Herculaneum facts for kids
Herculaneum was an ancient Roman town. It was completely destroyed when the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted on 24 August, 79 AD. Herculaneum was covered by volcanic mud during the eruption, which quickly hardened to a semi-rock material. Herculaneum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Unlike Pompeii, the deep pyroclastic material which covered it preserved most objects in its path. Archaeologists have recovered wooden and other objects such as rooves, beds, doors, and food. Some 300 skeletons were discovered along the sea shore. It was thought until then that the town had been evacuated by its inhabitants.
Herculaneum was a wealthier town than Pompeii. It had many fine houses with a lavish use of coloured marble cladding, mosaics and wall paintings.
Images for kids
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Herculaneum plan showing the ancient site below the modern (1908) town and the 1631 "lava" flow
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Small Herculaneum Woman (Dresden)
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Insulae numbers
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A marble tablet from Herculaneum showing women playing knucklebones, depicting Phoebe, Leto, Niobe, Hilearia, and Agle, painted and signed by an artist named "Alexander of Athens", now in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples)
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"Boat houses" where skeletons were found
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"Boat houses" with skeletons
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Herculaneum, Ercolano, and Vesuvius
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See also
In Spanish: Herculano para niños
