Herculaneum

   Herculaneum was an ancient Roman city. It was situated six miles southeast of Naples at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. In the days of its prosperity it was a fortified city of wealth and influence. In 63 A. D. it suffered from an earthquake shock. In the terrific eruption of 79 A. D. cinders and lava covered it to a depth of from 75 to 120 feet. In an hour, one might say, the city disappeared from view. Though excellent descriptions remained the volcanic outflow covered so extensive a territory that no one knew just where to look for Herculaneum. The city lay undisturbed for seventeen centuries. Modern villages and vineyards we're above it. In 1709 a villager sinking his well brought to light sculptures and marble facings. In 1738 the well was dug deeper, when it was discovered that it had penetrated the ancient theater. Though little was done immediately, public interest was aroused. Victor Emmanuel caused extensive excavations to be made with astonishing results. The accounts of the former magnificence of the city of Herculaneum have been fully sustained. The theater mentioned was found to be a magnificent edifice of solid marble, with eighteen rows of seats, capable of seating 8,000 people. The galleries were run into the ancient streets, and doors that had been closed for eighteen centuries were reopened. Coins, jewelry, statues, paintings, libraries of old papyrus, beautiful mosaics, articles of furniture, vases, glass, and terracotta ware were brought out in a wonderfully perfect state of preservation and deposited in the neighboring museum of Naples. A number of noted statues were recovered as well as busts of Plato, Demosthenes. Seneca, Augustus, and Scipio Africanus. Among the villas of wealthy owners was one in which a provision room contained dried figs, almonds, dates, chestnuts, walnuts, prunes, corn, olive oil, peas, hams. and even pies, that had been sealed up here under volcanic ash for nearly 1,800 years-See