Stories from an eruption. Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis

"Shortly after that cloud came down upon the earth and covered the sea... I looked back: a pitch darkness loomed behind us and, spreading over the land, followed us like a torrent... Night came, not like when the moon is out and the sky is overcast, but as when there is no light in closed a space. You could hear the desperate sobbing of women, the cries of children, and the shouts of men... some, for fear of death, hoped for death; many raised their hands to the gods, but most became convinced the gods no longer existed and that that night would be endless and the last of the world". This is how, in his "Letters" (VI, 20), Pliny the Younger describes the events of August 24th, A.D. 79, when a violent eruption wiped out the population of the Vesuvius valley, destroying everything in its path. After the explosion a heavy rain of ash fell on Pompeii and its inhabitants, who ran away stupefied or - accepting the divine will - clasped their young children and shared a final embrace with loved ones. The same day a dismal cloud slowly and relentlessly fell on Herculaneum, causing the death by suffocation of those who had not managed to escape. Since then, despite the passing of time , the lava has returned a large part of the things and persons that it had covered, and caught at the precise moment of the tragedy. Archaeological excavations are constantly under way in the area of Pompeii and have recently uncovered new finds. The exhibition has been prepared with the aim of showing the public these new finds, enhanced with  details on the events of individuals engulfed by the disaster. On display there also 13 human casts, 30 frescoes, 10 sculptures, 500 precious jewels, 200 objects of common use and a finely made bronze and iron safe. The finds come from the digs in the locality of Moregine, a suburb of Pompeii, which have uncovered an architectural complex with two buildings. Coming from there, are the frescoes depicting the Dioscuri and Helen, the cycle of the Muses and Apollo, the personification of a river and a Victory with the attributes of Athena. There is also the reconstruction of the discovery of several persons - including a noblewoman with a precious set of jewels - who were desperately trying to flee.

Storie da un'eruzione. Pompei, Ercolano, Oplontis
National Archaeological Museum
19 Piazza Museo, Naples
until  31 August 2003
opening times: every day 9am- 8pm, closed Tuesdays
admission € 6.50, concessions € 3.25
information: 848.800.288
website: www.pompeiisites.org 

Stories from an eruption. Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis

"Shortly after that cloud came down upon the earth and covered the sea... I looked back: a pitch darkness loomed behind us and, spreading over the land, followed us like a torrent... Night came, not like when the moon is out and the sky is overcast, but as when there is no light in closed a space. You could hear the desperate sobbing of women, the cries of children, and the shouts of men... some, for fear of death, hoped for death; many raised their hands to the gods, but most became convinced the gods no longer existed and that that night would be endless and the last of the world". This is how, in his "Letters" (VI, 20), Pliny the Younger describes the events of August 24th, A.D. 79, when a violent eruption wiped out the population of the Vesuvius valley, destroying everything in its path. After the explosion a heavy rain of ash fell on Pompeii and its inhabitants, who ran away stupefied or - accepting the divine will - clasped their young children and shared a final embrace with loved ones. The same day a dismal cloud slowly and relentlessly fell on Herculaneum, causing the death by suffocation of those who had not managed to escape. Since then, despite the passing of time , the lava has returned a large part of the things and persons that it had covered, and caught at the precise moment of the tragedy. Archaeological excavations are constantly under way in the area of Pompeii and have recently uncovered new finds. The exhibition has been prepared with the aim of showing the public these new finds, enhanced with  details on the events of individuals engulfed by the disaster. On display there also 13 human casts, 30 frescoes, 10 sculptures, 500 precious jewels, 200 objects of common use and a finely made bronze and iron safe. The finds come from the digs in the locality of Moregine, a suburb of Pompeii, which have uncovered an architectural complex with two buildings. Coming from there, are the frescoes depicting the Dioscuri and Helen, the cycle of the Muses and Apollo, the personification of a river and a Victory with the attributes of Athena. There is also the reconstruction of the discovery of several persons - including a noblewoman with a precious set of jewels - who were desperately trying to flee.

Storie da un'eruzione. Pompei, Ercolano, Oplontis
National Archaeological Museum
19 Piazza Museo, Naples
until  31 August 2003
opening times: every day 9am- 8pm, closed Tuesdays
admission € 6.50, concessions € 3.25
information: 848.800.288
website: www.pompeiisites.org