One of the more celebrated objects: a plaster cast of a dog from the House of Orpheus, Pompeii, AD 79. © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei / Trustees of the British Museum
For some of the objects not only will this be their first time on display outside of Italy, it will be their first time on public display. These will include finely sculpted marble reliefs and intricately carved ivory panels. The innovative focus of the exhibition, the Roman home, allows an interesting and unique perspective on the people who lived and died in these cities centuries ago. In so doing, the exhibition will depict quite a different story of ancient Roman life with characters we are not used to seeing. There will be businessmen and powerful women, freed slaves and children, not the usual suspects that usually appear in popular constructions of the Romans, such as emperors, gladiators and legionaries.
And the artefacts recovered from the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, two of the most well known archaeological sites in the World, are surely the best to offer this domestic and personal perspective.
Both Pompeii and Herculaneum are both located on the bay of Naples and consequently were both buried by the same catastrophic volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The buried cities lay undisturbed for some 1700 years. Because they were buried by volcanic ash in a relatively short space of time, 24 hours, the archaeological excavation of these two cites has given us an amazingly unique insight into daily life for the Romans at this time. And, as they were both very different towns, Herculaneum was a small seaside town whereas Pompeii was a much larger industrial center for the region, evidence from the two complements each other.
As this will be the first exhibition on Pompeii in the UK in over 20 years, it is certainly one not to miss.
An accompanying book Life and death in Pompeii and Herculaneum by Paul Roberts and published by the British Museum Press will be available in March. Tickets for the exhibition are now on sale at the Museum and on their website.
An unprecedented loan from Italy, a carbonised wooden cradle. From the House of M.P.P. Granianus, Herculaneum, 1st century AD. © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei / Trustees of the British Museum
Are there any plans for the exhibit to travel to america?
Not that I am aware of Heidi. Sometimes forward dates do appear, sometimes not. I have wondered this myself, it seems an obvious one to travel. I shall of course let you know as soon as I see any news one way or another.
I am very much hoping that the exhibit will travel to the US and/or Canada. I would make special plans to travel to see it, as it appears I have missed the opportunity while in London. The de Young Museum in San Francisco frequently hosts similar (important and large) exhibits.
I can understand that Robin … apparently it is a stunning collection and exhibition. I am greatly looking forward to my visit. I have searched everywhere for information about what happens to the exhibition once it ends in September, but there is no indication of any future plans – no even a hint! This does not mean it is not travelling though. I shall contact the PR people.
I have just received the following from the British Museum’s press office:
“There are no plans for the exhibition to travel once it has finished here, many of the objects are too fragile and so will stay in Italy once they return.”
So get yourselves to London :)