Herculaneum

prestotours | 26 April, 2010 12:15

Surely you've heard of the Ancient city of Pompeii (and it's amazing ruins), but have you also heard of Herculaneum?

Herculaneum, called by the Ancient Greeks Hercleion, is located near Naples in what is now a small modern town called Resina. It's said that Hercules himself founded the city, hence the name.

 Because of it's natural beauty and proximity to Rome, it became a sort of resort for Roman nobility during the times of the Roman Empire. It was one of the cities destroyed and buried in the great eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24th, 79 A.D.

There's actually a surviving text/account from a eye witness and survivor, Pliny, who became a Historian.

Compared to Pompeii, it seems a lot more Herculaneans managed to escape before the final devastating stage of the eruption. And in fact, there are very little things left behind like money and jewelry and even furniture in the ruins, further demonstrating that they knew that bad news was coming and had time to get themselves and their belongings far away.

Though most people seemed to have escaped the destruction of the city, some did not. This interestingly enough provided archaeologists and anthropologists with the first Roman skeletal/physical remains found (as Romans cremated their dead normally).

Herculaneum was buried underneath 20 meters/50-60 feet of mud and ash. It was rediscovered accidentally and only recently (well recent being relative here) in 1709.

Though the Ruins of Pompeii are more popular, these are actually better preserved. You can get there via bus from Naples main train station OR take that same little Bay Train Circumvesuvia you would for Pompeii and get off at the "Ercolano" stop.

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