Rectina was a friend of the Roman author Pliny the Elder . During the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE , Pliny received a message from her , which prompted him to set sail with galleys and a cutter to observe what was happening at closer range , and to attempt to rescue some of the people of the towns at the foot of the volcano . Pliny 's ships were unable to approach the shore to rescue Rectina . It is not documented whether she survived . Pliny himself died after putting ashore further down the coast . Pliny the Younger says that Rectina was married to a man named Bassus or Tascius or Tascus ; the name is rendered differently by different translators . Nothing is known for certain about either Rectina or her husband 's identity
eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE
Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79
Rectina