Herculaneum — Pompeii's Sister City Destroyed by Vesuvius

Herculaneum: The Other Buried City

When we speak of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, Pompeii dominates the conversation. But another ancient city met the same fate that day — Herculaneum (modern Ercolano), a wealthy seaside resort town located just 20 kilometers northwest of Pompeii, even closer to Vesuvius. In many ways, Herculaneum is the more remarkably preserved of the two, offering unique insights that Pompeii cannot match.

History of Herculaneum

According to legend, Herculaneum was founded by the Greek hero Hercules (Heracles) upon his return from one of his twelve labors. In reality, the city was probably founded by the Osci people in the 7th century BC, similar to Pompeii. It came under Greek cultural influence, then Samnite control, and finally Roman rule after the Social War (89-80 BC).

Unlike Pompeii, which was primarily a commercial and agricultural center, Herculaneum developed as a residential and resort town favored by wealthy Romans. Its position on a promontory overlooking the Bay of Naples made it an attractive location for luxurious seaside villas. The city's population at the time of the eruption was approximately 4,000-5,000 — significantly smaller than Pompeii.

The Eruption at Herculaneum

Herculaneum's experience of the eruption of 79 AD was dramatically different from Pompeii's. Located northwest of Vesuvius — upwind from the prevailing wind direction — Herculaneum received very little of the pumice fall that buried Pompeii during the first phase of the eruption. This may have given Herculaneum's residents a false sense of security.

However, when the eruption column collapsed in the early hours of August 25, the pyroclastic surges that flowed down the volcano's slopes hit Herculaneum first and with devastating force. The city was buried under approximately 20 meters (65 feet) of superheated volcanic material — far deeper than Pompeii's 4-6 meters. The heat was so intense that it carbonized (rather than destroyed) organic materials like wood, food, and even papyrus scrolls.

The Boathouses Discovery

For many years, it was believed that most of Herculaneum's population had escaped before the surges arrived. This theory was overturned in the 1980s when archaeologists discovered the remains of over 300 people huddled in the arched boathouses (fornici) along the ancient beach. These individuals had apparently fled to the waterfront hoping to escape by sea, only to be killed instantly by the first pyroclastic surge.

Why Herculaneum Is Special

Superior Preservation

The depth and nature of Herculaneum's burial created preservation conditions unlike those at Pompeii:

• Wooden structures survive intact, including doors, window frames, beds, and even a wooden cradle
• Carbonized food has been found, including bread, eggs, figs, and walnuts
• Papyrus scrolls from the Villa of the Papyri — the only intact library recovered from the ancient world — contain philosophical texts that scholars are still working to unread using advanced imaging technology
• Upper stories of buildings are preserved, something almost never seen at Pompeii
• Organic materials like rope, textiles, and leather have survived in carbonized form

The Villa of the Papyri

The most famous building in Herculaneum is the Villa of the Papyri, an enormous luxury villa believed to have belonged to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, Julius Caesar's father-in-law. The villa contained a library of over 1,800 carbonized papyrus scrolls, primarily works of Epicurean philosophy by Philodemus of Gadara. Modern technology, including X-ray phase-contrast tomography, is being used to read these scrolls without unrolling them.

Visiting Herculaneum

Herculaneum is an excellent complement to a visit to Pompeii. The site is smaller and more manageable, can be thoroughly explored in 1.5 to 2 hours, and is generally much less crowded.

Detail	Information
Address	Corso Resina 187, Ercolano
Hours	08:30-19:30 (summer), 08:30-17:00 (winter)
Admission	EUR13 single / EUR22 combo with Pompeii
Getting there	Circumvesuviana to Ercolano Scavi station (10 min walk)
Best for	Visitors interested in detailed preservation and intimate scale

Pompeii vs. Herculaneum

Aspect	Pompeii	Herculaneum
Size	66 hectares	12 hectares
Population	~11,000	~4,000
Burial depth	4-6 meters	Up to 20 meters
Excavated	~66%	~25%
Best for	Scope, urban planning, public buildings	Detail, organic preservation, intimacy
Crowds	Heavy	Moderate
Visit time	3-5 hours	1.5-2 hours

Both sites are extraordinary and together provide a complete picture of Roman life in the Bay of Naples region. If you have time, visiting both is highly recommended.