Last week I spoke about the wonderful Ronald Reagan Library and all the great things to see in the permanent exhibits. Well, if you go there before April 21st you will have the opportunity to see their temporary Pompeii exhibit on loan from the Naples National Archeological Museum in Italy. I highly recommend actually visiting the Pompeii ruins outside of Naples, but this wonderful exhibit gives you a taste of the ancient world until you can make it over there.
In case you don’t know anything about Pompeii, here’s a little history on the city. In 79 A.D. the volcano Mt. Vesuvius erupted and within 48 hours the city of Pompeii was completed destroyed and thousands of people lost their lives. Ironically, the ash and hardened lava (over 12 feet high) that caused the destruction of the city also preserved it. As time moved on, people forgot about Pompeii and where it was -- until 1748 when it was rediscovered. Over time, archaeologists have uncovered relics and artifacts that give us a glimpse of what life was like in ancient Rome. It is so amazing to see such well-preserved remains, but I won’t lie, some of the images are quite chilling, so be prepared.
Very riveting is the 48-hour simulation of events that led to the ultimate demise of the city. This captivating 4D Eruption Theater exhibit gave us an hour by hour account of what it would have been like in Pompeii on that day – complete with flashing lights, vibrations, smoke, and sound effects. I must admit, it definitely left an impact on me and I was very impressed with this part of the exhibition.
Sometimes it was hard to believe how advanced this civilization was, a prime example being that they had early healthcare. Many medical procedures and tools that were on display are still used today! Books on medicine gave detail on how to make things like pain-killers and laxatives. They were also very skilled fishermen and used tools to navigate their surroundings. Even their engineering skills were advanced as evidenced by things like compasses and hydraulic valves.
Apparently, Romans liked to display their wealth in those days (I don’t know if I blame them). Detailed frescoes were painted on the atrium walls and other places in the home to impress their guests. Several wall-sized frescoes are on display in this exhibit that once adorned the homes and gardens of the residents of Pompeii. Some of the wealthier homes also had floors made of marble tiled mosaics. A very large example of one was hanging on the wall as well – it was exquisite!
There was a parental advisory on one room before entering – something to the effect that ancient Rome held “very different views about sexuality” …. remember, brothels were a huge component of Roman life – as well as displaying things that go along with it. We all know the stories and there are things to see if you want to learn more. I’ll let you use your imagination for now.
Of course, there were beautiful works of art including incredible statues on display. Many of them were in the classical Roman style depicting figures that were strong with severe features. Others were symbolic of their beliefs in Roman Gods – and the Pompeiians (like all Romans of the time) worshipped many. In the homes, they had small statues of their own household gods typically called Lares and they kept them in shrines called Larariums. The detail on the small statues of the Lares was so impressive and very captivating.
Elite Pompeiian women were also big in to fashion, particularly in the way they adorned themselves with beautiful pieces of jewelry. They also owned incredible hand-held mirrors.
One thing I want to highlight was this striking bust of a women believed to be the Roman Emperor Caligula’s mother. The bust still had remnants of red paint on her hair, showcasing just how well the lava acted as a preservative.
Even though I’ve toured the actual site in Pompeii several years ago, I learned more about the event and ancient Rome from this exhibit and was so glad I went. I still can’t get over how the items are 2,000 years old yet so unspoiled – I think you will be amazed too. What’s more is that scientists believe that 25% of the city still remains undisturbed, so more things are yet to be discovered – isn’t that fascinating?!? I can’t wait to see what they unearth next!
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