How was Herculaneum destroyed?

On August 24, 79, one of the most catastrophic eruptions of Vesuvius occurred. As a result of this natural disaster, the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabia, located at the foot of the volcano, were utterly destroyed.

But the eruption of Vesuvius, which covered the ashes of Pompeii and Stabia, did not immediately damage the Herculaneum (Ercolano), which stood west of the volcano. Only on the second day, pyroclastic flows poured into the city. A hot mixture of ash and stones instantly filled residential buildings and city buildings.

The eruption was such that the ashes from it reached even Egypt and Syria.

Herculaneum was discovered randomly in 1709 by a peasant digging a well for his garden. He discovered marble pieces, which, as it turned out later, broke away from the stage of the Herculaneum Theater.

As in Pompeii, in Herculaneum, there are baths, a bakery, and other urban buildings. Unlike Pompeii, without access to oxygen, wooden doors, shutters, and shelves for storing amphora, fabrics, and even bread were preserved here.

Unfortunately, many finds of Herculaneum, which were not of discernible value, were destroyed by the first diggers. Other discovered objects moved from one private collection to another, and in our time, it is impossible to establish their original location. Near the ruins of Herculaneum, a Virtual Archaeological Museum was built, whose interactive exhibits and scenarios allow you to see what the ancient city looked like before its death.

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