Meaning & History
There are three theories about the origin of the name Vesuvius:
Hercules was son of the god Zeus and Alcmene of Thebes. Zeus was also known as Ves in his aspect as the god of rains and dews. Hercules was thus alternatively known as Vesouvios, “Son of Ves”. This name was corrupted into Vesuvius.
From the Oscan word fesf which means “smoke”
From the Proto-Indo-European root ves- “hearth”
Hercules was son of the god Zeus and Alcmene of Thebes. Zeus was also known as Ves in his aspect as the god of rains and dews. Hercules was thus alternatively known as Vesouvios, “Son of Ves”. This name was corrupted into Vesuvius.
From the Oscan word fesf which means “smoke”
From the Proto-Indo-European root ves- “hearth”