Herculaneum: ancient Roman city buried by Vesuvius in 79AD

The ancient city is much lower than the modern town of Ercolano, an outlying suburb of Naples, so that from the entrance to the site, a tunnel leads down to the Suburban Baths, distinguished by pools, bas-reliefs and stucco friezes.

The Casa d’Argo, or Argus House, is a good example of a Roman aristocratic family’s home and boasts a triclinium (dining area) and porticoed garden.

At the Terme del Foro (Forum Baths) men and women would have passed from changing rooms to the tepidarium (warm room) and then to the caldarium (steam bath). There was then the bracing option of a frigidarium (cold bath), but for male visitors only.

The House of the Bicentenary is so named because it was excavated two centuries after digging at Herculaneum began.

Archaeologists found a crucifix in one of its rooms — possible evidence that Christians lived in the town before Mt Vesuvius erupted and snuffed out its existence.

colour coated hip bones, a Hercules and Sinbad: Legend of the ...

He never believed in the
supernatural until his best
friend made a deal with a
conniving goddess. After his
life was touched by divinity
it seemed as though it planned
on staying for a visit. He began
having dreams, heroic tales
where he was defending
cities, intertwining people's
destinies with his own. He
would sword fight with soldiers
to defend justice, not to
save his own sorry skin. Then, when
the dream had passed, crawling
back into his subconscious he
would wake with a start, trembling
and sweating and grinning
because they were the most
exciting things he had ever done,
next to helping his friend save
the world.

She watched from the misty clouds
and smiled, toying with his dreams
again. She had never realized how
easy mortals were to play with.
Much more interesting than Apollo
and the other deities. She sighed
wistfully, running her fingers over
his bald scalp from her perch. My he was
a deep sleeper! He tossed his arm
upwards, swatting at something
before it slumped against his
forehead. The ship rocked him
to sleep and, inspired by this,
created an ocean dream for him.
He was a daring sea captain,
rescuing damsels and restoring
order to society. In his dreams
she gave him everything he wanted,
everything he had ever wished for.
Except a woman. She loved him
selfishly, undeniably and
wouldn't let him have the
pleasure of a woman even though
She was unable to give him hers.

He rolled onto his stomach and his
eyes flickered open. A name was imprinted
in his mind, forged in metal and
placed on a plaque. It echoed in his
memory all day and when he
slept he dreamt of a woman
with mahogany curls and sepia
skin who was calling his name.
She wanted him to join her, but
where? How? He tried to ask
but the words expanded and caught
in his throat. She shook her head
and waved goodbye, saying that
perhaps another time. He felt
her lips enflame his cheek in a
kiss then she evaporated.

He shook his head. Such vivid
dreams! He decided perhaps it
was time to start having a glass
of warm milk before dozed off.

She shook her head. He wasn't
ready yet. She would come to
him again when he was able to
accept her. She would wait.
She had eternity.

Ante-Nicene Christian library, translations of the writings of the fathers down to A.D. 325

Hippolytus Bishop of Rome, Ante Nicene Christian Library Translations of the Writings of the Fathers Down to Ad 325 Part Six

Samson Turner and the Legend of Hercules

A history of Greece

Ancient legends of Roman history