Pompeii‘s casts are probably one of the main attractions for the many visitors to the ancient city.
Admiring the bodies and not the skeletons of those who failed to escape death, in their last moments of agony, always arouses much stir and wonder.
Men, women, children, entwined in a final embrace, remains etched in the hearts and minds of those who find themselves visiting Pompeii.
So what are casts? Are they actually petrified people?
Many people believe that the casts are the bodies of people who were petrified during the eruption of Vesuvius, in reality these bodies are not petrified, they are just the reproduction of the victims made with plaster.
The casts, in fact, reproduce the perfect imprint of the bodies of the victims of the eruption of Vesuvius. On whose faces it is still possible to discern the clearly visible signs of the pain caused by suffocation and asphyxiation as a result of the powerful pyroclastic flow that swept over them.
This work was possible thanks to a method developed by archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli, in 1863, then director of works at the Pompeii excavations.
But not only that, the dynamics of the eruption that invested Pompeii, unlike the other Vesuvian cities, also created the conditions to be able to carry them out.
That is why in visiting Pompeii, the casts become an essential stop for those who want to really know the history of Pompeii and these bodies. Many choose to visit it together with a tour guide, who knows how to guide them to discover this wonderful city and its inhabitants. If you too want to discover it, book your guided tour.
The reproduction of the casts of Pompeii
The dynamics of the eruption was one of the main elements that allowed the famous Pompeii casts to be made.
In fact, during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., Pompeii was first hit by a very thick rain of lapilli, fragments of volcanic rock, which covered the city for about 3 to 5 meters and caused the roofs of the houses to collapse.
Then, there was the fall of ash that penetrated everywhere, filling every void and enveloping everything.
Last came the pyroclastic flows (gas and water vapor at very high temperatures) that solidified the ash around everything it had buried. Creating a very strong layer that allowed not only the bodies of the victims but also furniture, fixtures and objects to be preserved intact.
It is in the layering of lapilli and solidified ash that decomposed organic substances, such as wood and human bodies, created voids. And it was into these voids that liquid plaster was poured, to reproduce what the ash had buried.
Giuseppe Fiorelli’s method of casts
The making of the Pompeii casts, was made possible by the method pioneered in 1863 by then director of works Giuseppe Fiorelli.
In which he took his cue from the casts made earlier by Antonio Bonucci, former director of the Excavations.
Who noticed that voids were created in the layer of solidified ash when decomposed organic substances, such as furniture and doors, were present beneath it.
And it was into those voids that Bonucci poured liquid plaster, to reproduce the shape of what had been buried by the ash and lapilli, thus obtaining the first casts!!!
Casts, however, that were made only on wooden elements, but never on human bodies.
The first was Fiorelli himself, who had the intuition to cast liquid plaster, in those voids where the bones of the victims of the eruption could be glimpsed.
From there the first casts of Pompeii made on people were born.
The result of that experimentation was unique and unparalleled; it was possible to observe bodies in the last moments of life, contracted by the pain of suffocation.
But not only was it possible to derive what they were wearing and what they carried with them as they tried to escape the fury of the volcano.
There were about 100 casts made by Fiorelli in the 19th century and they were displayed in special showcases inside the excavations.
Unlike the casts made later, where it was decided to leave them at the site of discovery. As was the case with the 13 victims of the eruption found in the Garden of the Fugitives in Pompeii protected by special glass cases.
Unfortunately, however, many of the casts made were destroyed during the 1943 bombings.
Where are the casts of Pompeii
Of course, the first question that arises is where the famous casts of Pompeii are located and where they can be seen. These are scattered here and there in the ancient city, in particular one can admire the casts:
- The entrance to Piazza Anfiteatro where approximately 20 casts of the victims of the eruption are preserved.
- In the Garden of the Fugitives, (Regio 1, insula 21). Which preserves 13 casts, probably an entire family. Composed of men, women and children who tried in vain to escape the volcano’s fury.
- In the Forum granaries (Regio VII – Insula 7).Where all the artifacts found during the excavations are stored. This includes not only some casts, but also vases, stoves, pitchers, bottles and amphorae.
- In the Antiquarium, the Archaeological Museum of Pompeii, used by Fiorelli himself to display the first bodies that were made around the 19th century. The Antiquarium was closed for work in August 2024 and the casts were moved to Villa Imperiale, located next to the Antiquarium.
- In the Villa of the Mysteries, (Regio VI, Insula 5). Where it is possible to admire some casts protected by special cases
- Near the House of Sallust ( Regio VI – Insula II)
- Behind the Macellum, the ancient marketplace of Pompeii ( Regio VII – Insula IX)
- In the Stabian baths and the House of Siricus ( Regio VII – Insula I)
These casts carry with them a story to tell, such as that of the two lovers found embraced in the cryptoporticus house. Initially believed to be a man and a woman who died in a long embrace before taking their last breath, but later discovered that they were actually two men, probably homosexuals.
These and many other stories can be discovered and heard from the accounts of those who know those places perfectly well.
So, for your visit to Pompeii if you don’t want to miss anything contact an experienced guide, who will show you Pompeii in all its wonder.
