Herculaneum

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

Everyone who visits the Naples area of Italy wants to see Pompeii but, for me, Herculaneum is an even bigger attraction,

Herculaneum's fate runs parallel to that of Pompeii, destroyed by an earthquake in AD 62 and the AD 79 eruption of Mt Vesuvius saw it submerged. The particular circumstances of the burial of Herculaneum, unlike those of Pompeii, led to the formation over the city of a compact mass of tufaceous material about 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 metres) deep. Although this layer made excavation very difficult, it preserved Herculaneum and prevented tampering and looting. The special conditions of ground humidity made possible the conservation of wooden frameworks of houses, wooden furniture, the hull of a sizeable boat, pieces of cloth, and food (carbonised loaves of bread left within ovens).

The difficulties of excavation at Herculaneum compared with Pompeii, meant that, Pompeii was the city concentrated upon and advertised to the world. However, in recent years, much more work has been undertaken at Herculaneum with amazing results.

My photograph shows the appearance of the partially excavated city and you can appreciate its depth below ground level. (It has been estimated that less than a fifth of the city is visible, yet!)

What a place to explore!
I will add w/s to reveal closer details here and here .

Enjoy your day, Bev :-)

ikeharel, snunney, Fis2, holmertz, tyro, jhm, CLODO, ChrisJ, PaulVDV, ktanska, macjake, alvaraalto, alvaraalto, Cricri trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

ikeharel (112397) 2018-11-23 1:28

Unbelievable how those building remain intact and only revealed when excavated, Beverly.
High POV shows well the architecture designed about 2000 years ago. Managed clear details even as light was mild and good scale by the visitors, not so many to my surprise.
Have a nice Friday,
Ike

Tue (91536) 2018-11-23 1:38

Hello Beverley,
I have only been to Pompeii, but Herculaneum looks very impressive too. Your viewpoint shows the old city so well and especially shows so clearly that the city had been underground for so long until the excavations started. The modern-day town in the background is also well included.
Lars

ifege (46891) 2018-11-23 1:48

Hi Bev
I've always regretted just going to Pompeii and missing Herculaneum. A good photo of a great spot.
Cheers
Ian

snunney (130967) 2018-11-23 2:03

Hello Bev,
Your high vantage point offers an excellent perspective over the remains of the ancient city and also shows some of its modern day surroundings. Pleasant soft light and colours and very good sharpness.

Fis2 (169679) 2018-11-23 2:04

Witaj Bev!
A very interesting place, building makes impression.
I like it.
Good POV, composition and colors.
People give the size of this object.
Well done.
Nice day.
Krzysztof

holmertz (101956) 2018-11-23 2:28

Hello Bev,
Before I decided to go to Palermo this year I had almost made up my mind to see Naples and the two excavated cities. I guess I will have to give them another chance next year. They look far too interesting to be neglected. Walking streets relatively unchanged since 2000 years must be an unforgettable experience. Today's three photos all give us a good idea of what Herculaneum has to show, and they make me want to see more. I think the not too bright light did you a strong favour. The colours are very pleasant.
Kind regards,
Gert

lousat (138585) 2018-11-23 2:32

HI Bev,great report from Ercolano...what say...the view from above is amazing but i like a lot the long perspectives in the 2 WS,showing a lot of columns,a jewel of Campania very imporanti like Pompei. My best compliments for excellent quality of your pics. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

jhm (211734) 2018-11-23 3:31

Hello Bev,

Your two additional picture care for nice details to the main picture.
What a lovely panorama view about the area.
Pleasant view about a part of the city too.
An excellent composition lovely presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.

Lovely regards,
John

tyro (30513) 2018-11-23 3:34

Hello Bev,

Again, a fascinating note and three lovely photographs which show not only the immense amount of work that has gone into excavating this place but also the ruined state of it and, furthermore, quite what a well organised and opulent city it had been before its dreadful destruction by the eruption of Vesuvius.

Your main photo gives a perfect aerial overview while your two workshop images give more intimate views of parts of the ruins, and each is very well composed and technically excellent.

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

CLODO (45116) 2018-11-23 3:47

Hi Bev

Interesting note. I would have put WS2 in the main post because we can see at the same time the old city and the new one with lot of details including your signature!
Cheers
CLODO

ChrisJ (171194) 2018-11-23 4:35

Hello Beverley,

Just as my shots of Herculaneum have inspired others to visit, I also think your 3 uploads today will add momentum for others to visit, too. It's well worth it, and so much more compact than Pompeii with nearly as much to see, and without the huge crowds of package tourists. I can see one small tour group observing the hapless souls who took refuge in those arched recesses along what was then the seashore. Only their skeletons remain as stark testimony to their sudden and violent demise beneath the 15-18 metres of lahar & hot ash :-( Tfs!

Sergiom (117241) 2018-11-23 7:01

Bonjour Bev,

Il faut donner aux italiens le talent qu'ils ont de bien préserver leurs ruines. Les touristes sont payants en toutes saisons. Il y a certes une belle journée à passer dans celles-ci. Superbe plongée vers le passé.

Amicalement

Serge

PaulVDV (62796) 2018-11-23 11:47

Hello Beverley,
A long time ago I have visited both Pompeii and Herculaneum. Difficult to tell which one of both you should visit if there's time only to see one.
I remember that in Herculaneum I was so surprised to see that a residential area was located so close to it.
In that way your both pictures in the WS make a big impression on me. Your first photo in the WS is simply fantastic. You may wonder what the residents of those houses would find if they start digging in their cellars.
On your main picture I like the fact that we can spot visitors on different places and levels and they give a good sense of scale. For example, the person walking in the front right of the statue.
Excellent note!
Best regards, Paul

ktanska (44464) 2018-11-23 11:51

Hi Bev,
A truly fantastic place where the famous catastroph save the city for future archaeologists. Very nice high viewpoint for showing the overall view of the city. Good to see that small group of visitors too.
Kari

Nicou (193806) 2018-11-23 11:53

Hello

quelle iamge et compo quelle vue superbe quel site et vue avec les personnes quei le visitent ce rendu architectural très ancien ces maisons quel décor et image sueprbe.
bravo et belle soirée
Nicou

macjake (98262) 2018-11-23 22:10

Hi Bev
thank you thank you thank you...this is why i love our TE. Learning about the world. I have Never heard of this city, and I was in Pompeii! Now I feel stupid, why didn't I know about this place, i would have 100% visited. This is what happens when you don't plan well enough in advance I guess. Now when I go back to Italy i'll have a new city to explore :) awesome WS photos, awesome Main post, this is very impressive. Great TE post Bev, thanks again
cheers
Craig

emka (157280) 2018-11-24 0:22

Hello Bev, I visited only Pompeii, there was so much to see there and I had no time for Herculaneum. It is much smaller but looks wonderful here. Impressive that there are so many levels. Excellent composition.

I am back home after my Africa trip.

Kind regards Malgo

alvaraalto (42804) 2018-11-24 6:15

Hello Bev,
Three beautiful photographs of Herculaneum that give a nice picture of the excavation of the city. The excellent information in your note cannot be left unmentioned.
It also struck me that the buildings of the current city are so close to the excavation.
Excellent work
Have a good weekend, groet Rob

Silvio1953 (220553) 2018-11-24 6:38

Ciao Cara Bev, great POV on fascinating ruines, fine details, splendid light, wonderful colors and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Cricri (176) 2018-11-24 7:35

Hi Beverley
Une note intéressant, un endroit que je n'ai jamais visiter, un site historique incroyable a visiter, bon POV montrant la ville en arrière plan, deux WS en bon complément
Bonne soirée
cricri

mkamionka (73316) 2018-11-27 11:57

Hi Bev,
indeed this was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. I couldn't drag my little daughter for two days through ruins so I decided to go to Pompeii but I suppose it is always nice to have something left for a potential future visit.
So even more I appreciate your reportage here which shows me what I have missed :)
I suppose one can spend ages there!
I am glad that you show it in the context of the surrounding so I can better imagine the location of this place.
Great work,
M

jmdias (114240) 2019-01-01 5:04

bev

isn't usual to find images of herculaneum, even pompei has no so famous usual image. nice this view of the complex of ruins, we can understand how deep they are watching the houses around. nice WS and note.
take care and happy 2019

jorge