In the year 79 AD, one of the most significant volcanic eruptions in history took place: Mount Vesuvius, a volcano in southern Italy erupted taking out all the surrounding cities including Pompeii.  Pompeii was not a well known city before the eruption, but it seems that the catastrophic event that took Pompeii off the map also put it on the map.  Now, there is a way to get the feel of what everyday life was like in Pompeii.  How?  From now until April 27, the Franklin Institute has an exhibit dedicated to the history of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.

The exhibit has a collection of over 150 artifacts directly from the Naples National Archaeological Museum.  These include wall sized frescos, marble and bronze sculptures, jewelry, ancient Roman coins, and preserved bodies in full body casts.  Amazingly, these artifacts were actually preserved by the thick layers of ash that covered the city.  It also has a feature called the Vesuvius Science Lab, which has hands-on stations where you can examine real volcanic rocks and learn about the process of a volcanic eruption.  Finally, you can relive the volcano’s eruption through a simulated experience in which the floors shake, the walls “rumble,” and you witness the devastation left in its path.

To see this first hand, juniors in Mrs. Meehan’s AP English 3 and CP English 4 classes, Mrs. Adair’s Italian classes, and members of the World Language club all traveled to see the exhibit on separate trips between March 27 and April 1.

“The Pompeii exhibit was really cool,” said junior Gary Marva.  “I especially liked the Vesuvius Lab where we could see what the eruption was like.”

Other students felt like they didn’t get the full experience.

“It was alright,” said senior Nick McFerren.  “I wish I could have saw the CGI Simulator, though.  I missed that unfortunately.”

“It didn’t impress me as much as I thought it would,” explained senior Nick Ezzi.  “But it was a day out of school so that’s fine with me.”