Wednesday,,, Herculaneum

We got up this morning, to more rain, but headed off to Herculaneum, along the train route as we had a tour organised.
We got there as the rain stopped, and it didnt rain again till we got home this evening.
OK
you take the train to ercolano scavi.
The guide book warns you that it is dangerous there
What a rough town. Full of seedy sorts, and you have a walk of about a kilometre down a main road, to the excavation site.
You have to take it seriously when the guide refuses to carry money or a handbag when she is there... Backpacks put underneath coats in this town. After 7pm, NOONE is in this place, no one goes out.. It has the worst reputation even on this slice of the place
Anyway
Herculaneum differs from Pompeii in several ways.
Whereas Pompeii was hit by ash, pumice stone and gases, it was a wave of lava or burning mud that covered hurculaneum.Also, Pompeii, is on the Main road to Rome, and therefore, being a port as well was a commercial hub
Herculaneum was more like a beachfront residential resort, no industry, little commerce, a lot of wealth, and usually the second home for a wealthy Roman or such
It was a wealthy residential town, built on a port(now inland due to the sea of larva) so big villas, less commerce, and some excellent preservations.. theyhave only uncovered about 25% of the original town.
Because the locals have built right up to the edge of the excavation site, and despite a governement off of a buy out, a, due to the threat of another volanic event, and B, to reclaim the site, no one accepted the offer.
Which is probabl irrelevant, as there is no more money to keep excavating, so the plans are to leave it all undisturbed.
The colours are amazing, the condition is excellent.,
this is a wealthy mans villa, from 79AD, the gradens have been planted to reflect what was typical, through theportico, there is a green wall.. thats the Lava level. When the house was built, it was sea front on a cliff above the port
Mark in Sorrento

the doorway through the womens public spa

the excavation site in the forefront, the town of Ercolano in the rear

Jake, racing around the place

Along one of the streets in Herculaneum

Through a doorway in Herculaneum

This shows the height of the lava bed they had to excavate through, to find the twn

The Scavi site in the forefront, and the town in the background

Heading home to make Spaghetti Bolognaise tonight


This place is unique, in that it had timber sliding dividers to separate the rooms, the timber had carbonised, and preserved intact

A mosaic from the floor of the womens Spa

And a little light relief.

Venus, and David, hit by the Obesity Epidemic