Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-26
HERCULA NEUM.

This city was, together will, Pompeij
and Stabia, involved in the common ruin
occasioned by the Dreadful eruption oil
Vcsuvius, in the reign of Titus, already
described. II was situated on point OF
land stretching into The Gulph OF Naples,
about Two mics distant from that city !,
near where the modern towns OF Porlici
and Rsini, and the Royal Palace, b,
which they are now separated, now stand.
The neck OF land on which it was built,
and which has since disappeared yiormrd
small haroor Hence the Appreciation
OF HercatiAs Po,aicam, the small haven
OF Hercules, sometimes given to Hercp-
ianeum, and thence in all probability, tie
modern name OF torilei. The latter be-
ing situated immediately above some oil
the excavations OF Hcrculaneum, the
just fear Of endangering KS safety, by un-
dermming II, IS given as principal rea-
sen why SO liuie progress has been made
IN the Herculanean researches.
The discovery OF Herculaneum is thus
explained. A; an uncomfortable dis
tahoe from the Royal Palace OF Por.ic,,
and close 10 the sea side, Prince Elbeuf,
in The beginning OF the last century, ~
hab.ted an elegant villa. TO obtain a
supply Of water well was dug, in the
year 1880, Trough The deep crust OF lava
OH which the mansion itself had been
reared. The Iaborers, after having COM
plc,eiy pierced through the lava, which
was Of considerable depth, came to q
stratum OF dry mud. This even, pre-
ciscIy agrees with the tradition relative
TO HercuIaneum, that il was ia the first
instance overwhelmed by stratum oil
bot mud, which was Immediately follow
ed by wide stream Of lava. Whether
this mud was thrown up from Vesuvius,
or torned by torrents of rain, does not
al pear to have been decided. Within
,he'stra,uM the workmen found three fe
male statues, which.werc sent to Vienna
1t was not until some years alter that
the researches at Hercn Iancum were
seriously and systematically pursued
BY continuing E!beuf's well, the exca-
vators at once came to the theatre, and
from that spot carried on their further
subterrsneous investigation. The condi-
ton Of Herculaneum was at that time
much more interesting, and more worthy
the notice Of the traveller, than ii is al
present. The object Of its excavation
having unfortunately been confined to the
discovery OF statues, paintings, aud other
curiosilies, and not carried on with a
view to lay open the city, and thus to as
certain the features OF lis buildings and
streets, most OF the latter were again FILL
ed up with rubbish as soon as they were
Invested of every thing moveable. The
marble even was torn from the walls OF
the temples. Hercoianeum may there
fore, be said to have been overwhelmed
second time by its modern discoveries ;
and the appearance it previously presents
ed, can now only be ascerlaiDcd from the
accounts of those who saw ii in q more
perfect state. Agreeabiy to them, il
must at that time have afforded nosl
interesting spectacle.
| The theatre was one Of the most per-
! feet specimens OF ancient archi,ecture.-
1t had, from the floor upwards, eighteen
rows ofsea,s, and above these, three oihc!
rows, which, being covered with a por'
tico, seemed 10 have been Intended fcl
The female part Of the audience, to scresI