Picture Of A Man Preserved In Pompeii Goes Viral Because People Have Filthy Minds

#1 Around 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying most of what was the city of Pompeii.

The remains of around 1,500 people have since been discovered at the site although the total number of dead from the huge natural disaster remains unknown.

#2 Many of these images feature families spending their last few moments together or solitary figures attempting to escape the horror of the eruption.

Over the years, a number of images have circulated of those who were preserved, mostly thanks to the casting method first implemented by Giuseppe Fiorelli in 1864.

#3 However, a new image of a victim has gone viral, and not for a particular historical reason.

It was first shared on the Pompeii Archaeological Park Instagram account, but the picture has since been circulated on Twitter, Reddit and 4 Chan.

#4 Because the internet loves a good joke.

A tweet featuring the reference to masturbation has been retweeted over 28,000 times, with, of course, some interesting responses...

#5 But the truth about the photo, like everything else good in life, is that he probably didn't "die hard."

#6 It's probably because, well, er, he looks like he's enjoying himself a little too much.

In the image, the man is lying on his back with his hand over his crotch.

#7 The lava that poured over Pompeii’s victims, in what is now Italy.

While many of the people were captured in bed or trying to escape, one was caught in a compromising situation.

#8 According to IFL Science the body of the unearthed Pompeii man appeared to be “preserved in the final act of self-love”.

This can be attributed to the fact that his hands are clenched where his manhood lies.

#9 Several people made comments on Twitter including one from Andre who said:

“This man saw his entire world crumbling to fire and ash and decided to crank one out before facing eternity. Legend.”

#10 People also found a way to make light of the situation as reports from IFL Science mentioned that:

“He should have used the time to seek out his loved ones” but instead people are “hypothesizing that’s precisely what he’d done.” Based on tweets such as one from Persian Rose who said, “He died holding his loved ones.”

#11 Was he actually masturbating?

It's fairly likely. Or he could have just had his body in that position perfectly innocently.

Most scientists and historians think the people of Pompeii died from extreme heat rather than suffocation, as temperatures reached 600 degrees Celcius.

#12 This means they died instantaneously and kept their positions.

#13 Talking to the Daily Dot Volcanologist Pier Paolo Petrone said:

The individual in the photo is an adult man, killed by the hot pyroclastic surge - hot gas and ash cloud which killed most of the population living around Mount Vesuvius - with both arms and legs flexed due to the heat.

Most of the human victims found in Pompeii often show ‘strange’ position of arms and legs, due to the contraction of limbs as a consequence of the heat effect on their bodies after the death occurred.

#14 So, apparently masturbating in 500 degree plus temperatures is impossible.

Science always ruins everything.