As part of my staycation, I checked out the ROM’s ‘Pompeii: In the Shadow of the Volcano’ exhibit which tells the dramatic story of an ancient civilization frozen in time and features 200 remarkable objects, many of which appear for first time in Toronto.
Exploring Pompeii and its fate through six distinctive sections, the exhibition’s introductory experience underscores what we know about the city and the ancient Romans who lived and died there. Three key displays establish that the exhibition’s focus is on those people, the volcano that buried them, and the wealth of objects remarkably preserved by the destruction. The volcano, introduced in this section, remains a looming, menacing presence throughout the exhibition. Here, visitors are able to touch a large piece of pumice from Mount Vesuvius. From the mid-18th century, extensive excavations of Pompeii provided unparalleled knowledge of ancient Roman life. The exhibition’s Out of the Ashes examines the rediscovery, establishing that, with its eruption, Mount Vesuvius transformed a relatively minor Roman city into one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites. Pompeii is a veritable “time capsule” of well-preserved artifacts.
The exhibition’s central dramatic moment comes with Time Runs out for Pompeii . An immersive experience engulfs visitors as the disaster’s chronology is explained and visitors learn how and why the eruption was so catastrophic.
Finally, The Human Toll reveals the devastating loss of life. The dramatic story of discovery and preservation is enhanced as visitors encounter casts of the inhabitants of Pompeii at the moment of their demise. These people, whose lives were similar to ours in many respects, reveal life’s fragility in the face of natural disaster.
If you would like to go to the ROM on CityPASS please take advantage of my giveaway! Toronto @CityPASS Ticket Booklet Giveaway! https://thirtyfourflavours.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/toronto-citypass-ticket-booklet-giveaway/
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