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Is Herculaneum The Best Preserved Roman City? | Other Pompeii | Odyssey

Odyssey - Ancient History Documentaries・33 minutes read

Andrew Wallace-Hadrill has studied remains from Pompeii and Herculaneum for 30 years, revealing insights into daily life, food choices, social structure, and legal matters of these Roman towns buried by the Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. Herculaneum's exceptionally preserved skeletons, artifacts, legal documents, and evidence of social mobility showcase a complex society where slaves could earn citizenship, challenging assumptions about Roman life and providing a poignant glimpse into the people's values and traditions.

Insights

  • Herculaneum, despite being overshadowed by Pompeii's fame, provides exceptional insights into Roman daily life through its extensive skeletal remains, well-preserved artifacts, and unique social structure, challenging previous assumptions about ancient societies.
  • The diverse diet, sophisticated culinary practices, social mobility from slavery to citizenship, legal complexities, and seismic adaptations in Herculaneum showcase a multifaceted and dynamic society that valued hygiene, legal justice, and social advancement, highlighting a rich tapestry of Roman life beyond the ruins.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of Herculaneum in Roman history?

    Herculaneum, alongside Pompeii, offers detailed insights into Roman life and society. It holds the largest sample of ancient skeletons, providing scientific evidence of pre-eruption life. The town's exceptional preservation due to a deeper ash layer has uncovered well-preserved wooden furniture, household shrines, colorful artifacts, and even a unique collection of skeletons not from a graveyard. Herculaneum showcases a complex social tapestry, revealing insights into the lives of people from different backgrounds and wealth levels. The town's legal records and legal battles depicted on wooden tablets offer a glimpse into the legal system's complexity and society's structure. Overall, Herculaneum plays a crucial role in understanding Roman civilization and its societal dynamics.

  • What do the skeletons found in Herculaneum reveal about daily life?

    The skeletons found in Herculaneum offer valuable insights into daily life and work pre-eruption. They provide a snapshot of a living population, showcasing a range of activities and social interactions. The exceptionally preserved skeletons of two women and a child reveal details about their last meal and possessions, shedding light on their lifestyle and habits. The skeletons found under vaults and on the beach offer a glimpse into daily activities and the social structure of the town. Overall, the skeletons in Herculaneum paint a vivid picture of the lives of its inhabitants before the Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD.

  • How did the diet of the people in Herculaneum challenge assumptions?

    The diet of the people in Herculaneum challenged previous assumptions about the food choices of less affluent Romans. The contents of Herculaneum's latrines and sewer revealed over 110 different food items, including shellfish, fish, fruits, and vegetables, showcasing a rich and varied diet. Otoliths found in the fish remains indicated that people in Herculaneum consumed fish whole, emphasizing their preference for crunchy fish. Even the poorer residents used nine different herbs and spices in their cooking, showcasing a sophisticated level of culinary practice. This challenges the notion that only the wealthy could afford meat and fish, highlighting the diverse nutrition sources available to the residents of Herculaneum.

  • How did Roman slavery function in Herculaneum?

    Roman slavery in Herculaneum offered a unique opportunity for slaves to gain citizenship, with up to 80% of the town's population transitioning from slavery to full citizenship. The town was a mix of slaves and owners, with prominent slave owners like Marcus Nonius Balbus investing in the town's infrastructure. Records from Herculaneum reveal a society where slaves aimed for citizenship as a reward for hard work, showcasing social mobility. Legal documents from the House of the Bicentenary depict legal battles over status, highlighting the complexity of the legal system in Herculaneum. Overall, Roman slavery in Herculaneum played a significant role in shaping the town's social structure and dynamics.

  • How did the people of Herculaneum adapt to their environment?

    The people of Herculaneum faced constant earthquakes and seismic activity, leading them to use solid structures as shelters and adapt to the environment. The town's attachment to the fertile landscape of Vesuvius influenced their decision to stay despite the risks. Seismic activity caused sea level fluctuations, prompting architectural changes and adaptations in Herculaneum. The people's focus on hygiene, public baths, clean water supply, and well-maintained town infrastructure showcased a strong emphasis on modern amenities and adaptation to their surroundings. Overall, the people of Herculaneum demonstrated resilience and adaptation in the face of natural challenges.

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Summary

00:00

"Pompeii and Herculaneum: Ancient Life Revealed"

  • Andrew Wallace-Hadrill has studied remains from Pompeii and Herculaneum for 30 years.
  • Pompeii, explored since 1748, attracts nearly 2.5 million visitors annually.
  • Herculaneum, destroyed by the same eruption as Pompeii, offers detailed insights into Roman life.
  • Herculaneum holds the largest sample of ancient skeletons, providing scientific evidence of pre-eruption life.
  • Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD buried Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash and pumice.
  • Herculaneum's deeper ash layer led to exceptional preservation, with up to 25 meters of solid rock covering the town.
  • Herculaneum's skeletons, found under vaults and on the beach, offer insights into daily life and work pre-eruption.
  • A unique collection of skeletons in Herculaneum, not from a graveyard, provides a snapshot of a living population.
  • Exceptionally preserved skeletons of two women and a child in Herculaneum reveal their last meal and possessions.
  • Herculaneum's well-preserved wooden furniture, household shrines, and colorful artifacts offer insights into daily Roman life.

20:01

Insights into Herculaneum: Diet, Society, and Slavery

  • The shop in Herculaneum features a balcony with wine containers, a wine rack for pouring wine into smaller containers for sale, and an upper floor with a decorated wall and a bed.
  • Herculaneum showcases a complex social tapestry, revealing insights into the lives of people from different backgrounds and wealth levels.
  • The contents of Herculaneum's latrines provide valuable information about the diet of less affluent Romans, challenging previous assumptions about their simple food choices.
  • The sewer in Herculaneum contains over 110 different food items, including shellfish, fish, fruits, and vegetables, offering a detailed look into the diet of the less wealthy residents.
  • Otoliths found in the fish remains indicate that people in Herculaneum consumed fish whole, emphasizing their preference for crunchy fish.
  • The diet of Herculaneum's people was rich and varied, with a surprising range of nutrition and protein sources, challenging the notion that only the wealthy could afford meat and fish.
  • Microscopic analysis reveals that even the poorer residents of Herculaneum used nine different herbs and spices in their cooking, showcasing a sophisticated level of culinary practice.
  • The Romans in Herculaneum had a strong focus on hygiene, with public baths, clean water supply, and a well-maintained town infrastructure, providing modern amenities unmatched in their time.
  • Herculaneum was a town of slaves and owners, with Marcus Nonius Balbus being a prominent slave owner who invested in the town's infrastructure and had a significant number of slaves.
  • Roman slavery in Herculaneum offered a unique opportunity for slaves to gain citizenship, with up to 80% of the town's population transitioning from slavery to full citizenship, showcasing a distinct aspect of Roman society.

37:34

Insights from Herculaneum: Social Mobility and Adaptation

  • Over 300 skeletons in Herculaneum provide insight into the social structure, with many ex-slaves indicating social mobility.
  • Records from Herculaneum reveal a society where slaves aimed for citizenship, granted as a reward for hard work.
  • Wooden tablets with legal records survived the eruption, offering detailed insights into legal matters and society.
  • Legal documents from the House of the Bicentenary depict a legal battle over a girl's status, showcasing the legal system's complexity.
  • Venidius Ennychus, an ex-slave, pursued full Roman citizenship through a legal loophole involving marriage and child declaration.
  • The people of Herculaneum faced constant earthquakes, using solid structures as shelters, indicating adaptation to the environment.
  • Seismic activity caused sea level fluctuations, leading to architectural changes and adaptations in Herculaneum.
  • The people's attachment to the fertile landscape of Vesuvius, depicted in art and wine production, influenced their decision to stay.
  • DNA analysis of ancient Roman wine in Vesuvius vineyards links it to modern production, showcasing continuity in traditions.
  • The skeletons found in Herculaneum, including a mother with a child and a boy with a pet dog, offer a poignant glimpse into their lives and values.

57:48

Opportunity and Prosperity in Ancient Roman Town

  • Slaves could be flogged in this town, but also freed, earn citizenship, own property, and gain dignity.
  • Immigrants from across the empire and beyond could strive for a quality of life unparalleled in antiquity.
  • The Roman world in this town flourished for three centuries after the destruction of Herculaneum.
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