Herculenium
After Pompeii, we headed over to Herculenium, or Ercolano. This site is much smaller than Pompeii, and extremely well preserved. Dave, Laurie, Sarah and I hired a guide to take us through this site. The guide was a former archaeologist, and made this visit exceptional. According to him, Herculenium is so well preserved because it was the victim of a mud debris flow which expelled all air from the layers it covered. Archaeologists were able to carefully remove this volcanic mud layer and reveal wood, metal, rope, and other materials which would normally decompose.
The eruption of Vesuvius dramatically changed the sea level. The area in the front of this photo would have been the sea port during occupation of Herculenum. They believe that this was a resort type area, and that fancy rooms were rented out to visitors on the waterfront here. Vesuvius looms in the background.
Herculenium is right in the middle of the existing town. It is interesting to see how similarly this ancient town was arranged to the current town.
This would have been a wealthy family home and office. The front room would have been used to receive visitors. The cistern may be seen on the floor in the center. The shiny spots on the floor are inlaid pieces of tile.
You can still see the chariot ruts in the sidewalk. Grooves were made in the pavement corresponding to a local chariot size; if a visitor came from out of the region, that person would need to rent the proper size chariot to deliver their goods to market inside of the town.
Amazing mosaics adorned the walls of the homes.
Here is a niche in an atrium in a home. The mosaics were fantastic.
Olive motif on this mosaic...it amazes me that the olive is still as important today as it was in 79 ad.
Several of these statues were on the wall above the niche.
Incredible mosaic floors on the women's bath house.
Our guide discussing how the frescoes were made. The light marks on the wall above him show the pattern of the original frescoe as interpreted by archaeologists. They believe that the orange and yellow mottling of paint on this frescoe was the result of sudden heat on the pigment from the eruption.
Close up of the layering of plaster to make the frescoe.
This was an ancient wine market. The sign is advertising four types of wine available at this establishment.
Inside of the temple. The room off to the right contained the only body found in Herculenium. They hypothesize that it was the watchman of the temple who, similar to a ship's captain, would not leave the temple to be ruined alone and chose to die here protecting it. He was found lying down on his bed.
This frescoe is located inside of the temple. A number of these frescoes depict Roman pantheon stories.
The old city, the new city, and Vesuvius.
The eruption of Vesuvius dramatically changed the sea level. The area in the front of this photo would have been the sea port during occupation of Herculenum. They believe that this was a resort type area, and that fancy rooms were rented out to visitors on the waterfront here. Vesuvius looms in the background.
Herculenium is right in the middle of the existing town. It is interesting to see how similarly this ancient town was arranged to the current town.
This would have been a wealthy family home and office. The front room would have been used to receive visitors. The cistern may be seen on the floor in the center. The shiny spots on the floor are inlaid pieces of tile.
You can still see the chariot ruts in the sidewalk. Grooves were made in the pavement corresponding to a local chariot size; if a visitor came from out of the region, that person would need to rent the proper size chariot to deliver their goods to market inside of the town.
Amazing mosaics adorned the walls of the homes.
Here is a niche in an atrium in a home. The mosaics were fantastic.
Olive motif on this mosaic...it amazes me that the olive is still as important today as it was in 79 ad.
Several of these statues were on the wall above the niche.
Incredible mosaic floors on the women's bath house.
Our guide discussing how the frescoes were made. The light marks on the wall above him show the pattern of the original frescoe as interpreted by archaeologists. They believe that the orange and yellow mottling of paint on this frescoe was the result of sudden heat on the pigment from the eruption.
Close up of the layering of plaster to make the frescoe.
This was an ancient wine market. The sign is advertising four types of wine available at this establishment.
Inside of the temple. The room off to the right contained the only body found in Herculenium. They hypothesize that it was the watchman of the temple who, similar to a ship's captain, would not leave the temple to be ruined alone and chose to die here protecting it. He was found lying down on his bed.
This frescoe is located inside of the temple. A number of these frescoes depict Roman pantheon stories.
The old city, the new city, and Vesuvius.
posted by Kim True | 1:56 AM
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