The volcano was often called "Vesuvius" in the late Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire. It was also called "Vesaevus, Vesevus, Vesbius", and "Vesvius". Writers in ancient Greek called it "Οὐεσούιον" or "Οὐεσούιος". Many scholars think the word "Vesuvius" was related to the Greek word "οὔ" ("not") and σβέννυμι ("I quench"), so that it would mean "unquenchable". Others think it might come from ἕω "hurl" and βίη "violence", "hurling violence". 