Menu Close

What happened to Herculaneum during the eruption of Vesuvius?

What happened to Herculaneum during the eruption of Vesuvius?

Herculaneum was buried under volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Like the nearby city of Pompeii, Herculaneum is famous as one of the few ancient cities to be preserved more or less intact as the ash that blanketed the town also protected it against looting and the elements.

What happened at Herculaneum?

Herculaneum was severely shaken by an earthquake in ad 62, and the serious damage suffered by its public and private buildings had not yet been repaired when it was buried by the Vesuvius eruption of August 24–25, ad 79.

Why was Herculaneum better preserved than Pompeii?

Herculaneum, or Ercolano in Italian, was a wealthier city than Pompeii and remains better preserved because it was destroyed it in a different manner: lying along the coast and to the west of Mount Vesuvius, it was sheltered from the worst of the eruption thanks to winds that appear to have blown ash in a southwards …

Why is Herculaneum significant?

Herculaneum was smaller than its near neighbour, Pompeii — but its history is still significant. In fact, Herculaneum became a popular summer retreat for the Roman elite — before, like Pompeii — the eruption of Vesuvius destroyed it in 79 AD.

When was Herculaneum first excavated?

1709
The ruins at Pompeii were first discovered late in the 16th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. Herculaneum was discovered in 1709, and systematic excavation began there in 1738.

Was there really a couple kissing in Pompeii?

Massimo Osanna, director-general of the world-famous archaeological site, told the Telegraph: “Pompeii never ceases to amaze.” “We always imagined that it was an embrace between women. But a CAT scan and DNA have revealed that they are men. “You can’t say for sure that the two were lovers.

Where is Herculaneum compared to Pompeii?

Herculaneum is closer to Naples; Pompeii is closer to Sorrento/Positano. If you use a car, both Pompeii and Herculaneum are on the way from Naples to the Amalfi coast.

Was Herculaneum named after Hercules?

Herculaneum, named after the hero Hercules, was a small town in Campania on the west coast of central Italy, located some 8km south-east of present-day Naples. Boasting only a small harbour, its main advantages were its excellent climate and its seaside position.

Who was the first person to excavate Pompeii?

The ruins at Pompeii were first discovered late in the 16th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. Herculaneum was discovered in 1709, and systematic excavation began there in 1738.

Are there skeletons in Pompeii?

ROME (AP) — Archaeologists in the ancient city of Pompeii have discovered a remarkably well-preserved skeleton during excavations of a tomb that also shed light on the cultural life of the city before it was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD 79.

Are the Pompeii bodies real?

The truth is, though, that they are not actually bodies at all. They are the product of a clever bit of archaeological ingenuity, going back to the 1860s.

How was Pompeii and Herculaneum discovered?

The ruins at Pompeii were first discovered late in the 16th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. Herculaneum was discovered in 1709, and systematic excavation began there in 1738. Haphazard digging was brought to a stop in 1860, when the Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli became director of the excavations.