Brunch with Battutah
Caste in agony
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 20 September 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
This plaster form shows the last moments of a victim of a violent eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Clouds of volcanic ash and pumice spewed out by the volcano buried the city of Pompeii and many of its residents.
The body of the unfortunate Roman eventually decayed under the ash and debris leaving an empty space. Archeologists filled the space with plaster creating a full-sized replica of the deceased's last seconds.
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Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
An excellent photo of an excellent subject. However, it's horrifying imagining what that person went through. It's rather like the first time I saw the A-bomb Dome in Hiroshima.
20 Sep 2008 5:17am
@Steve Rice: I agree. It is horrifying what the person went through. Thanks, Steve.
Elaine- from Vancouver, Canada
oh my goodness, it's difficult.. imagining them crouching and praying in the onslaught.. horrifying really..
20 Sep 2008 5:23am
@Elaine-: Very much so. Thanks, Elaine.
KIJI from valenciennes, France
This story is very interesting.
The photo is incredible. Congratulations
20 Sep 2008 6:12am
@KIJI: Many thanks, KIJI.
@Craig: I agree. thank you, Craig.
@Ana Lúcia: Many thanks, Ana Lúcia.
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Je me souviens avoir vu cela quand je suis allée à Pompei avec mes parents. J'étais jeune et j'avais été très impressionnée... les corps sont resté figés dans les positions où ils ont été surpris au moment du drame et tout semble s'être passé très vite... Mais je crois me rappeler qu'à l'époque (+ de 30 ans de cela !!!) ce n'était pas des reproductions...
20 Sep 2008 7:56am
@Evelyne Dubos: Thank you for telling us about your experience, Evelyne.
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Death as a real thing and not as a figure of rhetoric.
20 Sep 2008 9:30am
@António Pires: Very much so. thank you, António.
@tom: Thanks for the comment, Tom.
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Fantastic image telling such a sad story. Well done Michael
20 Sep 2008 9:56am
@Rui: Thanks so much, Rui.
Betty from New Jersey, United States
I've seen many of these forms in a TV documentary about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius... I can't image what those poor people went through. To actually see one and to be able to photograph it must have been a very powerful experience. This particular form tells quite a story. Well done, Michael.
20 Sep 2008 10:03am
@Betty: It was especially powerful because the plaster forms were in a locked area and surrounded by pottery that had been found at the site. They looked like very real people. Thanks, Betty.
@Eleftheria!: Thank you, Eleftheria.
@Betsy Barron: Many thanks, Betsy.
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
oh wow -what an excellent capture of such a sad moment!
20 Sep 2008 11:08am
@Mandy Provan: Many thanks, Mandy.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
This is very touching. If I would imagine a ghost of such a poor person it would exactly look like this one.
20 Sep 2008 11:39am
@MadScientist: I know what you mean. thank you, MS.
Wolfgang - vu@granby from Granby, Québec, Canada
I remember that one, the museum is very impressive, especially for kids...
20 Sep 2008 12:16pm
@Wolfgang - vu@granby: When I was there, this as well as other plaster human forms and pottery were behind locked fencing. But impressive nonetheless. Thanks, Wolfgang.
Anita from Quito, Ecuador
Amazing,... the picture and the story!
You have a great portfolio! Thanks for sharing.
20 Sep 2008 1:50pm
@Anita: Thank you very much, Anita.
Lorraine from Canada
Oh God, such agony....somehow that would please me, if I died in agony and someone created an art form because of it, it would seem to balance things out, outstanding photo...bet your heart hurt for a while
20 Sep 2008 1:58pm
@Lorraine: Yes, I was appalled at what I saw imagining the suffering. Thanks, Lorraine.
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Must have been horrific. It's incredible what scientists did here. Your image brings out such an array of colors. Wonderful.
20 Sep 2008 2:19pm
@sherri: Thanks so much, Sherri.
@rem_la: Thank you for commenting.
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
How horrendous for them. Beyond our imagination. A great remembrance to the poor souls. Well done Michael.
20 Sep 2008 8:07pm
@Marion: Thank you very much, Marion.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
The terror and screams of the people, burning in the ash and lava must have been hell on earth.
21 Sep 2008 12:23am
@Observing: Yes, your description would be quite accurate. thanks, Mike.
John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States
Outstanding image and interesting story. Great details and tones.
21 Sep 2008 1:34am
@John Maslowski: Thank you very much, John.
@JMS: Merci, JMS.
Ken McCoy from Orlando-Daytona Beach, FL, United States
Framing the subject off-center increases the emotion of this otherwise clinical photograph. Nice balance!
21 Sep 2008 4:01pm
@Ken McCoy: Many thanks, Ken.
@Denise: Many thanks for your visit, Denise.
@claire: A pleasure. Thank you. Glad you found it interesting.
@Daryl: Thanks very much, Daryl.
Sony DSLR-A300
1/10 second
F/11.0
ISO 100
82 mm (35mm equiv.)