Pompeii, the forgotten story

Pompeii, the forgotten story

In the year 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted and in the space of several hours buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculanum. From his post in Misenum, Pliny the Elder, Roman author and naval commander, decides to sail twelve ships to help the inhabitants of Pompeii flee the scene. This attempted rescue, often forgotten, allows us to consider the fundamental role the Roman fleet played in making Rome the financial and military supremacy in the Mediterranean region. The Empire’s financial prosperity and the Roman lifestyle are closely linked to the naval expertise that was developed over time. These themes are illustrated throughout the exhibition with original archaeological finds and objects from Italian collections, on display in historical reconstitutions, elaborate sets and innovative and interactive multimedia devices. The fascinating story, that is the main theme in the exhibition, immerses the viewer in this final and fatal day of the beautiful city symbolic of Rome’s power, through the eyes of a major figure of its society.