This exhibition of 500 stunning works of art and artifacts offers a rare glimpse of life in the ancient world. Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption tells the stories of the final days of Pompeii and the nearby resort cities of Herculaneum, Oplontis and Terzigno following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Excavated from 1780 through present day, many of these artifacts have never toured outside Italy. The magnificence of these vibrant cities is reconstructed, with body casts and skeletons shown in the context in which they were found as the pyroclastic surges’ ash and superheated gases engulfed their world. Citizens clutched their most precious possessions, including exquisitely designed jewelry, coins and the tools of their trade. The exhibition, which is drawn from the collections of the National Archaeological Museum in Naples and the Archaeological Superintendent in Pompei, also features large-scale frescoes, mosaics, and powerful bronzes depicting subjects from Greek mythology and Roman politics.

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What they are saying about Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption:

“The exhibition at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama will be one of the most important cultural events of the autumn in the US, as it is a unique chance of voyaging in a past marked by a great tragedy, which put an end to the development of a rich and great city.” artline.ro

“A blockbuster to match the events it describes.” The New York Times

“It’s the sort of show for which Atlantans should plan ahead.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Extraordinary exhibition…” Veranda

“Fascinating…” Commercial Appeal (Memphis)

"As for the exhibition, it's still running all around in my head; I'm trying to absorb the beauty and the horror of it and somehow make them mesh. I was not really prepared for the overwhelming feeling I had after the tour.  I'm eager to go back through by myself with an audio tour, so I can look at each and every piece with total concentration. Visitors are going to be just as amazed, I do believe." 
Dilcy Hilley, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

“Love history? Love art? Love volcanoes? Then make plans to see the new exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art.” The Tennessean (Nashville, TN)

“Now, for the first time in Birmingham, we are privileged to ‘visit’ Pompeii. We can now see some of the beauty of this luxurious holiday spot and much of the horror in its destruction….This museum installation from the ruins of Pompeii is an inspired and ingenious combination of placement, lighting, and color that gives intimate focus to the objects and castings retrieved from a monumental tragedy….It is a presentation that has wide appeal to all ages….Seeing these artifacts, facsimiles and castings and exploring lifestyle in 79 A.D. is an experience of a lifetime. This exhibition is unquestionably the most ambitious and spectacular showing of artifacts and historical remains ever shown in Birmingham. It is a great opportunity to explore ancient history in a way that engenders a feeling of immediacy.” The Birmingham News

“Innumerable objects in the exhibit, buried for centuries until excavations began in 1748, tell a vivid story of social life in the region…. The exhibition may also provide observations and lessons for our own times.” The Birmingham News