Travels in Italy--Herculaneum

Herculaneum, like Pompeii, is an ancient town frozen in time following the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. 

Prior to its destruction, Herculaneum was a thriving town, a luxurious seaside vacation getaway for wealthy Romans.  The town is located south of Naples near the Bay of Naples and also near Mount Vesuvius--just 4 miles from the volcano.

An artist's rendering below shows what Herculaneum might have looked like.

Herculaneum before its destruction in 79 A.D.  Mount Vesuvius appears in the background,4 miles away.

When the cataclysmic eruption occurred, the blast damaged many of the buildings and the intense heat (nearly 500 degrees Fahrenheit) killed the hundreds of inhabitants who had not escaped during the preceding four days of earthquakes and small eruptions.  Unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum was not buried in a 20 foot layer of ash.  Instead, Herculaneum was buried under successive layers of volcanic mud--a hot mixture of water, ash and pumice.  The mud hardened and encased the entire town under a 50-60 foot layer of rock.  Herculaneum, a town that inhabitants believed was founded by Hercules, was eventually forgotten and lost for many centuries. 

Herculaneum was rediscovered long after a new town was founded on top of the lost city.  As wells were sunk and tunnels were dug, parts of Herculaneum were discovered.  Significant excavation began in the early 1700's.  Many artifacts and treasures have been removed over the centuries--some were looted and many are held for display for study in museums in Italy and around the world. 

Today, Herculaneum is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.  About 20% of the ancient town has been excavated.  The rest sits under 50 feet of rock, with a large parking lot on top, along with the modern town.  Before being covered in volcanic mud, the town sat on the edge of the Bay of Naples.  The mud flow was so large and deep that town is now about a half mile away from the edge of the bay, behind a 50 foot high wall of rock.

Herculaneum appears to be better preserved than Pompeii and, because Herculaneum was inhabited by wealthy Romans, Herculaneum is more luxurious than Pompeii, an industrial town. 

We enjoyed touring Herculaneum and took a few photographs along the way.    

Panorama of Herculaneum with the bay behind us and Mount Vesuvius in the background four miles away

A map of the excavated 22% of Herculaneum, with a legend denoting residences, public buildings and shopping areas

A view of Herculaneum with the modern town sitting on top of the still buried portion of Herculaneum

An ancient restaurant.  Various sorts of food were held in the round terra cotta pots.  Patrons could eat their food in an adjacent room or get it to go.  Perhaps this restaurant is a precursor to McDonald's?

A view of Herculaneum's wharf from above

In a public building that housed the town's treasury, a colorful wall fresco survives after being buried for nearly 2000 years . 

In the town's treasury, the original wooden beams supporting the upper floor are still evident but they have been carbonized by the intense heat from the volcano. 

A sign outside a wine ship offering 4 types of local wine, ranging from 2 to 14 cents for a serving. 

Decorative art on a wall in a private home

A mosaic in a private home, depositing Neptune and Salacia

A public bath with a floor mosaic, depicting Neptune

A large room along the wharf of the town.  The skeletons are replicas.  The actual bones were removed for study and conservation.  The speculation is the inhabitants were clustered at the wharf when the large eruption occurred.  The actual remains have provided evidence about how the victims died.   

Across from the wharf is the wall of rock rising 50 feet high and separating the ruins from the bay, a half mile away.  A tunnel through the rock was initially used for exploring the buried town.  Now, the tunnel provides a way in and out of the town except during winter when the water in the marsh is too high. 

Thanks for visiting Herculaneum with us.