Installation of Cincinnati Museum Center’s newest blockbuster exhibition A Day in Pompeii continues today in preparation for its March 2 public opening. Exhibit staff, Italian artifact couriers and art handlers are carefully uncrating, inspecting and installing the exhibit’s more than 250 ancient artifacts which tell the story of the life and death of the city of Pompeii.
Two of the artifacts installed today include a bronze statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and a fresco (painted plaster) of Bacchus and his love Ariadne. Grapes grew well in the volcanic soils of Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii had a thriving wine industry. Not surprisingly, Bacchus was highly venerated in Pompeii, and his image is found throughout the city.
A Day in Pompeii is a collection of more than 250 priceless ancient artifacts from the Roman city of Pompeii and its surrounding areas. In A.D. 79, Pompeii was frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, burying everything in its path for more than 1,700 years. A Day in Pompeii brings room-sized frescos, marble and bronze sculptures, jewelry, gold coins, and body casts of the volcano’s victims to Cincinnati Museum Center’s 15,000-square-foot exhibition hall.
It’s rare for an ancient city to be found so complete at intact; free from centuries of change and modernization. That’s what makes A Day in Pompeii a must-see. Pompeii’s archeological treasures rarely leave Italy, and Cincinnati Museum Center is only one of four stops, and the only regional venue for this national touring exhibit.
A Day in Pompeii is presented in partnership with Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei (SANP), which selected and prepared the artifacts. SANP is responsible for safeguarding and enhancing the cultural heritage of Pompeii and other locations in the Vesuvian area. Thank you to our local sponsors and partners of A Day in Pompeii: Frisch’s, Kroger, Cincinnati Reds and the Italian Consulate of Detroit.
TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for A Day in Pompeii are $19.50 for adults, $17.50 for seniors (ages 60+) and $12.50 for children ages 3-12. Show your Kroger receipt and receive $3 off regular priced tickets to the exhibition! Tickets for Cincinnati Museum Center Members are $12.50 for adults and $8.50 for children. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. To complement the exhibition, we recommend picking up an audio tour for $4 ($3 for Members). Visit cincymuseum.org or call (513) 287-7021 for more information and to make your reservations.