Pompeii exhibit in NYC shines light on buried city

[March 04, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A new exhibition from Italy that opens Friday at New York's Discovery Times Square captures the last gasp of the ancient city of Pompeii when it was buried under volcanic ash, mud and rock when Mount Vesuvius erupted 2,000 years ago.

Colorful room and garden frescoes, mosaic floors, pottery and gold jewelry also help chronicle life in the vibrant mercantile city before and after Vesuvius erupted.

Researchers have made body casts from the skeletal remains of residents and copies of these are an eerie part of the exhibit. A film recreates what Pompeiians might have felt as they tried to escape.

Pompeii existed for 700 years before it was snuffed out in just 24 hours.

"Pompeii The Exhibit: Life and Death in the Shadow of Vesuvius" runs through Sept. 5.

[Associated Press; By ULA ILNYTZKY]

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