The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-23
HERcULANEuM THE GRAND.
Civilization of the Inhabitants of the Ar
cient City and Their Fates.

cient City and Their Fates.
Anything that can be said Of Hercula-
neum and its 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 the
meagerness of historical details which
have been handed down concerning it.
Herculapeum was city Of Campania, be-
tween Naples and Pompeii, situated at the
foot of Vesuvius en- a hill overlooking this
sea. It derived its name from Hercules,
whom tradition names as its founder.
When overwhelmed by the lava tide from
Vesuyius in the reign of the Emperor
Titus, A. ID. 49, it was a city of wealth
and culture, larger than Pompeii and the
favorite summer 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 fron among the living, but dwell
within its shadow, happy and contented,
though repeated warnings were given
them in the shape of disastrous earth
quakes. By one of these part of Hercu-
laneum was thrown down and buried, but
by the enterprise of it's citiz. Is this city
as well as Pompeii, which had been al
most entirely destroyed, was rebuilt and
restored.
Herculaneum was a center of art and
beauty as well as luxury and sybaritish-
ness. The houses of the rich were very
elaborate, and even extravaganza. The
most important apartment was the atrium
which presented a 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 the oompluvium, to-
ward which the roof sloped, SO as to throw
the rainWater into cistern in the floor,
styled the impluvium. This water was
used for household purposes, the drinking
water being obtained from we'll or
spring. The bed chambers were generally
small and inconvenient and often situat-
ed in the superstructure Of the house. The
triclinium, or dining room, was SO called
from the three GONZALES which encompassed
the table on AS many sides, leaving the
fourth open to the attendants.
The ceiling was SO arranged as 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
bWSii1u5o WOiO AI1C; UllO w OLA
painting being especially artistic. The
subjects of the latter were NEUROLOGICAL
and grotesque in nature.
The public buildings were magnificent
in style and colossal in size. Among these
were the Basilica Pantheon, Coliseum,
Amphitheater, Circus and Temples. The
baths were mostly luxurious and costly.
From means of cleanliness and necessity
they had developed into the abode of in
dolence 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. Here the
gladiators, athletes, boxers and runners
were trained for their work Here the
Callista taught their art and developed the
splendid physiques SO much admired and
sought after at that period. The excite
ment of the combat and chariot race was
almost necessity and was relished by
the women as well as the men. The arts
and the drama also occupied very impor
tant places in Herculaneum. AS examples
of sculpture may be mentioned she eques
trian statues of Nonius Balbris, almost
perfect in their anatomical details. Some
I of the statues were of exceedingly costly
materials. The various metals, marble an6
even porphyry were used in many varieties
and combinations Philadelphia Times.