Herculaneum
Herculaneum was an ancient town in Campania, closer to the sea and the slopes of Vesuvius than Pompeii. It was destroyed during the eruption of AD 79, but preserved in a different way from Pompeii.
The Palaestra of the Forum of the Baths at Herculaneum, AD 79.
Shop in Herculaneum inside a thermopolium. 1st century AD
Mural of women with open shoes (sandals). Dressing a priestess or bride, Palaestra Forum Baths at Herculaneum, 79 AD The town
Herculaneum was smaller than Pompeii, but had wealthy residential architecture. Houses with mosaics, frescoes and complex layouts show the high level of urban culture in 1st-century AD Campania.
Destruction
The town was covered by hot volcanic flows that rapidly filled streets and buildings. This created a dense protective mass, allowing some materials to survive better than at Pompeii.
Organic preservation
Wooden doors, furniture, beams, textiles, food remains and other organic materials have been found at Herculaneum. This is especially important for ancient archaeology because such objects usually disappear.
Villa of the Papyri
The Villa of the Papyri is famous for its library of carbonized scrolls. It is one of the rarest complexes of ancient book culture and is directly connected with elite life in Roman Campania.
Difference from Pompeii
Pompeii better shows a large urban organism with streets, forum and amphitheatre, while Herculaneum is especially valuable for houses, upper floors and organic preservation. Together the towns give a broad picture of life near Vesuvius.
Related topics
Pompeii, Vesuvius, Roman villa, Roman architecture
Literature
- Deiss J. J. Herculaneum: Italy''s Buried Treasure. J. Paul Getty Museum, 1985.
- Wallace-Hadrill A. Herculaneum: Past and Future. Frances Lincoln, 2011.
- Cooley A. E., Cooley M. G. L. Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook. Routledge, 2014.
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