Customer Reviews

Eros in Pompeii: The Erotic Art Collection of the Museum of Naples

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When one visits Pompeii one of the first things that becomes evident is the erotic nature of the art. Even many of the souvenirs are erotic in nature. So, this book seems particularly appropriate. While eros becomes a theme uniting the book, it discusses the history and daily life in Pompeii as well as giving information of the excavation and discoveries of Pompeii.

The book also points out the important fact that many of these erotic art ojects were not strictly for brothels but appeared in every day life. The penis, for instance, was a good-luck charm that appeared on buildings, erotic images were carved onto ordinary household items, so these things did not hold the controversy for ancient Pompeii that they might for readers of more "modern" sensibilities.

This is an excellent book, which, I believe, gives readers a real feeling for the ancient city of Pompeii . It would be quite useful for anyone planning a trip or interested in learning more about the culture of the city.

The first half of this book provides a good overview of the history, culture and events surrounding Pompeii's destruction, including many full or double-page color photographs of buildings, homes, frescos, jewelry, metalware, lamps etc. The second half focuses on the history and contents of the hidden collection. The photography is excellent, as is the printing, and the captions add much to understanding the myths and traditions behind many of the pieces of art. In addition to numerous ithyphallic representations in a variety of art forms (e.g., tintinnabula and bird baths), people familiar with the work of Renaissance and neoclassical artists will recognize familiar themes in the 2000 year old frescos and other pieces that inspired well known artists.