ISSUE 100
NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2020
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WITH COLDWELL BANKER TOMLINSON
pompeii at the mac Article by Larry Lapidus, Realtor®
I
n 79 A.D. the city of Pompeii, on the east side of the Italian boot, was a vast construction site with cranes and scaffolding dissecting it: a bustling, vibrant city on the move. Tragically, Pompeii and the neighboring city of Herculaneum were buried by a catastrophic volcanic eruption in just 24 hours. While it violently ended the lives of the inhabitants, the eruption of Vesuvius also preserved Pompeii’s living environment, making it possible for us to explore what life was like nearly 2,000 years ago. The site was lost for almost 1500 years. Now, visitors to Spokane’s Museum of Art and Culture at 2316 W First Ave in Browne’s Addition will be able to view an exhibition of the extraordinary achievements of Pompeii and the Roman world, brought to light by the most advanced scientific research. By roaming The MAC, they will be able to examine over 100 unearthed objects from Pompeii demonstrating the advanced state of Roman knowledge of nature, science and technology over 2,000 years ago. MAC executive director Wesley Jessup was interested in bringing the exhibition to Spokane not only because of the historical importance of Pompeii but also because 2020 is the 40th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption. “Of course one was more devastating to human life than the other, but I think we all felt that this universal geological phenomenon striking two totally different parts of the world was an interesting connection,” he said. “Because of that anniversary, the staff and the board felt like, ‘If we’re going to do this, this would be a great moment.’ ”
Here are only some of the experiences the exhibit holds in store: A Pompeiian Family You’ll begin your visit by meeting the characters who will accompany you throughout the exhibition. Caius junior and his close relatives are excited about preparations for a forthcoming banquet and are busy rebuilding the thermal baths destroyed by that earthquake 17 years earlier. You’ll learn what life was like for Pompeiians in the first century A.D. The Destruction of the City An immersive multimedia experience will plunge you into the heart of the drama as you hear the roar of Mount Vesuvius and feel the earth move under your feet when it erupts before your eyes. Next, you’ll discover Pompeii as it was in ancient times. 3D reconstructions, artworks and artifacts excavated from the ruins take you into the world of an ancient Roman city. Practical Science The Romans scientific know-how helped them devise machines, instruments and a variety of mechanisms. You will see reconstructions of a number of them. Meet the Inhabitants Another immersive moment, no doubt the most emotional. The bodies immobilized in ash speak from beyond the years and are transformed, come back to life as the inhabitants of former days. For information on times, special rates and group tours, call The MAC at (509) 456-3931.