BURIED TRUTH

DOUBLE POST

What is the culture of consumption? what are the practicalities of sanitation? How is this type of preservation different from Ostia? What geological forces are at work here and throughout the region?

At first, I honestly thought Herculaneum was just a smaller, less exciting version of Pompeii. I expected it to be interesting but not impressive. I imagined it would feel like a side note to the bigger and more famous ruins. But the moment I arrived and began to walk through the site, my opinion changed completely. Herculaneum has its own magic. It felt like stepping into a city frozen in time. The homes, the streets, the colors on the walls all felt alive in a strange and powerful way. Unlike Pompeii, which is more spread out and feels more like ruins, Herculaneum felt more intact, more preserved, and more personal.

The culture of consumption in Herculaneum is clear when you look at the way people lived. You can see it in the design of the homes, the wall paintings, and the presence of shops and food stands. The homes were decorated with frescoes, many of which showed images of gods, animals, or scenes from mythology. The wealthier homes had large open spaces, private gardens, and even fountains. These were not just places to live but places to show off taste and success. At the same time, the presence of many food stands and shops tells us that people also enjoyed eating out and being social. There was a balance between private luxury and public life.

Sanitation in Herculaneum was surprisingly advanced for the time. There were both public and private toilets. Some families who had enough money had toilets inside their homes. Others used public ones that were placed around the city. These toilets were built with running water systems that kept waste moving away from the city. Water flowed under the streets and helped carry everything out. There were also public baths where people could stay clean and socialize. These baths were heated and followed a certain pattern of rooms, starting with warm rooms and ending with cold ones. It was more than just bathing. It was a daily ritual and part of social life. The fact that the city had running water and sewer systems shows that cleanliness and public health were important to them.

The preservation of Herculaneum is very different from a site like Ostia. Ostia was abandoned slowly over time and suffered damage from weather and human use. Herculaneum, on the other hand, was buried suddenly by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. But unlike Pompeii, which was mostly covered in ash, Herculaneum was buried under a thick layer of volcanic mud and rock. This created an seal that helped preserve things much better. Even wooden doors, furniture, and food have been found in Herculaneum. That is extremely rare in ancient sites. Because of this, walking through Herculaneum feels more like entering a real home and less like visiting a ruin.

The main geological force behind this is Mount Vesuvius. When it erupted, it caused a massive release of heat, ash, and volcanic materials. These flows buried the city so quickly that it was sealed off from air and water. That is what helped keep the city in such good shape for thousands of years. The entire region around the Bay of Naples is still shaped by volcanic activity.

One of my favorite parts of Herculaneum was the frescoes. For a city so old, the colors were still vibrant. The paintings often showed scenes of gods and myths and were placed in rooms like living rooms or entryways. It reminded me of how people today still decorate their homes with religious symbols. It was a reminder that even in ancient times, people cared about beauty, faith, and the way their homes made them feel.