Win 2 Tickets to Pompeii The Exhibit at Times Square in NYC...

I cannot wait to visit this exhibit!!  I will be taking my Aunt and Sister this summer.  Here is a little bit about the exhibit from the official press release and also some fun facts about the exhibit.

“POMPEII THE EXHIBIT: LIFE AND DEATH IN THE SHADOW OF VESUVIUS” AT DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE 

EXPERIENCE LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER THE EPIC ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS 2,000 YEARS AGO

EXHIBIT FEATURES THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF BODY CASTS EVER PRESENTED, ALONG WITH MORE THAN 250 RARE ARTIFACTS UNCOVERED

FROM THE RUINS

New York, March 4, 2011 – Pompeii The Exhibit: Life and Death in the Shadow of Vesuvius, a new exhibit featuring the largest collection of the victims’ body casts and skeletons ever displayed, as well as more than 250 artifacts, some never-before-seen, is making its world premiere at Discovery Times Square (226 West 44^th Street) from March 4, 2011 through September 5, 2011. The exhibit examines the life and death of the doomed residents of Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum frozen in time by the massive eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the preservation of the Pompeii site.

Exhibit highlights include a collection of body casts (human impressions created from cavities found in the volcanic matter) and several hundred unearthed artifacts – all of which capture the essence of daily life in Pompeii, from gold coins, jewelry and home furniture to everyday utensils, burial urns and gladiator armor, as well as a perfectly preserved loaf of bread. In addition, the exhibit features Pompeian frescos that survived the epic explosion.

“The Pompeii exhibit is so remarkable because it shows us how little life has changed from 2000 years ago to today. All of the dreams and problems of daily life are reflected in items that range from fancy paintings designed to impress their neighbors to homely kitchen utensils and graffiti. And this is all driven home by the body casts on display: in a way, they are so much more relatable to us than the austere marble statues of powerful people and gods that tend to crowd traditional museums,” said Kristin Romey, noted archeologist and curatorial consultant to Discovery Times Square.

James Sanna, President and Executive Producer of Running Subway Productions, added: “This unique new exhibit embodies the best that Discovery Times Square has to offer – quality, historical stories that are brought to life right in front of visitors eyes. We are proud and excited to bring this exhibit to New York City as the world premiere.”

The exhibit, curated by the Soprintendenza di Archaeologica Napoli e Pompei (SANP) and organized by Running Subway Productions, also includes an immersive movie experience featuring a time-lapsed video recreation of Vesuvius’ eruption. Visitors will also experience a Pompeian brothel room with an authentic erotic fresco and terra-cotta lanterns with erotic reliefs.

Pompeii The Exhibit: Life and Death in the Shadow of Vesuvius will run from March 4, 2011 through September 5, 2011 at Discovery Times Square (226 West 44^thStreet).

Discovery Times Square is open seven days a week. Last tickets are sold 90 minutes prior to closing. For individual tickets and venue hours, visit www.DiscoveryTS.com, call 866.9.TSXNYC (212-987-9692) or visit the Discovery Times Square box office. Tickets are available for $19.50 (child 4-12), $25.00 (adult) and $22.50 (senior = 65). Special savings for groups of 15 or more with advanced reservations.  

ABOUT DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE

Discovery Times Square (DTS) is New York City’s first large-scale exhibition center presenting visitors with limited-run, educational and immersive exhibit experiences while exploring the world’s defining cultures, art, history and events. More than a museum, DTS has featured a renowned line-up of exhibitions including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Workshop and King Tut: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. 

ABOUT RUNNING SUBWAY PRODUCTIONS

Running Subway Productions is a New York-based production company that conceptualizes, produces, markets and manages iconic entertainment properties. Founded in 2005, Running Subway has staged a multitude of theatrical shows and museum exhibits successfully combining traditional entertainment with innovative technology.

Fun Facts About Beauty in Ancient Pompeii

·         As a woman in ancient Rome, the higher your social status, the more makeup you probably wore: foundation, blush, shadow and eyeliner. Certain cosmetics, especially those from France or the far East, became so expensive that they were actually banned by the conservative Roman government. This prohibition, of course, spurred the development of cheap Canal-Street style makeup and perfume knockoffs

·         Wealthy Roman women had special slaves called ornatrices, who served as personal at-home hairdressers and makeup artists

·         Super-pale skin--not tans--was prized as a feature of beautiful women in ancient Rome (sorry Snooki!). A typical face foundation would contain Iris root (still a popular ingredient in high-end skincare and perfumes) with powdered white lead, which gave great coverage but was also quite poisonous.

·         In 2004, archaeologists found a preserved container of Roman face cream in London that dated to the 2nd century AD. An analysis of the cream showed that it was made from refined animal fat, starch and tin oxide. The cream was found in a beautifully worked container, much like the one we have on display in the exhibit.

·         Much of what we know about Roman cosmetics comes from descriptions by ancient authors and the color frescos from Pompeii (as well as traces of paint on the marble statues--we have a great example in the Pompeii exhibit with eyeliner)

·         Roman women loved eye-enhancing makeup, including kohl eyeliner, which would be applied from a container with a metal or wood stick in the same manner which many women in Asia and the Middle East still do today. (We have a great container like this in the Pompeii exhibit.)

WIN YOUR OWN TICKETS TO POMPEII THE EXHIBIT IN TIMES SQUARE!!

The Discovery Museum was generous enough to offer 2 readers a 2-Pack of Tickets to the Exhibit!  

The winners will also win 10% off in the museum gift shop.

How to win it: 

Contest will run from May 15th, 2011 until 11:59 p.m. est May 29th, 2011.

*Open USA Only*

Entries

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**I was compensated with tickets to this exhibit but no other compensation was given.  The PR Release and Facts were written by Discovery Museum and their PR Department**