Herculaneum

Herculaneum, ruined city of ancient Italy, at the base of the volcano Mount Vesuvius, about 8 km (5 mi) east of Naples. According to legend, the city was founded by the mythical Greek hero Hercules, for whom it is named. Herculaneum was severely damaged in the year 63 by a violent earthquake, and in 79 it was buried, together with the city of Pompeii, by lava, ashes, and mud more than 15 m (50 ft) thick during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The remains of the buried city were first discovered in 1706. Systematic excavations of the ruins were begun in 1738 and have proceeded intermittently since that time. The excavations have shown that Herculaneum was a popular resort area for wealthy Romans. Many of the richly adorned villas and the theater that have been uncovered have yielded fine marble and bronze sculptures and paintings. Of special note was an extensive library of papyrus rolls. Some of the texts on the carbonized papyrus have been studied using special imaging technologies to make the words more visible. These treasures, together with many other objects such as vases and domestic implements, are displayed in the National Museum in Naples.

During the 1980s archaeologists discovered the skeletons of nearly 300 people who had taken refuge in boat houses along the beach. The victims died when scorching pyroclastic flows from the Vesuvius eruption smothered the city. Before these discoveries, historians had assumed that most inhabitants had escaped. The skeletons have provided researchers with important information about the health and nutrition of people in Roman society.