The National Museum of Australia is hosting a one-of-a-kind Pompeii exhibition, complete with an immersive “eruption”, until May 2025. Photo: National Museum of Australia.
You’ve probably heard of Pompeii. That long-lost, ancient city, destroyed by one of the most devastating volcanic eruptions in history.
But can you imagine how it would feel to wake up just like any other morning, only to see your home assailed by volcanic rocks as hot ash and toxic gases fill the sky?
Almost 2000 years ago, Pompeii was a vibrant epicentre of trade and a popular holiday destination for wealthy Romans.
Unfortunately for its inhabitants, the city stood at the foot of an active volcano. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the city was engulfed by ash, rock and boiling gas that killed many of its people.
Pompeii remains one of the most perfectly preserved archaeological sites in the world. It has been continually studied since the first excavations began in the 18th century.
The city and its story caught the interest of Dr Lily Withycombe when she was just 10 years old. Visiting an exhibition in Sydney, she was captivated by the ancient disaster and immediately wanted to know more.
These days, Lily is a curator for the National Museum of Australia, a role she’s enjoyed for more than a decade.
She has visited Pompeii a number of times, including twice to work as an archaeologist. Her most recent trip was to hand-pick 90 remarkable artefacts for Canberra’s Pompeii: Inside A Lost City exhibition.
“I wanted to convey the social history of everyday people, including slaves, women and children,” Lily says.
“Alongside luxurious fresco scenes, perfume bottles and gold jewellery from elite households, you will also see simple artefacts from modest homes and workshops.
“It really gives you a glimpse into what life in this ancient city was like and how a regular day was interrupted by cataclysmic disaster.”
Lily majored in archaeology at university and says without Pompeii, there would be no modern archaeology. Photo: National Museum of Australia.
The National Museum’s exhibition uses ambient lighting, sound and digital projections to create an extraordinary sense of atmosphere, complete with a re-enactment of Mount Vesuvius’ eruption.
One of Lily’s favourite artefacts is a bronze vessel (situla) with volcanic rock fused to its iron handle and archaeological debris still held inside from its discovery in 2018.
Cooking utensils, dice, pigment pots and carbonised bread can be viewed up close, alongside complex frescos, statues and sculptures. There are also five copies of the original casts taken from the remains of those killed in the eruption.
Evocative wall shadows depict all kinds of people going about their business moments before disaster struck.
Specialist researchers and brilliant minds from around the world still visit Pompeii every summer excavation season, bringing their unique skill sets and perspectives to the site.
Excavations are undertaken with great care, but Lily says it wasn’t always this way.
“Early archaeology could be called treasure hunting, at best. Looting was common, and artefacts weren’t cared for in the same way they are today,” she says.
“And yet, the very existence of Pompeii has inspired the development of archaeological practice and methodology. Without this city, there would be no modern archaeology.”
Today, heritage laws, refined tools and techniques, and modern technology such as sonographic ground scanning help preserve new discoveries at Pompeii.
“How we document and share what we’ve learned has also changed,” Lily says.
“The digital age allows us to record, refine and display our findings in a more accessible way so everyone can benefit from them.”
Thousands of Australians study Pompeii every year at school and university, some going on to become leading specialists in the field. Why? Because its story still captures our imagination, even hundreds of years after its discovery.
“The story of Pompeii evolves year on year with every discovery,” Lily says.
“I hope visitors to this exhibition get to experience the same sense of wonder and awe I felt at 10 years old and still feel every time I look at an artefact from this incredible ancient city.”
The National Museum of Australia presents Pompeii: Inside A Lost City in collaboration with the Archaeological Park of Pompeii in Italy and the Grand Palais and GEDEON Experiences in France.
Pompeii: Inside A Lost City is on show now, running until 4 May 2025. Tickets are available via the National Museum Australia.
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