Escape From Pompeii at the WA Maritime Museum
It is fitting that the story of Pompeii's burial under the volcanic ash of the 79 CE eruption of Mt Vesuvius is held in the WA Maritime Museum, given the daring rescue attempt by Pliny the Elder and the Roman Navy. Escape From Pompeii combines archaeological artefacts with written accounts to create a contextualised narrative of Pompeii's destruction, as well as the everyday lives of the Pompeiian people. The exhibition is clearly driven by Pliny the Elder's Natural History and the Letters of his nephew, Pliny the Younger, which illuminate the nature of both the eruption and the archaeological record on display.
The exhibition opens with the message that prompts the involvement of Pliny the Elder, a request for assistance from his noblewoman friend, Rectina, who lived below Vesuvius. Context of both the 79 CE eruption and Roman naval power in general is highlighted towards the beginning, with the bronze rostrum of a Roman warship siting in pride of place. With a short video, the rostrum helps to clarify the rise of Roman naval superiority during the First Punic War.
Just as important as the eruption itself are the everyday lives of the people living in Pompeii, and the Bay of Naples more widely. The accounts of both Pliny the Elder and Younger interwoven with the artefacts allow for a greater understanding of the objects on display and breathe life into each exhibit. Roman trade networks are stressed alongside foods commonly eaten, through preserved amphorae, fig and peach pits, grains and bread. The people of Pompeii are present in their personal possessions, including jewellery and glassware, whilst mosaics and frescoes represent the beauty of Pompeiian villas (a short video includes the reconstruction of one such villa).
This carefully curated exhibition is only hindered by a few points. Specific prices of exhibits may not be understood by those unfamiliar with Roman currency, whilst a number of Latin inscriptions are only briefly described, rather than translated into English. Personally, I felt that the relationship between Roman and foreign deities was sorely overlooked, with examples including a statue of Hermanubis and a lamp of Zeus-Ammon.
Escape From Pompeii ends on an appropriately emotional note. After spending all your time learning about the rescue efforts and viewing the Pompeiian lives on display—complete with an examination of their personal possessions buried during the eruption—replica casts of several individuals are presented. The conclusion of this exhibition emphasises that all of these archaeological artefacts we have been gawking at belong to real people, real people whose lives were lost so tragically.
PHOTO CREDITS: M. HUTCHISON
