Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
The world-renowned traveling exhibition Pompeii: The Exhibition is now open at Arizona Science Center.
The exhibition invites guests to step back in time and experience life in Pompeii just hours before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., through a collection of artifacts and immersive multimedia displays.
“The story of Pompeii’s destruction and preservation is well-known around the world for providing a perfect encapsulation of life during the Roman era,” said Tammy Stewart, interim Hazel A. Hare president and CEO of Arizona Science Center. “It is a remarkable story that exists as both an ancient legend and an archaeological treasure, providing a one-of-a-kind snapshot of ancient history that we rarely ever see. We are honored to be entrusted with these archaeological treasures and are thrilled to welcome the return of this exhibition, last on display here in 2018.”
Ms. Stewart added that the exhibition combines history and technology to transport visitors to a period of splendor and catastrophe.
On Aug. 24, 79 A.D., Pompeii—a thriving port city of the Roman Empire—was buried under volcanic ash and debris following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The same ash that destroyed the city preserved it for centuries, offering archaeologists a rare glimpse into daily life. Roads, buildings, paintings, mosaics and household items remain remarkably intact and are featured in this exhibition.
Guests will see more than 150 artifacts on loan from the Naples National Archaeological Museum and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, including gladiator armor, weapons, frescoes, statues, jewelry, medical instruments and cooking ware. Full-body casts of victims of the eruption provide a haunting reminder of the disaster. Multimedia elements, including projections, audio, video and murals, enhance the experience.
Visitors will begin with dramatic reconstructions of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius, then explore artifact galleries, view holographic gladiator combat and experience a 4D theater simulating the eruption’s stages. The exhibition culminates with the reveal of the preserved human forms, frozen in time.
“The blend of scientific discovery and a media-rich way of retelling history allows visitors to experience the awe of nature and human ingenuity,” said John Norman, president of NEON’s Artifact Division, producer of the exhibition. “We’re thrilled to bring this innovative exhibition to Phoenix and provide guests with the ability to travel through time and immerse themselves in Pompeii.”
