John and Bethenie: Ercolano

Another pretty day to do a little sightseeing, or else we thought it was going to be. John had to go into work this morning for his bi-annual PRT (work-out), and while he was there was told he had to go home get his uniform and come back into work because they needed to talk to him. In the meantime I am at home getting ready because the weather was nice and we had talked about going to Ercolano (Herculaneum). So when I got told he was having to go into work that changed our plans fast. He said he thought he would only have to be there until noon or so and if the weather was still nice we would try and do something.

Well he finally got back home around 1 or so, and the weather wasn't looking to promising. It was starting to get cloudy here at Support Site and he said it had been raining all morning at Capo (the base he works on.) So we messed around for a little while and decided we would grab some lunch and give it a try anyways. So we headed up to the NEX and ate some subway and headed out towards Herculaneum. The wind was blowing some which made it kind of cool but the sun was shining there so that helped. We parked and found our way to the "biglietteria" or ticket office and headed into the town.

Most people do not even know what Herculaneum is so here are a few facts. Herculaneum, or Ercolano as it is known in Italy now, is just a smaller Pompeii. Most everyone knows about or have heard of Pompeii. Herculaneum was also destroyed in the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD. Although it is much smaller that Pompeii it has been preserved much better. They started the excavation of Herculaneum in 1709 and to this day it is still incomplete.

It was really cool getting to walk around the town that is way below actual ground level today. The weather ended up cooperating with us and it turned out to be a really good day.

This is when we first arrived at Ercolano ~ Above the town looking down at it

Again ~ The green area on the left of the picture is where the beach was during its time

Another view from a different angle ~ we were just about even with the top of the town

A map of the excavated part of Ercolano ~ there is still much of the town buried under the new town

The steps through the tunnel down to the town

These were the boat houses where many bodies (skeletons) were found ~ they said there were many skeletons and looked like they were all huddled up with each other

The Terrace of M. Nonius Balbus

Statue of Herculaneum's principal benefactor ~ M. Nonius Balbus

This is part of The Sacred Area ~ the white blocks are of Four Gods

More of The Sacred Area

Casa del Rilievo di Telefo ~ House of the Relief of Telephus

This house is one of the largest of the excavated area

John standing by on of the columns in the Atrium

Looking up one of the roads

A set of old stairs

Inside Casa dei Cervi ~ House of the Deer

Some of the marble flooring

One of the rooms inside the house

Flooring along the hallway

Another room

The scenic terrace and pergola

One of four statues that were found in the garden area ~ Deer being attacked by dogs

Drunken Hercules

Satyr with a Wineskin

The whole garden area

Some charred stairs in one of the houses

Ruins of different houses

Inside Taberna di Priapo

Grande Taberna ~ Marble counter-top with jugs that held hot water and food

Walking through the Taberna ~

Yes that is how tall the door way was...I could barley fit..my head and feet were touching and I was not on my tip toes

Taberna Vasaria

The shelves were for storing wine

Entrance to Casa del Gran Portale ~ House of the Great Portal and it was named after the colomns at the door

One of the rooms inside the house

Hallway to another room

The remains of some stairs

A column outside Palestra

Looking around inside Palestra

Some of the different stores

Me with the remains of a column

Some of the columns

John posing with the columns

Entering the swimming pool

Replica of the bronze fountain ~ a five headed serpent entwined round a tree

Stairway

this bridge goes into modern Ercolano ~ this is how far down the original town was buried

Palestra ~ recessed room with central marble platform

Doors into Palestra

Ruins of different houses and stores

Charred wood on display

Old marble steps

Inside Casa dell'Atrio Corinzio ~ House of the Corinthian Atrium

The open courtyard and fountain

Old awning with charred wood still in tact

This is where they would get their drinking water ~ the holes are where the clean water would come out

Looking down another one of the streets

A bridge that they were working on

Inside Casa del Salone Nero ~ House of the Black Hall ~ this is the center of the house with the courtyard and small garden

Looking out onto the street from the house

Part of the Black Hall

Looking inside Bottega ad Cucumas ~ Shop for Cucumas

Thermapolium ~ another place where hot water was stored

Part of the room in the Sede degli Augustali ~ College of the Augustali

Columns in the center of the building

Neptune and Amphitrite

Hercules, Juno and Minerva

Marble pavement in the center of the floor

Charred wood along the sky light

This room was reserved for the janitor and his remains were found in the bed

Another set of stairs

Entering the Central Thermae ~ this is the first area of the mens bath

This basin was used to hold water to wash your hands before entering other parts of the building

Service area or changing room

A small pool

This was the tepidarium room or hot room ~ hot air filled the room from the floor

The small door leading to the next room

The hot bath

A bench

Recreation area

Looking down another street

Inside Casa Sannitica ~ Samnite House

This is where they collected their water for drinking

Decorations along the walls

Decorations along the entrance

Floor in one of the rooms

Vases in one of the shops

John pretending to use the bathroom

Casa del Tramezzo di Legno ~ House of the Wooden Partition

Wooden Partition

This house was orginally built in first century BC

Looking out to the courtyard

The remains of a bed in one of the rooms

Part of Casa dell'Alcova ~ House of the Alcove

Part of one of the walls

John looking out a window of Casa dell'Erma di Bronzo ~ House of the Bronze Herma

My turn

Casa dell'Albergo ~ House of the Inn

This house was built between 27 BC - 14 AD and excavated in 1852 ~ it was also thought to be a hotel due to the size of the building and its private baths but was later determined to be a private house