The British Museum has launched mobile apps for its Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculean exhibition, giving those unable to visit a chance to engage with the content.
The Android and iOS apps, created by mobile app developer Apadmi, have been designed to provide a rich experience for those anticipated to be unable to secure a ticket due the exhibition’s popularity.
The apps feature exclusive video content including interviews with the curator and contributions from experts in Roman history including professor of classics at Cambridge University Mary Beard, and professor of Roman Archeology at Royal Holloway Amanda Claridge.
Users can explore maps of the Bay of Naples along with the two cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and the volcano Vesuvius. They can navigate through over 250 of the objects featured in the exhibition and can choose to view by themes.
These include: urban context, commerce, religion and beliefs, wealth and status, grooming and adornment, relaxing in luxury, entertaining, food and drink. Each of the eight themes has an exclusive video introduction from the exhibition curator Paul Roberts.
Roberts said: “We are delighted to invite tablet and smartphone users all over the world to explore the content of our Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum exhibition. Good clear explanations and beautiful, detailed images of the remarkable objects offer an exciting opportunity to investigate the stories of these cities in the pail of your hand.”
The apps have been priced at £3.99 for iPads and £1.99 for iPhones, while Android devices are priced at £1.99.