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POMPEII:TALES FROM AN ERUPTION
October 14, 2007-January 27, 2008
This groundbreaking exhibition will, for the first time, tell the intriguing stories of the final days of Pompeii and the nearby resort cities of Herculaneum, Oplontis and Terzigno following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in August of 79 AD. Excavations dating back to 1780 through current day have produced more than 500 objects, many of which have never been on tour outside of Italy, that allow the Museum to reconstruct final moments of the citizens and the magnificence of these vibrant cities. The exhibition features body casts and skeletons, in the context in which they were found, crouching as the ash and pyroclastic surges engulfed the streets and buildings. In the attempted escape, victims clutch their most precious objects including exquisitely designed jewelry, ancient coins and the tools of their trade. The exhibition also features life-size marble statues, vibrantly painted monumental frescoes, mosaics, and powerful bronzes depicting subjects from Greek mythology and Roman politics that were found in the villas of the wealthy residents.
For more information please visit: The Birmingham Museum of Art
-Joanne Molina
