Exclusive Canadian stop of world-renowned exhibition:
North American premiere of POMPEII at the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Gatineau, Quebec, May 26, 2005 — On August 24 in A.D. 79, the greatest natural disaster of the ancient world destroyed Pompeii, the seaside city of wealth and pleasure, leaving a perfect time capsule of city life at the height of the Roman Empire. The Pompeii exhibition tells the story of the human tragedy of the Mount Vesuvius eruption. It will be open until September 12 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the only Canadian venue for this world-renowned exhibition.
For the first time in North America, visitors will see nearly 500 artifacts — frescoes, sculptures, jewellery, body casts and household items — from Pompeii, Herculaneum and other archaeological sites of the Vesuvian area, in Southern Italy.
“Since the first archaeological discoveries in the region in 1738, people have been fascinated by the history of Pompeii and by stories about the volcano’s survivors and victims,” said Dr. Victor Rabinovitch, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC). “The objects in this exhibition shed light on an extraordinary natural disaster. They are also the most complete, intact archaeological remains of life in Roman times, and they have rarely been allowed out of Italy; this exhibition is a rare treat for North Americans.”
Archaeologists continue to explore the ruins of Pompeii and of nearby towns. They have recently uncovered splendid masterpieces by goldsmiths, painters and sculptors in the towns destroyed by the volcano. Not only do these artifacts reveal the grandeur and opulence of the villas and city dwellings of the rich, famous and powerful, but they also show aspects of the everyday life of more humble people.
Of particular interest are the body casts of victims that connect today’s visitor to people who lived and dramatically died 2,000 years ago. After the Mount Vesuvius eruption, those bodies were encased in ash and later decomposed within the sediment, leaving cavities in the thick layer of volcanic material. The first casts were made in the 1860s when an archaeologist was struck by the idea of pouring plaster into the cavities in hopes of reproducing the images of the victims, frozen in the last moments of their lives. The technique worked remarkably well and the results are often haunting.
Among the other items feaured in Pompeii is a necklace considered to be one of the most beautiful pieces of jewellery discovered in the Vesuvian region. It consists of 94 gold-leaf ivy leaves connected by small rings and roundels. Other remarquable objets are a bronze gladiator’s helmet; a marble Apollo statue; and large frescoes and mosaics that retain their vibrant colours after nearly 2,000 years.
Pompeii was shown to enthusiastic audiences in Naples, Brussels, Trieste and Mannheim. After the North American premiere of Pompeii at the CMC, the exhibition will travel to the Field Museum in Chicago, later to Japan and China.
Pompeii was developed by the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei together with the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Caserta, and promoted by the Regione Campania-Assessorato ai Beni Culturali, with the support of the Compagnia di San Paolo and a contribution from the Autostrade Meridionali SpA.
Advance purchase is recommended; timed ticketing is in effect. Regular admission + $5 ( not applicable to children and members).
Pompeii is open at the CMC from May 27 until September 12, 2005.
For more information, the public can call 1 800 555-5621 or (819) 776-7000
Backgrounders
Media Information:
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: (819) 776-7167
Media Relations Officer
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tel.: (819) 776-7169
Fax: (819) 776-7187
|
|
