Module 11- Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii

A. On August 24, AD 79, the people of ancient Pompeii awoke to what seemed to be a normal summer day. They had no reason to suspect that most of their lives would soon be over. Small tremors had been shaking the area for several days, though they didn’t worry because the region had been subjected to many earthquakes over the years. It wasn’t until mid-afternoon that the people of Pompeii realized that the earthquakes were caused by Mount Vesuvius. By the next afternoon, the city of Pompeii had been covered by nine feet of pumice and debris. Days later, those that had escaped returned home to an unfamiliar landscape. Pompeii was virtually a forgotten city until 1763 when it was discovered by treasure-hunting excavators. In 1860, a new excavator named Giuseppe Fiorelli implemented many procedures that helped preserve Pompeii. Today, Pompeii is both an archaeological site and a modern town. People come from all over the world to see the ruins of Pompeii, plus the body casts, and artifacts housed in the museum. This book contains over 50 photographs that show dig sites, ruins, artifacts, jewelry, and casts of the dead. The subject matter and the fascinating photographs make this nonfiction book very compelling reading that will attract many middle school students including those who may not be avid readers. B. Deem, J. (2005). Bodies from the ash: Life and death in ancient pompeii. New York: Houghton Mifflin. C. My first impression of this book was one of intense awe and interest. Upon opening the pages and glancing at all the horrific body casts of victims of Mt. Vesuvius, my interest quickly waned! The stories of what likely happened to the victims were quite upsetting to me and yet I couldn’t quit reading it! Like a bad car wreck, Pompeii and its demise caught and held my attention despite strong feelings against the text. In the end, I really wish I hadn’t read it as the stories and many pictures to go along with it really upset me. D. On August 24, 79 C.E., the long-silent Mt. Vesuvius erupted, and volcanic ash rained down on the 20,000 residents of Pompeii. This photo-essay explains what happened when the volcano exploded--and how the results of this disaster were discovered hundreds of years later. A tragedy this dramatic demands an affecting text, but this one begins rather ploddingly with the events of August 24 and 25, and moves through the rediscovery of the city and the surrounding areas, with progressively more being learned. What the text lacks in excitement is made up for by the enormous amount of information Deem offers, some of which was acquired in on-site research. The excavations and body preservation techniques are explained in detail; everyday life in the city and the later tourist activity centered in Pompeii are also highlighted. But the jewels here are the numerous black-and-white (and some color) photographs, especially those featuring the plaster casts and skeletons of people in their death throes. The horizontal format, with pages looking as though they were partially bordered in marble, makes an attractive setting for the art. Excellent for browsers as well as researchers. Ilene Cooper, ALA E. Because of the upsetting nature of this book’s content, I wouldn’t recommend it to elementary students. I would probably only recommend this book to middle school or high school students who were completing research on the topic.