What were the two final days of the inhabitants of Pompeii and Herculaneum like? What is the "Boxer Pose"? What was the most common profession in these buried cities? In an exclusive one-time-only screening that took place in Prague's Světozor cinema on the 19th of September, all of these questions and were answered in a special documentary about the British Museum's unique exhibition named "Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum".
I am a frequent cinema-goer and I have been honestly astonished by the high attendance at this event - and also by the fact that people of all ages have come here, wearing formal suits, dresses, heels, ties... The event in combination with the humorous, yet professional interviews and narratives given by Peter Snow and Bettany Hughes (and other specialists in the field of history or archaeology) doubtlessly had class. As for the documentary itself, it was so superbly done that at one point, I realized I was consumed so much by all the stories, explanations and discussions that I almost forgot where I was, who with... It was just intriguing.
However, it was only saddening to grow to like the inhabitants of these two Ancient Roman cities and then realize that you cannot do anything to stop the fatal eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and therefore save the people... Instead, you are most probably morally divided between feelings of pity and enjoyment caused by seeing all those magnificent objects that were once part of the daily lives of people that were cooked alive by volcanic pyroclastic flows. This emotional engagement from the audience and visitors doubtlessly leaves a lasting impression that stays with you long after you leave the exhibition or cinema hall.
It is impossible to not be impressed by the exhibition, the stories or the passion of the people behind the project. For me at least though, it is a little tormenting to know that only about 1/4th of Herculaneum and 1/3rd of Pomepii have been excavated to this day... It is as if one is reading a very compelling book that the (still living) author decided to leave unfinished... Only this tale is 1, 600 years old and archaeologists and scientists are the writers and until they excavate the rest of the buried cities, the stories of Pomepii and Herculaneum are incomplete and our minds are left to wonder and dream.
- Anna Hupcejová
However, it was only saddening to grow to like the inhabitants of these two Ancient Roman cities and then realize that you cannot do anything to stop the fatal eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and therefore save the people... Instead, you are most probably morally divided between feelings of pity and enjoyment caused by seeing all those magnificent objects that were once part of the daily lives of people that were cooked alive by volcanic pyroclastic flows. This emotional engagement from the audience and visitors doubtlessly leaves a lasting impression that stays with you long after you leave the exhibition or cinema hall.
It is impossible to not be impressed by the exhibition, the stories or the passion of the people behind the project. For me at least though, it is a little tormenting to know that only about 1/4th of Herculaneum and 1/3rd of Pomepii have been excavated to this day... It is as if one is reading a very compelling book that the (still living) author decided to leave unfinished... Only this tale is 1, 600 years old and archaeologists and scientists are the writers and until they excavate the rest of the buried cities, the stories of Pomepii and Herculaneum are incomplete and our minds are left to wonder and dream.
- Anna Hupcejová
Note: If you would like to read more about the event, take a look at the official page of the event:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/pompeii_and_herculaneum/pompeii_live.aspx.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/pompeii_and_herculaneum/pompeii_live.aspx.
