One fateful day in August almost 2,000 years ago, the ancient city of Pompeii and the surrounding areas were frozen in time under mounds of ash and lava which erupted from the top of Mount Vesuvius. Magma, ash and gas spewed out of the tip of the volcano at the rate of about 100,000 tons per second. This eruption is believed to have been about ten times stronger than the modern eruption of Mount Saint Helens in 1980. Volcanologists now call an eruption of this magnitude a “Plinian eruption,” which occurs at least once every 2,000 years.
However, as the tagline of the exhibit states, “What nature destroyed, it also preserved.” For almost 1,700 years this once-thriving vacation resort city for Roman nobility was forgotten, only to be uncovered in the early 1700s. It was discovered pristine and virtually untouched, a perfect picture of an average day in ancient Rome. It is rare for the artifacts of Pompeii ever to reach American shores. However, it is now Boston’s turn to uncover Pompeii and its mysteries.
A new exhibit opened on October 2, 2011 at The Museum of Science that displays ancient artifacts, room-size frescos and famous body casts.
This exhibit captures the lives of the elite as well as Pompeii’s middle and lower classes. Dr. Hartnett, Associate Professor of Classics at Wabash College, observes that “Mount Vesuvius did not care if one was rich or poor” while it erupted, simultaneously destroying and preserving everything in its path. Professors at UMB have also taken notice of this new exhibit. Claire Gold from the Department of Anthropology stated that she had not had a chance to see the exhibit yet but was very much looking forward to it.
Resident Archaeologist Mike Adams states, “Pompeii offers visitors a view of life from a day frozen in time almost 2,000 years ago.” While going through the haunting exhibit one has to keep in mind that all the artifacts were from just that: a normal day in which common people went through their daily activities and errands. The exhibit itself is eerily dark and quiet. One really does enter an entirely new world after passing through the exhibit doors.
A marble statue of Venus in front of a wall-sized, richly colored fresco welcomes visitors into the exhibit. While you journey further, Roman art, culture and religion shine through the numerous walls, which are covered in fresco. When you continue to walk, priceless statues and meaningful relics come into view.
As you wander through, you begin to see bizarre and intriguing findings such as preserved figs and walnuts along with other food. You become surrounded not only by the material remains left behind by these ancient people, but also by their last meals. It was amazing to imagine that the people you may have studied in western civ had actually consumed what lies before you.
You may find yourself surprised by how well a cast of a loaf of bread, a staple of the Pompeian diet, has been preserved. In addition not only are everyday furniture and cooking equipment shown, but the functions of both are explained. Displays of Roman society and daily entertainment are plentiful due to Pompeii’s reputation of being a popular resort town. Objects such as dice, graffiti stones (used for advertisements, political campaigns and love messages), medical instruments and money are shown and explained.
At the very rear of the exhibit there is a classic display of Pompeii’s body casts, immortalizing Vesuvius’ victims. In all there are about ten casts capturing victim’s last moments. These range from a child in the fetal position to a slave with chains still visible on his ankles. There is even a guard dog that was chained to a post as well as a pig desperately trying to escape. At the back lie the spectacular skeletal remains of dozens who had tried to flee the eruption only to end up trapped, suffocating from Vesuvius’ ash.
After leaving the exhibit and going back out into our world I felt like I had taken a piece of ancient Rome with me. This may sound crazy but I actually felt like I had gotten the opportunity to meet the victims whose last moments have been preserved for thousands of years. By seeing these casts and observing items from their daily lives I found it was easier to relate to these people as real humans rather than imaginary figures to be studied.
A Day in Pompeii will be on display at the Museum of Science until February 12, 2012 when it leaves for Cincinnati, followed by Denver. Tickets are $27; prices are separate from general admission. Hurry up and see this once-in-a-lifetime exhibit before the next Plinian eruption!
