Between 1996 and 2000 the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) brought three spectacular exhibits to Birmingham: The First Emperor: Treasures from Ancient China, Ancient Gold Jewelry from the Dallas Museum of Art, and Searching for Ancient Egypt: Art, Architecture and Artifacts from the University of Pennsylvania Museum (Kaimann and Raabe). These exotic, beautiful traveling exhibits were some of the biggest to ever come to the Birmingham area until now. This year the BMA is pulling out all the stops with Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption: Herculaneum, Oplontis, Terzigno, which will be showing October 14, 2007 through January 28, 2008. The exhibit will feature the largest collection of artifacts from Pompeii ever to leave Italy, many of which have never been seen outside that country. The Birmingham Museum of Art is the only museum in the southeast and one of only three in the United States to exhibit these stunning works of art and precious objects.
This fall the Library's own book group, The Bookies, will be traveling back in time to the year 79 A.D. by reading Robert Harris’ novel, Pompeii! On October 9th, The Bookies will meet to discuss Harris’ book AND see a special presentation about the Museum exhibit, which will open October 14th. As a special treat, Tuesday October 16th, The Bookies will be going on a group tour of the Pompeii exhibit! Space is limited so sign up at the Reference Desk to reserve your spot today. *There will be a fee for the group tour.*
The resources assembled here have been arranged for the benefit, education and entertainment of everyone attending the exhibit as well as for general interest about Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii and surrounding areas.
Referenced Birmingham News articles
Kaimann, Frederick. “Treasures from China: Museum Show of Tomb Figures from the First Emperor Will Coincide with ’96 Olympics.” The Birmingham News 12 March 1995, sec. NEWS: 01-A. NewsLibrary. NewsBank InfoWeb. Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Mountain Brook. 10 March 2007. Keyword: last emperor of china.
Raabe, Nancy. “Museum Exhibit Offers Peek into Ancient Egypt.” The Birmingham News 3 October 1999, sec. LIFESTYLE: 01-F. NewsLibrary. NewsBank InfoWeb. Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Mountain Brook. 10 March 2007. Keyword: ancient egypt.
Raabe, Nancy. “There’s Gold in Them Thar Halls: Birmingham Museum of Art Opens Exhibit of Rare Ancient Jewelry.” The Birmingham News 18 January 1998, sec. LIFESTYLE: 01-F. NewsLibrary. NewsBank InfoWeb. Jefferson County Library Cooperative, Mountain Brook. 10 March 2007. Keyword: ancient gold.