Daniele Ferdani, Cristiana Barandoni,Ivana Cerato and Sofia Pescarin
The temple of Isis in Pompeii is an ancient sanctuary first excavated in the 18th century. It has long been the subject of intense interest due to the quality of its frescoes and polychrome statues and their state of conservation.
The temple of Isis in Pompeii.
As a part of PERCEIVE project, the CNR partners aim at realizing a digital reconstruction of the temple to re-contextualize the statues and frescoes in their original setting and allow the visitors to experience it all together. In this context, at the end of January 2025, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples resumed its work on the digitization of archival materials related to Pompeian antiquities, specifically focusing on the drawings and engravings of the Temple of Isis.
Historical documents of the Temple of Isis
The CNR team is undertaking scientific research, merging the examination of historical documents with the digitization of not only the drawings, but also the entire architectural structure.
Daniele Ferdani capturing images of the temple of Isis
This process will allow an exhaustive understanding of the Iseum, paving the way for novel perspectives in scholarship and valorization. The project’s culminating exhibition will present the public with a singular opportunity: for the first time, archival resources, archaeological artefacts (including sculptures and frescoes), and the architecture itself will be unified within a single digital experience and exhibit. This will facilitate the “reading” of the temple in all its peculiarities, unveiling its history and splendour in an innovative and captivating manner.
Close up of the historical documents
The Perceive project offers an exceptional chance not only to delve into the extraordinary realm of colour in the ancient world, but in this specific instance encompassing Pompeii and one of its most iconic monuments. The significance of scientific investigation and its correlation with the digitization of the museum’s archaeological heritage constitute a pivotal step in the advancement of research on ancient polychromy, through which it will be feasible to reconstruct ancient settings and resurrect extraordinary emotions.
