Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live in ancient Rome? Find out at the Festival of Archaeology through fun-filled activities, talks and crafts for all ages including jewellery-making, a Roman fashion show, metal working, Roman hairdressing and much more. Alongside these more family friendly events are two highlights for history buffs.
Paul Roberts, Curator of the Last Supper in Pompeii exhibition, speaks about how the Ashmolean's new exhibition celebrates the Roman love affair with food and drink. Alongside frescoes and sculptures, tombstones and silverware is new archaeological evidence. Finds from a buried vineyard, gardens and cesspits in Pompeii – and distant Britannia – bring the Roman Banquet to life.
'Disaster in the Loveliest of Lands', translated and directed by the historian and author David Stuttard, is a series of dramatic readings from Latin literature accompanied by illustrations from Roman art, to bring to life the experiences of people in Pompeii and Herculaneum, including Pliny’s dramatic eyewitness account of Vesuvius’ eruption.
