CANBERRA - Only a few steps separate the ancient from the modern in Pompeii. Every time I return to my hometown, I quietly stroll through its ruins - streets paved with stone and crumbling walls. All the while recognising temples, public buildings, villas, taverns and theatres.

I’m constantly reminded of how astonishingly vibrant and noisy this place - preserved in the moment of its sudden demise - remains. Even today, Pompeii surpasses every effort of our imagination.

The Pompeii Archaeological Park, one of Italy’s most visited sites in 2024 and a UNESCO World Heritage site, remains a snapshot of a distant past. This authentic Roman city has survived for centuries thanks to the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which buried it under layers of ash and pyroclastic material.

Known as Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeianorum - named after its principal deity Venus Fisica and its patron Cornelius Sulla - Pompeii later became a holiday destination for the Roman elite, with architecture closely resembling that of Rome itself.

Now, this ancient city comes to life in Australia through an unparalleled multisensory experience at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

Thanks to an exclusive collaboration with the Pompeii Archaeological Park, the Grand Palais and GEDEON Experiences in France, the exhibition Pompeii, which opened on December 13, presents a stunning combination of moving soundscapes, large-scale digital projections and over 90 captivating objects. Together, these elements recreate life in the ancient city and illustrate the everyday existence of its inhabitants before the catastrophic eruption.

The Pompeii exhibition at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra

Key items in the exhibition include extraordinary frescoes spanning over three metres, magnificent mosaics, jewellery, sculptures and moving replicas of casts of people who perished in the disaster.

“Following the success of the immersive exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris, we initiated an independent collaboration with the Pompeii Archaeological Park, borrowing 90 invaluable objects,” explained Lily Withycombe, curator at the National Museum of Australia. Withycombe personally selected the artefacts for the Canberra exhibition.

“We had a sort of wish list and curatorial logic, but many factors needed consideration, such as the long journey to Australia,” she continued.

“I truly believe these objects allow us to explore the human connection with ancient Pompeii.

“We didn’t want to focus solely on privileged, elite lifestyles. Instead, we considered the economy, religion, leisure and the military.

“An existential perspective that was particularly important to me was the lives of slaves and their invisibility. One of the pieces we selected - a roughly carved stone never before displayed - belonged to the poorest members of society.

“I think even the Pompeii Archaeological Park was surprised by this choice, but it was essential to us.”

Through careful choices and compromises, the National Museum of Australia has brought an exhibition Down Under that conveys the grandeur, wonder, and tragedy of Pompeii. It offers a blend of multimedia elements - such as solemn silhouettes of Pompeian citizens walking the ancient streets - and remarkable historical artefacts, some of which have never been displayed in the Southern Hemisphere.

Reflecting on the process, Withycombe said she felt privileged to have contributed to organising the Pompeii exhibition in Canberra, describing it as an “enriching and emotional experience”.

“As a university student, I was captivated by ancient Roman history, especially the late Republican period,” she said.

“I remember sitting in my first archaeology lecture and thinking, ‘This is incredible’.”

In 2005, during her third year of studies, she participated in a two-month excavation at Pompeii, a dream opportunity that left her deeply inspired.

Lily Withycombe at the Pompeii Archaeological Park to select objects to be brought to Australia for the exhibition

“In those days, it was hard to describe the beauty of these places without resorting to clichés,” Withycombe recalled.

“I was awestruck by Rome, especially the Forum. Then we took a train to Pompeii, where the locals were fascinated by the presence of Australians.

“It was sweltering - it was July and August - but it was magical. We had passes that allowed us to roam freely within the site, and I made the most of it, exploring during lunch or coffee breaks.”

In recent months, Withycombe travelled to Italy to secure the unique loans featured in the Canberra exhibition. She found the site in excellent condition, with more greenery providing relief from the summer heat and an impressively accessible layout.

“I have a two-year-old daughter, Cosima - a name I’ve always loved - and I immediately noticed how family-friendly the site has become, with plenty of facilities for parents with young children. It’s not something you take for granted,” she added.

Shadows of ancient Pompeians adorn the walls of the Pompeii exhibition

Commenting on the preservation of Pompeii and other invaluable Italian heritage sites, Withycombe praised the timely interventions and local community involvement.

“As an archaeologist, I’ve learned from the Italians how to excavate efficiently and meticulously,” she said. “I think they are some of the best archaeologists I’ve worked with - they have a natural affinity for their ancient heritage.”

The Pompeii exhibition at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra runs until May 4, 2025. Tickets are available through the museum’s website.