Heritage sites, Archaeological discoveries, History of Archaeology

Herculaneum

Location

Ercolano

Country

Italy

Year of Research

August 24, 79 AD

Culture

Ancient tradition is to be connected Herculaneum with the name of the Greek hero Herakles ,an indication that the city was of Greek origin.
At the end of the 6th century BC,the Italian mainland identified the first civilization on the site of Herculaneum.
Later,the town came under Greek control .It was a trading center because of its proximity to the Gulf of Naples.
Herculaneum city was named by Greeks.This city again came under the control of the Samnites in the 4th century. Until it became a Roman municipium in 89 BC the city under Samnite control.After it participated in the Social War and it was defeated by Titus Didius, a legate of Sulla.
In 79 AD,after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius this town of Herculaneum was buried under approximately 20 meters 50-60 feet of lava, mud and ash.
More than 1600 years it was hidden.In 1709,it was accidentally discovered by some workers by digging a well. From there, the excavation process began but is still incomplete.