Herculaneum excavation

Ancient tradition connected Herculaneum with the name of the Greek hero Herakles (Hercules in Latin and consequently Roman Mythology), an indication that the city was of Greek origin.
It is the Greeks who named the city Herculaneum. In the 4th century BC, Herculaneum again came under the domination of the Samnites. The city remained under Samnite control until it became a Roman municipium in 89 BC. After the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the town of Herculaneum was buried under approximately 20 meters (50-60 feet) of lava, mud and ash.

For 1700 years the town stayed buried until it was accidentally discovered by some workers digging a well in 1709. They discovered a wall which was later found to be one of the stages of the ancient theatre. From there, the excavation process began but is still incomplete. Until 1969 the town of Ercolano was called Resina, and it changed its name to Ercolano, the Italian modernization of the ancient name in honour of the old city.

Regular excavations were started later under the patronage of Carlo III Borbone and numerous buildings and manufacts were uncovered. The special condition under which Herculaneum was buried preserved most of the buildings and this offer a detailed information about the life of the old inhabitants of the Naples coast.

Apart from the Houses, the highlight of any visit here, though, is without doubt the thermal complex. It had two separated parts, one for the women and the other  for the men, both endowed with dressing rooms and gyms.

It’s to admire also the “Sacello degli Augustali” or “College of the Augustals”, in the area of Forum, which represented the center of town. And still the Gym, the Antiquarium and the Teather.

After the visit at Herculaneum ruins, the tourist can continue his tour with an excursion in Vesuvius National Park.