Pompeii: The Exhibition

Pompeii: The Exhibition is at the Arizona Science Center through May 28, 2018.

You have heard the story before. In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted and completely wiped out Pompeii. It was surely a day of terror and chaos that one shudders to think about. It is hard to imagine what that day was like for the inhabitants of the city. Pompeii: The Exhibition takes you back in time to Pompeii and shares the city’s culture, vices, commerce, and everyday life.

When visitors step into the exhibit area, they are immersed in the culture of Pompeii. Mosaics, frescoes, artwork, weapons, kitchenware and many other artifacts surround the visitor.

The exhibit includes may items that were recovered from the ruins of Pompeii. Much was destroyed, but the ash preserved a great deal including the statue of Caligula above and the remnants of grapes you see below.

After visitors have been through every element of the culture of Pompeii, they will experience a simulation of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in a 4D theater. After the simulation, visitors enter an area with several casts of the remains of those who died that day. It is quite moving, at times disturbing, and not appropriate for younger children.

Do not miss an opportunity to experience this exhibit. You will not soon forget it. Take your older kiddos to see it. Maybe even make it part of your family’s Summer History Project.

Visit Pompeii: The Exhibition at the Arizona Science Center through May 28, 2018.

Disclaimer: I was allowed entrance into the exhibit to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.