Explorations of one of the other ancient cities buried by Vesuvius.
Herculaneum suffered the same fate as it’s sister city Pompeii. Smaller than Pompeii, Herculaneum was an elite Roman seaside resort on the Bay of Naples. Although far from the modern coastline, the city would have been right on the water when Vesuvius erupted.
Herculaneum was buried faster than Pompeii. A pyroclastic flow preserved more objects here, leaving behind papyrus scrolls, roofs, food and wooden furniture. However, Herculaneum was looted with many frescoes, mosaics and other artifacts removed. Herculaneum was all but forgotten about until a man was digging a well in 1709 and found artifacts at the bottom. Herculaneum was first excavated by digging tunnels, since the ancient city was far below modern ground level. Once Pompeii was found, efforts were relocated to that sight since they didn’t have to dig so deep to reach the ruins. The parts of Herculaneum visible today were excavated from 1927-1942. Over 75% of ancient Herculaneum still remains buried beneath modern Ercolano.
Wandering Jana The ancient city of Herculaneum and the modern city of Ercolano.
Wandering Jana The bottom of the structure with all the arches was the Boat House at sea level. Hundreds of people took refuge in them during the eruption while trying to escape by sea. The residents of Herculaneum had more time to escape the city than Pompeii. However, hundreds of skeletons were still found in the boat houses. It’s hard to see in this picture, but many are still there.
Wandering Jana This picture really shows how much lower the old city was. Lava and ash from other eruptions also helped bury the city more.
Wandering Jana Headed down to the city. I think this house was the Casa d’Argo.
Wandering Jana A bedroom in what I think is still the Casa d’Argo. A bunch of insulae (multi-use buildings) no longer have walls dividing them.
Wandering Jana The current entrance to the city.
Wandering Jana A thermopolium on the edge of the excavation area.
Wandering Jana Casa dei Due Atri (House of the Two Atrium). Many second stories were preserved in Herculaneum due it’s deep burial.
Wandering Jana One atrium.
Wandering Jana Two atria.
Wandering Jana Sede degli Augustali, a religious school for priests of Augustus.
Wandering Jana Carbonized wooden beams.
Wandering Jana Some sort of shop.
Wandering Jana Carbonized wooden door frame.
Wandering Jana The back street of the current excavation.
Wandering Jana My pictures are all over the place. I was avoiding school groups. March is apparently Italian field trip month.
Wandering Jana Casa del Salone Nero.
Wandering Jana The two story Casa del Bel Cortile across the street. The second story even has a ceiling!
Wandering Jana The Casa del Salone Nero also has an amazing partially restored ceiling.
Wandering Jana Casa del Bicentenario. Most urban Ancient Roman houses had shops along the street and a long passageway leading to the interior of the house.
Wandering Jana The second story was also frescoed!
Wandering Jana What could have been a three or more story building.
Wandering Jana A shop on the first floor and living space for the family above.
Wandering Jana It’s amazing how much of the buildings survived.
Wandering Jana Casa Sannitica. I love that columned portico on the second floor.
Wandering Jana The columns continue even on walls without second story access.
Wandering Jana Amazing mosaic.
Wandering Jana The so called “First Pompeian Style,” traditionally dated to 200 BCE until 80 BCE. This house was built in the late 2nd century BCE. The style faked masonry with colored plaster.
Wandering Jana Changing room at the one of the bath houses.
Wandering Jana Casa di Nettuno e Anfitrite. This house had a lovely mosaic in their dining room. The small pipe coming out from the middle of that feature in the center of the room probably once held a fountain.
Wandering Jana On the other wall is a Nymphaeum, which was a shrine to Nymphs.
Wandering Jana Back to the Casa del Bel Cortile. This atrium, stairway looks very modern.
Wandering Jana Casa del Tramezzo di Legno. Bedroom complete with a bed.
Wandering Jana It took me so long to get this picture without a bunch of kids in it. On the left are a set of preserved carbonized doors.
Wandering Jana Casa del Rilievo di Telefo. It had a very colorful atrium.
Wandering Jana Casa della Gemma. This house isn’t even on the site map.
Wandering Jana Gorgeous mosaics in this one.
Wandering Jana Casa dei Cervi. I wish I could have gone upstairs.
Wandering Jana Garden in the middle of the house.
Wandering Jana I would not be surprised if that hole in the wall was created by early tunneling.
Wandering Jana A bit of mosaic around a doorway in the garden.
Wandering Jana Casa dello Scheletro. I believe this is a fancy larium for household deities.
This is only a small fraction of what there is to see in Herculaneum. Unfortunately. most of the really fine mosaics and frescoes and other art are now in the National Museum of Archaeology in Naples. Luckily, the king of the area liked to collect ancient art so a lot of Herculaneum made it into that museum.
Herculaneum is only a short distance from Central Naples and can usually be covered in a few hours.
Tune in for my next update where I head north to Orvieto!
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Start at the beginning of this adventure.
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