CITY OF THE PAST

Evening Star, Issue 19559, 18 May 1927, Page 5

CITY OF THE PAST

ANCIENT ITALY EXCAVATION OF HERCULANEUM A GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKING. Prose Association —By Telegraph—Copyright ROME, May 16. The colossal task of excavating Herculaneum. 1.848 years after its destrnotion, was officially started with all the scientific means at tho Government s disposal. -■ , i The Royal yacht conveyed the Ministers and distinguished Lnt.ish ana American visitors to I’ortici. flic King, with his suite, proceeded Umbel in a destroyer. .. The Director of Fine Arts, addressing tho King, recalled past efforts to penetrate the secrets of the hidden town, and at the conclusion of his speech gave a signal to tho waiting workmen, upon which curious engines ami mechanical perforators and spades began to hum, and scores of men started removing the earth. . Nothing that Signor Mussolini has done has pleased tho nation more than his decision to excavate Hercuhmcum. To-day the entire population or 1 ortici is making holiday. Tho streets aro strewn with flowers. . Professor Najuri, Chief Director ol Excavations, stated that no one can foresee tho surprises as to the character and extent of the population of Herculaneum. The references of scholars, he says, aro mostly conjecture. , ~ ~ It is not known how far the city extended over the slope. It is certain that it contained important summer residences of wealthy Romans as well as works of art. mural paintings, sculptures, and bronzes, while it is likely that documents and the missing manuscripts of Roman writers may be discovered. Herculaneum was first swept by the blasts ot a hot fiery air which smothered the inhabitants, llio town was covered for five or six clajs after the eruption by layers of moving earth, mud, and gravel. Hardly an\ lava has been found, and hence it is not true to say that the town was buried under solid lava.

Herculaneum is between Naples and Pompeii, at* tho foot of Mount Vesuvius, Originally Oscan, it was occupied in turn by Sammies and Etruscans, and was finally conquered by the Romans. In Nero’s time it was greatly damaged by an earthquake, and in tlio autumn of ’79 was totally destroyed, together with Pompeii by an eruption of Vesuvius. Tbo villages of Portici and Resina were built oyer the site. In 1719, during the sinking of a well, parts of the ancient city were discovered. Since theiy excavations have been carried on at intervals, but with difficulty, by means of tunnels, propped up to prevent the earth collapsing. The architectural remains are inferior, but the works of art superior, to those of Pompeii. Anion" tho former, a theatre, a temple, a luxuriously-appointed private house, and a barber’s shop, the latter containing numerous trade requisites, are the most interesting. Of tho works ol art, tho pictures of Theseus and Hie Minotaur, tho statues of Nero and Gcrmaniens (9ft high), ol two members of tho Balbus family, and_ a sleeping Faun, deserve mention. Great hopes were once aroused by the discovery, in a country house outside the walls, of a large collection of papyrus rolls, but they proved of little value