The day started ominously enough. Our one-hour drive into the city of Chicago turned longer, due to tie-ups on the tollways. But at last, signs to parking for the Field Museum. After many twists and turns we found ourselves in an underground lot, presumably under the museum. But what -- we're outside again, erroneously parked under Soldier's Field Stadium, about two blocks away. So, upward and onward to the museum at last -- where we almost made an unwise decision to take a coffee break mid-way during our tour. After checking with the guards we found that should we leave the area, we could visit other parts of the museum, but would not be able to return to the Pompeii Exhibit. It always pays to ask.
I'm not sure what I expected at the Pompeii Exhibit -- a walk through the streets of the city, a view of the bustling activity of the Forum, the house of Caecilius? Lots of Latin? Such was not to be, but in place was a wonderfully integrated mix of displays and artifacts, multi-media, and an abundance of information about the tragic events of August 24, A.D. 79 , 1880 years before the birth of my oldest daughter on that same date.
What was unexpected, for me, were the small artifacts -- the household utensils and the jewellry, especially the jewellry. The gold shone as though on display at Tiffany's, the silver quite corroded and dull. Also, I had not expected such emphasis on death. Well, duh! Of course, who wouldn't expect tales of death? Only the Latin students who remembered Caecilius, and Metella, and Quintus as very much alive. There was the girl from Oplontis, found intact, her body cast filled with resin, her bone structure visible.
The frescoes were the most pleasing to me, especially the ones found in the House of the Triclinia in Moregine, with several Muses (those of music, dance, history, etc.) adorning the walls. And surprising to me, who had been looking for lots of Latin words, triclinium was the only one I saw. Other than a word on a fresco from the House of the Prostitutes -- HOG.
There were several school groups attending that day and I wondered, as we finished our tour, if they too were debating the better way to have died -- by pyroclasic surge or from suffocation with ash and lapilli. And did they wonder, "what if?"
The exhibit will be heading to Asia by the time you read this, but those who missed it will have another chance in Houston, TX in February 2008.
Page 13 ~ Why Play Cards?