted for centuries.