Arms Outstretched, a Terrified Mother and Child
Entombed in ash for more than 1,900 years, the tragic story behind this haunting image of what appears to be a child resting on its terrified mother’s stomach is a step closer to being revealed.
Restorers are working on the carefully preserved plaster casts of 86 of the Romans trapped in Pompeii in 79 AD following the deadly eruption of Mount Vesuvius, including a child seemingly frozen in terror.
It is thought the boy was four, based on his size, and was sheltering in a location dubbed House of the Golden Bracelet with his family, when tragedy struck.
He was discovered alongside an adult male and female, presumed to be his parents, as well as a younger child who appeared to be asleep on his mother’s lap.
The little boy’s clothing is visible in the plaster cast, and his facial expression is one of peace, Decoded Past reported.
Stefania Giudice, a conservator from Naples national archaeological Museum, told journalist Natashas Sheldon: ‘It can be very moving handling these remains when we apply the plaster.’
‘Even though it happened 2,000 years ago, it could be a boy, a mother or a family. It’s human archaeology, not just archaeology.’
SCIENCE OF PRESERVING VICTIMS ENTOMBED IN ASH BY MOUNT VESUVIUS
Archaeologists have looked at new ways to preserve Pompeii’s victims without plaster.
In 1984, one skeleton was cast using resin, to create a durable cast allowing the victim’s hair and hairpin to be captured perfectly.
But resin casting is difficult and expensive so it has only been used once.
Plaster remains a good option for making casts, despite the technique being pioneered more than a century ago.
It has to be mixed to a precise consistency – thick enough to support the skeleton, but thin enough to capture as many details possible.
The mixture has to be carefully poured into the void in the ash through a narrow entrance to capture a person’s pose.
Dr Giudice said: ‘The bones are very brittle so when we pour in the plaster we have to be very careful, otherwise we might damage the remains and they would be lost to us forever.’
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