Herculaneum

Herculaneum - ancient Roman city in the Italian region of Campania, on the shores of the Gulf of Naples, near the modern Ercolano. Like Pompeii, and Stabia, ceased to exist at the time of the eruption Vesuvius on 24 August 79 years. He was buried under a layer of pyroclastic flows.

According to myth, passed Dionisy Galikarnasskim, the city erected Hercules himself. In reality, however, most likely, the first settlement on the ground Gerkulanuma founded at the end of VI century BC. e. oskov tribe, samnitov predecessors. Then the city got into the Greek sphere of influence, during which, due to proximity to the sea, used as a port. Perhaps the Greeks called the city - the first time he mentioned composition in the ancient Greek philosopher Teofrasta called Gerakleon. In the IV century BC. e. Gerkulanum captured samnity, and only in the I century BC. e. He came under the control of Rome, when the Allied war, the Romans put down a rebellion Italian tribes. In the same period (about 89 years BC. E.) It became a municipality. Ruled the city every year duumviry.

The earthquake 62 years has caused considerable damage Gerkulanumu (archaeological work revealed that the municipal buildings were damaged, and then reconstructed). At the time of death he was a small town with a population of approx. 4000 people, is picturesquely situated on the shore of Naples Bay. Gerkulanum - a city in the form of a rectangular area about 20 hectares - engird walls. Roads (five and three-Cardo dekumanusa) smashed it into several Insula.