Herculaneum (Herculano)

La elegancia romana al pie del Vesubio

According to the legend narrated by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Herculaneum was founded by Hercules in 1243 BC upon his return from Iberia with a herd of oxen captured from Geryon. Strabo, on the other hand, states that the city was founded by the Oscans in the 12th century BC. Other versions claim it was established by the Etruscans between the 10th and 8th centuries BC, when the entire region was under their influence

Beyond the foundation myth, the truth is that Herculaneum eventually came under Roman rule, becoming a refined seaside resort where some of the wealthiest Roman families spent their summer vacations. In the year 62, the city was struck by a strong earthquake that forced various renovations. In fact, according to an inscription, Emperor Vespasian personally oversaw the restoration of the basilica and a temple. But that work had not yet been completed when Herculaneum was struck by the violent eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79.

The citizens of Herculaneum died instantly, overwhelmed by a cloud of toxic gases at over 400 °C. The city was buried under several layers of volcanic mud and pyroclastic flows, a lethal mixture of gas and incandescent rock. This form of burial, though devastating, allowed for the site’s extraordinary preservation: even today furniture, fabrics, foodstuffs, and wooden doors can still be seen intact. In the famous Villa of the Papyri, hundreds of carbonized papyrus scrolls were discovered and continue to be studied.

For centuries it was believed that the inhabitants had managed to flee, but in the 1980s more than 300 skeletons came to light in the old boat sheds by the beach. There they had waited to be rescued by sea when they were overtaken by the fiery cloud.

Herculaneum was rediscovered by accident in 1738, during the excavation of a well. No one suspected that a Roman city lay dormant underground. For decades, tunnels were dug without any archaeological criteria, and many pieces were looted or ended up in private collections. The level of preservation achieved at this site is exceptional, due to the unique conditions under which it was buried. The city was completely abandoned and remained uninhabited for more than a thousand years.

The Decision

Chapter 27

…Meanwhile, gigantic rivers of fine ash, mixed with water, devastated Herculaneum, as well as many other towns on the slopes of Vesuvius…

Did you know…?

🔹Buried by pyroclastic flows: While Pompeii fue enterrada principalmente por cenizas y piedra pómez, Herculaneum fue engullida por una oleada piroclástica: una mezcla de gases volcánicos ardientes y materiales a más de 400 °C. La muerte fue instantánea.

🔹The hot volcanic mud that covered Herculaneum acted as a hermetic seal, preserving furniture, textiles, wooden doors, foodstuffs, and even carbonized papyri in the famous Villa of the Papyri. It is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world.

🔹The foundation myth of Herculaneum has several versions: besides those that mention Hercules, the Oscans, or the Etruscans as possible founders, some late Roman sources suggest that the city was in fact a Greek colony. According to this hypothesis, its name would reflect Hellenic influence, as was the case with other nearby cities such as Neapolis or Parthenope.