Te Papa – A Day in Pompeii

On 24 August 79 AD, Mt Vesuvius erupted, burying the wealthy Roman city of Pompeii under tonnes of volcanic ash. 

For more than 1700 years the city, once home to 10,000 to 12,000 inhabitants, remained undisturbed.

A Day in Pompeii gives you an extraordinary insight into the daily life of this ancient city, preserved by the ash that devastated it. There are more than 250 objects, ranging from delicate garden frescoes and fine mosaics to everyday items like cooking pots and wine jars.

There is the equipment of a sophisticated city; medical instruments, a water pipe with spout and tape, gold jewellery. There are poignant objects that reveal the human tragedy of Pompeii – body casts of people and animals trapped by ash on that last fateful day.

You can travel through a virtual house that illustrates the beauty and elegance of the original building. You can experience the drama and fear of the massive eruption of Mt Vesuvius in an immersive 3D theatre, and learn about volcanoes and the work of archaeologists uncovering this extraordinary city.

Celebrate the opening of the exhibition on Saturday 19 December with the 79AD Pompeii Festival. Fifi Coulston will be on hand to help make mini-mosaics or you can create a wreath of leaves to wear while you watch a live gladiator reenactment!  Find out what the Romans wore and kids can have a go at wrapping themselves in a traditional toga or stola.

The Roman summer continues in the New Year in Inspiration Station on level four. Come in on 11 January to learn about Roman pottery, then sculpt and take home your own Pompeiian pot.

Learn about New Zealand’s volcanic origins on Thursday 14 January with a team of geologists – take a volcanologist field trip around Te Papa and discover the major eruptions that have shaped our land and where volcanic activity occurs in New Zealand using the OurSpace interactive map.

Study real volcanic rocks and make your own volcano!

A Day in Pompeii is on in the Visa Platinum Gallery from Saturday 19 December to Sunday 25 April, admission charges apply. 

For more details, visit the Te Papa website, www.tepapa.govt.nz  or phone 04- 381-7000.