The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-27
HeRcULANEuM THE GRAND.


VI III
Client City and Their Fstes.
Anything that can DO said Of Hsrcula-
nsam INC it's sister city, Pompeii, must
prove interesting at the present day. This
Is more particularly true OF the former.
both because Of its terrible doom and b
meagerness Of historical details which
AVE been handed down conoerning ~
H~erculaneum was . city Of Campauia b.
tween Naples and Pompeii. situated - the
foot Of Vesuvius on q hill overlooking the
sea. IL derived It's name1rom Hercules,
whom tradition names Il it founder.
When overwhelmed by the lava tide from
Vesuvius In tho reign Of the Emperor
Titus, A. d. 70, IL was Q city Of wealth
and culture, larger than Pombeti and the
favorite sumnae residence Of many rich
Roman citizens. The inhabitants seemed
to have no dread of the terrible volcano at
their doors, which was one day to blot
them from among the living, but dwet
within its shadow, happy and contented.
though repeated warnings wero given
them In h shape Of disastrous earth
quakes. BY one OF these q part Of Hcrcu-
laneum was thrown down and buried, but
by the enterprise Of It's citizens this city
as well as Pompsii, which had been al
most entirely destroyed, was rebuilt and
restored.
. Herculaneum was a center Of art and
beauty ~ well as luxury and sybaritish-
ness. The houses Of the rich were very
elaborate, and even extravagant. The
most important apartment was the atrium,
which presented q splendid appearance.
Here the owner received his visitors, who
were not admitted to the inner rooms.
The atrium was large, with a central
opening above called tho oompluvium, 10
ward which the roof slopsd, 80 - 10 throw
the rainwater into q cistern In the floor,
styled the ~impluyium. This water was
used for household purposes, the drinking
water being obtained from . we'll q
spring. The bed chambers were G~snsrally
small and ~inconveniert and often situao-
cd In tho superstructure Of tho hose. The
tricliniurn, or dining room. was 70 called
from the thrse GONZALES whiok enoompassed
the table on ~ many sides, leaving the
fourth open to the attendants.
Tho ceiling w. so arranged ~ TO open
and let down & second course Of meats,
with showers Of perfumed waters and
flowers, while rope dancers performed
their evolutions over the heads Of the
guests. The interior decorations Of the
dwellings were rsmarksbly hns. the wall
painting being especially artistic. The
subjects Of the latter were neurological
and grotesque In nature.
Tho public buildings were magnificent
In style and colossal In size. Among these
were the Basilica, Pantheon, Coliseum,
Amphithester, Circus and Temples. The
baths were mostly luxurious and costly.
From q means Of cleanliness and necessity
they had developed into the abode Of In
dolcnce and pleasure. Here might be found
every species Of amusement, and here the
rich citizen spent much Of his time. The
Palaestra also contributed much to the en-
tertainment Of the citizens. Hero the
gladiators, athletes, boxers and runners
were trained for their work. Here the
Callista taught their art and Developed the
splendid physiques so muck admired and
sought after at that periodN The exotic
ment Of the combat and chafiot race was
almost q necessity and w9s relished by
the women as well as tho men. The arts
snd the drama also occupied very impor-
tant places In H~erculaneum. As examples
Of sculpture may DO mentioned the eques-
TRAN statues Of Nonius Balbris, almost
perfect in their anatomical details. Some
Of the statues were of exceedingly costly
materials. The various metals, marble and
even porphyry were used In many varieties
and combinations .-Philsdeiphia Times.