The macellum or marketplace in Pompeii is located in the forum. In the northwest corner are several well-preserved paintings on the walls. In front of the paintings are two display cases each containing a plaster cast of the body of a Pompeii citizen who died during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. When these people died, probably from poisonous fumes, the ash rapidly covered their bodies and, after the bodies decomposed, cavities were left in the ash. The archeologists who discovered these cavities filled them with plaster, creating three dimensional reconstructions of these citizens of Pompeii preserved as they were at the instant of their deaths.
Painting of Man in Toga in the Macellum
SOURCE: Painting of Man in Toga in the Macellum (Pompeii, Campania, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 August 2011.
Painting of Winged Figure in Chariot
SOURCE: Painting of Winged Figure in Chariot (Pompeii, Campania, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 August 2011.
Plaster Cast of Body No. 1 in the Macellum
SOURCE: Plaster Cast of Body No. 1 in the Macellum (Pompeii, Campania, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 August 2011.
Plaster Cast of Body No. 2 in the Macellum
SOURCE: Plaster Cast of Body No. 2 in the Macellum (Pompeii, Campania, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 08 August 2011.
Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko
Steve, These pictures were so beautiful — brought tears of joy to my eyes.