BURIED CITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16243, 18 January 1927, Page 7

BURIED CITY

PROBABLE RESUMPTION OF EXCAVATIONS (Sydney Sun Cables.) (Received January IS, noon). LONDON, Jan. 17. The Daily Mail's Rome correspondent says Signor Mussolini is considering the resumption of the excavations of the ancient city of Herculaneum, dest roved with Pompeii. Ihere have been intermittent excavations since 1719, but with difficulty, the site being covered with solidified volcanic rock.

Heriukneam is an ancient city m Italy, so called from the 10.-al wors.ap of Hercules. It is situated at the base of Mount Vesuvius, five miles from Naples. In 63AD it was seriously l - jured bv a violent earthquake; and m 79 buried along with -TompeU- and Stabiae, by the memorable erupt o no. Vesuvius. 'lt now lies at a depth of horn 40ft to 100 ft below the surface, and is filled uo and covered with volcanic tufa Above It, on the mode"t surface, are the villages of Portia and Rearna. In 1«M systematic excavations were (ommenced the chief bunding explored being iu* theatre, which has 18 row. of stone seats, and could accommodate 8000 per sons. Part of the Forum * .th its colonnades, two small templea, and a villa have also been discovered, and from t£ buildings many beautiful .statues and remarkable paintings have been obtained In 1880 ruins of extensive baths were brought to light.