A red hot chance to explore the city of Oxford and the Bodleian’s new Weston library with this fascinating exhibition detailing the history of a natural phenomenon that has gripped mankind from the dawn of history. With spectacular eyewitness accounts of fire belching mountains and blood-red rivers of lava, it’s no wonder volcanoes have inspired artists and challenged scientists through the centuries. Indeed Etna, one of the famous active volcanoes, has a whole school of art devoted to its eruptions. The exhibition shows how man’s understanding of volcanic activity has evolved over the millennia, from pagan belief in supernatural forces to modern methods of monitoring activity. Volcanic events, including the catastrophic eruption of Santorini in the 2nd century BC, of Vesuvius in 79 AD, and of Krakatoa in 1883 are documented in letters, books, and pictures. The curator, Oxford professor David Pyle, has dug out treasures from the Bodleian Libraries which have never been on public display before including the earliest known manuscript illustration of a volcano and spectacular 18th century studies of Vesuvius.
Mundus Subterraneus
Mount Etna, Published 1665. Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Until March 21st at the Bodleian (Weston) Library, Oxford, UK
