Objects

Many objects discovered during excavation of the city were perfectly preserved. Some display incredible beauty, craftsmanship and ritual, while others are useful tools and items of similar design to those we use today.
15 of the 250 objects from the exhibition are featured below.

Crouching man body cast

Material: Cast

Location: Large Palaestra, Pompeii

This victim of Vesuvius was discovered during excavations at the southern walkway of Pompeii’s Large Palaestra, or athletics ground. When he died the man was wearing boots and a hooded cloak. He had covered his mouth with the edges of the cloak as the toxic fumes and volcanic ash overcame him.

Crouching man body cast Source: © William Starling, Alabamba, USA
Crouching man body cast
Source: © William Starling, Alabamba, USA
Object location: Crouching man
Object location: Crouching man

Candelabra

Material: Bronze

Location: Probably a noble home e.g. House of the Vettii, Pompeii

Pompeii lamps — whether bronze or the more common terracotta — gave light by the simple method of burning a cloth wick soaked in olive oil. The head of the oracle god Jupiter Ammon sits on top of one candelabrum. The other is decorated with leaves.

SAP No: 3244a, 2187, 11354

Candelabra Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Candelabra
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Object location: Candelabra
Object location: Candelabra

Fountain of eagle with a serpent

Material: Marble

Location: Probably a formal garden e.g. House of the Faun, Pompeii

With water trickling from a hole in the eagle’s mouth, this statue would have formed a fountain in a private garden. An eagle triumphing over a snake was associated with the god Jupiter and victory.

SAP No: 20388

Fountain of eagle with a serpent Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Fountain of eagle with a serpent
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Object location: Fountain of eagle with a serpent
Object location: Fountain of eagle with a serpent

Guard dog

Material: Cast

Location: House of Orpheus, Pompeii

This dog was left chained to a post to guard the House of Orpheus when the occupants fled. The bronze studs around its neck are all that remains of a collar. As the pumice fall-out deepened, the dog climbed higher — until eventually it ran out of chain and was suffocated.

Guard dog Source: © William Starling, Alabamba, USA
Guard dog
Source: © William Starling, Alabamba, USA
Object location: Guard dog
Object location: Guard dog

Cremation urn

Material: Glass

Location: Necropolis of Nuceria Gate, Pompeii

This delicate glass funerary urn was found buried in a grave and protected by a casing of terracotta. There were bones inside as well as a bronze coin — payment for transport to the Underworld. Urns of this style were in common use between the first and second centuries AD.

SAP No: 59769

Cremation urn Image: unkonwn Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Arch
Cremation urn
Image: unkonwn Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Arch
Object location: Cremation urn
Object location: Cremation urn

Pair of earrings

Material: Gold

Location: Villa B, Oplontis

These earrings, looking somewhat like miniature sea urchins, were another popular style.

SAP No: 72966

Pair of earrings Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Pair of earrings
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Object location: Earrings
Object location: Earrings

Venus, Roman goddess of love and beauty

Material: Marble

Location: Villa of Poppaea, Oplontis

Venus, in mythology, sprang from the foam of the sea. Being reliant on the sea for its prosperity, Pompeii adopted her as its divine protectress and her temple overlooked the river and bay. Throughout the town the goddess was evoked in shrines, painted images, even graffiti. This statue stood in the gardens of a grand villa near Pompeii.

SAP No: 71252

Venus, Roman goddess of love and beauty Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Venus, Roman goddess of love and beauty
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Object location: Venus, Roman goddess of love and beauty
Object location: Venus, Roman goddess of love and beauty

Box

Material: Original iron and bronze fittings and wood reconstruction

Location: House of Julius Polybius, Pompeii

Only the metal fittings survived, but from other items found nearby, we know that this was a chest for storing medications and medical instruments.

SAP No: 22297

Medical box Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Medical box
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Object location: Box
Object location: Box

Garden painting

Material: Painted plaster

Location: House of the Golden Bracelet, Pompeii

This large fresco covered the entire back wall of an outdoor dining room, creating the illusion of a lush garden populated with birds. The central niche may have framed a fountain. Pompeii’s climate favoured outdoor living and people sometimes dined in their gardens. A covered path along the garden’s perimeter allowed people to walk in the shade during the heat of the day. An abundant supply of water, fed by a complex system of aqueducts, gave rise to garden fountains, pools and canals. These enabled many types of plants to thrive — flowers, shrubs, fruit and nut trees, and vines.

SAP No: 59467

Garden painting Source: © William Starling, Alabamba, USA
Garden painting
Source: © William Starling, Alabamba, USA
Object location: Garden painting
Object location: Garden painting

Statue of lion eating fallen prey

Material: Marble

Location: House of Loreius Tiburtinus, Pompeii

This is typical of statues that adorned Pompeii gardens. Perhaps they mimicked the imperial hunting parks, stocked with many kinds of animals, for the sport of high-ranking Romans. Or perhaps they recalled the hunts (venationes) staged at Pompeii’s amphitheatre.

SAP No: 2929

Statue of lion eating fallen prey  Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Na
Statue of lion eating fallen prey
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Na
Object location: Statue of lion eating fallen prey
Object location: Statue of lion eating fallen prey

Medical instruments

Material: Bronze

Location: Possibly House of the Surgeon, Pompeii

A slender bronze sleeve held this set of five medical instruments including a probe or lance, an ear drill and two squared needles.

SAP No: 11286 - 11286a-e

Medical instruments Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Medical instruments
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Object location: Medical instruments
Object location: Medical instruments

Armband

Material: Gold with glass paste eyes

Location: River Sarno, Muregine

Inside, this armband is inscribed: DOMINUS ANCILLAE SUAE ‘From the master to his slave’. The value of the gift, and the inscription, suggest an intimate relationship between a Roman master and his slave girl. Sex between a master and slave was not considered a scandal, but a common domestic occurrence.

SAP No: 81580

Armband Source: © Alfredo and Pio Foglia
Armband
Source: © Alfredo and Pio Foglia
Object location: Armband
Object location: Armband

Loaf of bread

Material: Plaster copy from carbonised original

Location: A bakery, Pompeii

Pompeians ate bread with most meals — with fruit at breakfast, at lunch and dinner dipped in olive oil or used to sop up sauces and stews. It was hard bread, made from coarse flour. The poor couldn’t afford raised, yeasty loaves like this one; they ate unleavened bread, similar to pita bread. This carbonised loaf, found in an oven at Pompeii, must have been left untended when Vesuvius erupted.

Loaf of bread Source: © William Starling, Alabama, USA
Loaf of bread
Source: © William Starling, Alabama, USA
Object location: Loaf of Bread
Object location: Loaf of Bread

Decorated shield

Material: Bronze and silver

Location: Quadriporticus of the Theatres, Pompeii

A hoplomachus fought with a lance, a long dagger and a small shield like this one. Encircled by laurel wreaths for victory, the medallion in the centre bears the head of the legendary Gorgon, Medusa, whose look is said to have turned men into stone.

SAP No: 5669

Decorated shield Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Decorated shield
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Object location - Decorated shield
Object location - Decorated shield

Water pipe, spout and tap

Material: Lead and bronze

Location: Probably a house with running water e.g. House of Pansa, Pompeii

Pompeii’s water was carried through a network of lead pipes; junctions, spouts and taps were made of bronze.

SAP No: 17022

Water pipe, spout and tap Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Water pipe, spout and tap
Source: © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Nap
Object location: Water pipe, spout and tap
Object location: Water pipe, spout and tap
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Header illustration: Mount Vesuvius, © Museum Victoria