Herculaneum

an ancient city about 5 miles from Naples, completely buried with Pompeii by lava and ashes during an eruption of Vesuvius in the reign of Titus, A. p. 79.. The site had been Jong sought in vain, when in 1713 three statues were found in digging a well at the village of Portici. In 1738 the well was dug deeper, and traces of buildings were found. The theater was then discovered, but though the excavations were continued for many years it is now the only building to be seen underground, as the succe ive excavations were immediately filled up with rubbish from a new digging. A number of public buildings and private dwellings were laid bare, and many objects of great value discovered, such as_ statues, busts, beautiful mosaics, wall paintings, and charred papyrus manuscripts. One of the houses discovered contained a quantity of provisions, consisting of fruits, corn, oil, pease, lentils, pies, and hams. Among the most interesting objects discovered here were the papyri, over 1,750 of, which are now in the Naples Museum, | but hardly a third have yet been unrolled, the proce presenting great. difficulties from the tendeney of the MSS. to crumble.