Herculaneum Gate

Herculaneum Gate

 

 The Herculaneum Gate or Salt Gate was built in the Samnite period. However, under the Romans they were rebuilt during the reign of the Roman Emperor Octavius ​​Augustus. In the history of Rome, this period went under the name Pax Romana or the Roman Peace, when the inhabitants of the empire and especially of the peninsula could not worry about the attack of the barbarians. Therefore, the rebuilt Herculaneum Gate became more like a triumphal arch for parades and processions than a military structure. The central passage was intended for carts, chariots and parades, and two passes on either side were intended for pedestrians.

Herculaneum gate is a modern name due to a fact that the road to a neighboring city of Herculaneum passes through this gate. Herculaneum, like Pompeii themselves, was destroyed on that fateful day. However, in ancient times they were known as the Salt Gate as they led to the lagoon (Salinae Hercules), where they mined salt for the citizens. As you know, salt was an important product in people's lives.

 

Herculaneum Gate

The picture depicts the state of the Herculaneum Gate in the 19th century and the present photo today. In just one century, most of the once colorful veneer collapsed. This is one of the most serious problems for the current archaeological park of Pompeii. As soon as a part of the city is excavated by archaeologists, buildinga, templea or other structure begins to fall apart. The modern government of Italy does not have enough money to support what is already open. It is logical that the whole regions of Pompeii still lie underground. It would not be logical to open them if they begin to fall apart right before our eyes. 

 

Pay attention to the vertical stones along the road. They are so set not by chance. The fact is that the golden youth of ancient Rome loved to drive their chariots through the streets of the city. Sometimes it was necessary to overtake other residents of the city, driving one wheel outside the roads, in such a way that one wheel remained on the road, and one wheel drove along the ground. These vertical stones, among other things, made such driving style impossible. The stones broke the chariot spokes and prevented dangerous driving patterns. In general, nothing has changed in people's lives.