A new exhibit is open at the California Science Center in Downtown Los Angeles, "Pompeii The Exhibition" is open daily until January 4, 2015. Parts of this exhibit are rated PG-13 {See Below}.
In August 24, 79 A.D., the Roman city of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, burying everything in its path for more than 1,600 years. The Vesuvius eruption that spewed searing hot ash not only obliterated the city, but ironically preserved its people and treasures, freezing them in a volcanic time capsule now revealed in the west coast premiere of this exhibition. Over 150 precious artifacts on loan from the unparalleled collection of the Naples National Archaeological Museum in Italy, including wall - sized frescos, marble and bronze sculptures, jewelry, ancient Roman coins, and full body casts of the volcano’s victims, will be on display at the California Science Center.
These artifacts , set in scenic depictions of their original surroundings, tell the tale of the bustling city of Pompeii , hidden from view and forgotten for centuries until its rediscovery over 250 years ago. The catastrophic power of volcanoes is also illustrated through an immersive CGI experience of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The impact and devastation is evidenced by full body casts (plaster casts made from the hollows left in the ash that hardened around the now disintegrated bodies of the victims, found upon excavation ), eerily preserved in their final moments.
Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition’s media - rich, immersive experience transports visitors back in time to 79 A.D. where they will embark on a journey through the ancient city , culminating with the fateful morning of the eruption.
They will learn how Pompeii was a bustling commercial port and strategic military and trading center, while its neighbor Herculaneum, also buried by Vesuvius, was an exclusive Mediterranean resort. Artifacts bring this world to life as visitors discover how its people lived, loved, worked and worshipped.
Included among the more than 150 authentic artifacts are: mosaics and frescoes, gladiator armor, weapons, a ship’s anchor, ceramics, plates, furniture, jewelry, medical instruments and tools.
RATED PG-13 ----> A Pompeii brothel replica features uncensored frescos, and artifacts of explicit sexual content , which may not be suitable for some guests. Parental guidance is advised for this part of the exhibition, which will be sufficiently sequestered.
A simulated eruption allows visitors to experience the devastating impact Mount Vesuvius had on Pompeii , culminating in the reveal of full body casts of twisted human forms, asphyxiated by extreme heat and noxious gases . Additionally, archaeological details present a unique record of Pompeii’s daily life including roads, buildings, and municipal services.
The Science Center IMAX Theater will be featuring Forces of Nature . The film showcases the incredible spectacles of volcanoes, earthquakes, and severe storms, and follows scientists to the very brink of erupting volcanoes, into the paths of deadly pyroclastic flows, along massive fault lines, and aboard vehicles barreling toward tornadic storms. Audiences will learn what is being done to prepare for and minimize these events.
Tickets
Pompeii: The Exhibition requires a timed - entry ticket, CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Exhibition admission prices are $19.75 for adults 18 - 59, $16.75 for youth 13 to 17, college students with I.D. & seniors 60+, and $12.75 for children 4 - 12 .
The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park Drive.
The Science Center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm.
Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Admission to all other Science Center exhibits is free.
More information is also available at www.californiasciencecenter.org
