Latest news with #Pompeii
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Preserved gladiator helmets on display at Leeds armouries
Three gladiator helmets "perfectly preserved" following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago are to go on display in Leeds as part of an international touring exhibition. Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum has been brought to the Royal Armouries in collaboration with the Colosseum in Rome and the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. The exhibition also features gladiatorial weaponry and armour from a training camp in Pompeii, effectively frozen in time as a result of the eruption in Armouries director general and master of the armouries Nat Edwards said the collection gave a "real sense of the spectacle of gladiatorial combat". He said: "Some of the objects in this collection you really can't see anywhere else in the world."We have three perfectly preserved gladiators' helmets. They're incredibly rare, they're beautifully decorated, all of the parts still work. "They've got decorations showing winged Victories and barbarian captives, and they look as good as new. They could have just been taken off yesterday, they're quite amazing." The exhibition runs from 28 June to 2 November in Leeds, and has already attracted more than one million visitors while on display internationally. It was officially opened on Wednesday by Jodie Ounsley, also known as Fury from BBC One show Gladiators."That was a lovely golden thread that connected the spectacle of Rome, and why people went to watch gladiators then, to our own fascination with competition and larger-than-life heroism," said Mr Edwards. Mr Edwards said his favourite piece was a gravestone to gladiator Urbicus."There's a little object at the end of the exhibition, which is really personal and intimate and it's a gravestone, which was made by the wife of a gladiator."His name was Urbicus and she tells his story. He was a kind-hearted gladiator. He spared one of his opponents in the arena who then stabbed him in the back."But it's a picture of him with his dog, with his pet, and this is a loving wife who has put a picture of this loved, gentle-hearted soul who found his way into the gladiators arena and his pet dog."And there's something, which is so human about that. It's just a little moment of connection with a human being across thousands of years of history and ultimately that's what museums like our own are all about, those human connections," he said. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Vogue
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Maison Francesco Scognamiglio Fall 2025 Couture Collection
On the occasion of his 50th birthday, Francesco Scognamiglio decided to celebrate the return of his brand, Maison Francesco Scognamiglio, with a special event called The Renaissance on a panoramic terrace at Palazzo Reale, in Naples. After a long hiatus—and the recent reacquisition of his own label—he came back with 15 couture looks that quintessentially represented his aesthetic. This fall 2025 collection took inspiration from the mythological faun of Pompeii, linked to the historical Italian city—and Scognamiglio's hometown—destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. This creature, a symbol of ephebic beauty, was one of the main references for the designer, who reflected on the concept of beauty itself to propose what he defined as a 'new romanticism,' resulting in fluid, delicate silhouettes. The first look was the main focus of the collection, as confirmed by the designer, a representation of this fragile beauty. A well-tailored suit—proof of his expertise in Neapolitan tailoring—was sleek with wide lapels, geometrically interrupted on the shoulders, and paired with a white smoking shirt and a bow tie. But Scognamiglio's couture is about rich decorations: Vaporous feathers in pale pastels were theatrically applied on sheer gem-encrusted gowns, and also used to create boleros and sculptural headpieces. Some of the long dresses recalled the elegance of the 1930s with elongated silhouettes in semi-transparent organza and georgette, cascading volants, and matching vintage-inspired faux fur stoles. Corsetry had a big role, with intricate embellishments that recalled ancient bas-reliefs on nude or black tones to create soft or hard contrasts. A similar decoration was used for a long-sleeved dazzling mini dress, again reminiscent of Roman architectural details. Among the proposals, one identified by Scognamiglio as 'pretty special' to him was the white oversized faux fur coat on which an enormous silver rose was applied, as another touch of his baroque-like maximalism.
Wall Street Journal
5 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
‘The Buried City' Review: Pompeii on Display
After lying inert beneath volcanic ash for nearly 17 centuries, the Roman city of Pompeii, near Naples, is today a site of continuous change. New discoveries emerge constantly, even as conservators struggle to protect what's been found from damage by weather, looters and crowds. Articles and books about these findings have steadily appeared as excavations expand into parts of the town that remain buried. In 2021 Gabriel Zuchtriegel, a German classicist then in his late 30s, was given the enormous task of directing this dynamic site. His youth and non-Italian origins made him a controversial choice; some scholars signed a petition of protest or resigned from the academic advisory board in an effort to stop the appointment. In 'The Buried City,' a meditation on both the ruins of Pompeii and his life as a pioneering archaeologist, Mr. Zuchtriegel shows that his selection was an inspired choice. Whether exploring the circumstances that led him to choose his career or depicting a bustling town of the high Roman Empire, he speaks with passion, wonder and deep humanity. 'Pompeii is like a rip in the screen, through which we have the opportunity to take a peek behind the official version of history,' writes Mr. Zuchtriegel. He describes in vivid detail his 2021 discovery of a small room containing the remains of three beds and other quotidian objects. Perhaps it was the dwelling, as well as the workspace, of slaves. A newspaper described the discovery as 'the rarity of the everyday,' and Mr. Zuchtriegel takes the phrase as a rallying cry. 'The 'rarity of the everyday' could also be the title for my personal access to archaeology and Pompeii,' he writes. 'What we found here was different, precisely because it wasn't a temple, grave or palace,' says Mr. Zuchtriegel, just some 50 square feet 'of everyday hardship.' He recounts how he noticed a nail on the wall for hanging an oil lamp and, beneath it, a white painted rectangle designed to reflect the lamplight and increase illumination. Moved by this simple effort to lighten a dark existence, he ponders how the room's occupants, who no doubt lacked paint and brushes, got that rectangle made. It's one of many instances where he reimagines the lives of Rome's downtrodden.
Geek Vibes Nation
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
No Streaming Required: Physical Media Spotlight For The Week Of June 24th - Jaws, Pink Floyd & Kino Lorber Mania
We at GVN aim to keep you informed of the newest and best in the world of physical media. Over on our YouTube Channel, you can find us talking about everything you need to know on No Streaming Required, our weekly guide to all the latest 4K UHD, Blu-Ray, and DVD releases. For the week of June 24th, we have some incredible releases making their way to our shelves. Read on to get a brief overview of what you should have on your wishlist, then be sure to dive into the full rundown in the video below. This week, we explore a couple of iconic features and some exciting new releases from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. First, we have the legendary performance Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii newly remastered from the 35mm Original Camera Negative on Blu-Ray thanks to Sony Music Vision. The gorgeous release has the original stereo track along with newly created Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 tracks. There is also the 50th anniversary 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Jaws from Universal featuring the landmark film in Dolby Vision with Dolby Atmos and the original theatrical audio. The new release comes with a brand-new feature-length documentary on the legacy of the film along with previously available supplemental features. Kino is continuing a year of amazing 4K UHD releases. Fans of '90s cinema have a lot to celebrate with the 4K UHD debut of The Peacemaker with a star-studded cast including Nicole Kidman and George Clooney. The release comes with a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision, two commentary tracks, deleted scenes, and more. We also have Nathan Lane and Lee Evans attempting to get rid of a pest in the family comedy MouseHunt alongside Christopher Walken. The release is derived from a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision with a commentary track and deleted scenes. We creep into the new millennium with the outrageous comedy Road Trip on 4K UHD Blu-Ray from a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision with a commentary track, featurettes, and more. Going to the horror space, we have the deep-sea creature feature Deep Star Six released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision, three commentary tracks, and featurettes. There is also a new entry into the Kino Cult line as the supernatural horror film I, Madman comes to Blu-Ray with a commentary track, a visual essay, and more. If you need something more lighthearted, the classic Audrey Hepburn, William Holden and Humphrey Bogart romantic comedy Sabrina has been upgraded to 4K UHD Blu-Ray from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision. The western satire Rustler's Rhapsody debuts on Blu-Ray from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative with a commentary track. We also have an array of '50s and '60s titles coming to Blu-Ray including Rock, Pretty Baby starring John Saxon and Promise Her Anything starring Warren Beatty. Both of these have received a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. This is only a taste of what you can discover on No Streaming Required this week, so be sure to check out the full video below. What releases are you planning on picking up? Let us know over on Twitter. Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount! Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live , Top 10 with Tia , Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon , make sure to use our affiliate link !
CBS News
6 days ago
- Science
- CBS News
How AI is helping unravel mystery of ancient scrolls buried in Mount Vesuvius eruption
AI is helping to solve an ancient mystery involving Mount Vesuvius. Here's how. Artificial intelligence is helping to solve an ancient mystery from the Roman Empire involving scrolls from a library that was buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79 not only wiped out Pompeii, but also the nearby town of Herculaneum. Deep beneath the surface where a villa previously existed, archaeologists in the 18th century found 1,800 papyrus scrolls in the only ancient library in the world that is still intact. Attempts to unravel some of the scrolls ended in ashes as the library was carbonized, Brent Seales, a computer scientist from the University of Kentucky, explained. "People didn't understand what they had. So, some scrolls were actually thrown away or burned and you can't put Humpty Dumpty back together again," Seales said. Archaeologists in the 18th century found papyrus scrolls in the only ancient library in the world that is still intact. CBS News But thanks to 21st-century technology, experts are now able to examine those still intact. That technology involved a particle accelerator in England. Scientists produced light that was 10 billion times brighter than the sun, much like an X-ray. AI was then used to identify ink, no matter how faint. "I thought to myself, if you can use that technology to see non-invasively inside a human body, why can't we see everything inside an artifact like a scroll?" Seales said. Deciphering the scroll They still needed humans to decipher what the letters mean. So Seales launched the Vesuvius Challenge, a global competition offering $700,000 in prize money. Three college students took it home, making history by being the first to extract words from a carbonized scroll, nearly 2,000 years old, that had been virtually unwrapped. Thanks to new technology, experts can examine the scrolls still intact. CBS News With hundreds more scrolls to go, Seales has launched a second phase of the competition. "With AI-inspired methods that are going to usher in, you know, new results that we've not dreamed of, I don't think renaissance is too strong a word," he said. Seales said he believes there could be more scrolls out there as archaeologists are just beginning to scratch the surface. "I believe the Villa of the Papyri, which has not been fully excavated, stands a really high chance of producing more books," he said. "So much remains for us to discover."
