The Buried Treasures of Pompeii

The Buried
Treasures
of Pompeii
Pompeii and the Roman Empire
Pompeii was part of the
Roman Empire. Ancient
Rome was a powerful
and important civilization
that ruled much of
Europe for nearly 1,000
years. Rome's culture
still has an impact in the
Western world today.
The basis for much of
western culture comes
from Ancient Rome,
especially in areas such
as government,
engineering,
architecture, language,
and literature.
http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_rome.php
History of Pompeii
• Pompeii was an ancient Roman city, buried when
Mt. Vesuvius erupted in the year 78 AD.
• 2000 years later, archaeologists uncovered the city
which was buried under 20 feet of rock and ashes.
• When archaeologists dug out the city, they learned
a great deal from the ruins because it had been so
well preserved.
This is an artist’s rendition of what
Pompeii may have looked like in all
its glory.
To See a
Representation of this
Kind of Volcanic
Eruption, click on the
following website:
http://www.harcourts
chool.com/activity/po
mpeii/pmpErup.html
Archaeologists have worked for a long time to unearth the Ancient City of
Pompeii. This is what the ruins of Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius in the
background look like today.
There have been many interesting and important discoveries made in Pompeii
which have given us clues to how these people lived.
Street with Crossing Steps
Steam Bath
at the
Forum
Public Fountain
Statue of a
Woman
Some of the most important discoveries have come in
the area of “ART!” Archaeologists have found hundreds
of “FRESCOES” in the homes of the wealthy people of
Pompeii—some of the earliest “interior decorating and
design” anywhere in the world! Thanks to historians we
have descriptions of the technique of the fresco.
Frescoes are paintings that are mixed with plaster so
that they actually become part of the wall! This is how
the process works:
•Step 1: 1-3 coats of a mixture of sand and lime (mortar)
were applied to a wall.
•Step 2: 1-3 coats of more lime, this time mixed with
finely powdered marble, were applied to create a mirrorlike sheen on the surface.
•Step 3: Sheets of lead were inserted into the wall to
prevent capillary action that would allow moisture to
damage the pigment.
•Step 4: While the lime-marble powder mix was still wet,
pigments were applied to the fresh (or fresco) surface.
Primary colors were applied first by making light
incisions on the fresh plaster surface. Softer, pastel
colors were applied when the plaster was dry.
http://www.metmuseum.org/
Mosaic of
Street
Musicians
Fresco at the
Marketplace
Garden Room Fresco at the Villa
of Livia
This Fresco decorated the walls of a garden. What do you notice about this fresco?
What colors do you see? Would you want something like this in your home? What
kinds of animals and flowers are represented? Any other observations?
Suggested Art Project: Design Your Own Fresco!!
Supplies Needed: E-Z Form Plaster Cloth Wrap ($3.99/Hobby Lobby), Pre-cut into
4”X6” rectangles—one for each child
Newspaper or Table cloths to go under art project—will get messy!
Paper Plates for Drying
Paint Brushes
Tempera or Watercolor Paints
Large Bowls for Water
Paper Towels
Have the children imagine they are ancient Roman citizens and are decorating the
walls of their homes. Give each child a 4X6 piece of dampened E-Z Form Plaster
Cloth. Using the back end of their paint brush have them lightly “carve” (slight
impression/indentation) a design into the plaster. Then, they can use paints to
decorate their fresco. The frescoes should dry by the end of the day so the
children can take them home.