An exhibit of artifacts from the ancient Italian city of Pompeii, and therefore called A Day in Pompeii, is spending two years traveling to 4 U.S. cities. The exhibit includes more than 250 artifacts, including wall-sized frescoes, gold coins, jewelry, grave goods, marble and bronze statuary.
On August 24, 79 A.D., Mt. Vesuvius erupted, covering the nearby area, including the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, in volcanic ash and lava. There had been signs preceding it, like earthquakes, but most people were still there going about their daily lives until it was too late. Some lucky ones got out, since (the elder) Pliny put the military fleet into service for evacuation. A naturalist and curious, as well as a Roman official (a prefect), Pliny stayed too late and died helping others escape. His nephew, the younger Pliny wrote about this catastrophe and his uncle in his letters. See Pliny the Elder and the Volcanic Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Casts in A Day in Pompeii were taken of actual human and animal victims in their death positions.
Pictures and their descriptions come from the Science Museum of Minnesota site.
Images 1-10 of 10
- Cast of a DogCast of a dog
- Pompeiian Garden FrescoPompeiian Garden Fresco
- Cast of a womanCast of a woman
- Hippolytus and Phaedra FrescoHippolytus and Phaedra Fresco
- Cast of a seated manCast of a seated man
- Medallion FrescoMedallion Fresco
- AphroditeAphrodite Statue
- BacchusStatuette of Bacchus
- Detail of Garden ColumnDetail from a Pompeiian column
- Hand of SabaziusHand of Sabazius
- Graphic Index
- Text Index
