Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1927 and continues to this day, although with much of the ancient site buried beneath
modern Ercolano it's slow going. Indeed, note that at any given time some houses will in-
variably be shut for restoration; at the time of writing these included the Terme Suburbane
and the Casa dell'Atrio a Mosaico.
Casa d'Argo & Casa dello Scheletro
As you begin your exploration northeast along Cardo III you'll stumble across Casa
d'Argo (Argus House). This noble pad would originally have opened onto Cardo II (as yet
unearthed). Onto its porticoed, palm-treed garden open a
triclinium
(dining room) and
other residential rooms. Across the street sits the Casa dello Scheletro (House of the Skel-
eton), a modestly sized house boasting five styles of mosaic flooring, including a design
of white arrows at the entrance to guide the most disorientated of guests. In the internal
courtyard, don't miss the skylight, complete with the remnants of an ancient security grill.
Of the house's mythically themed wall mosaics, only the faded ones are originals; the oth-
ers now reside in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale (
Click here
)
.
Terme Maschili
Just across the Decumano Inferiore (one of ancient Herculaneum's main streets), the Ter-
me Maschili (Male Baths) were the men's section of the Terme del Foro (Forum Baths).
Note the ancient latrine to the left of the entrance before you step into the
apodyterium
(changing room), complete with bench for waiting patrons and a nifty wall shelf for san-
dal and toga storage. While those after a bracing soak would pop into the
frigidarium
(cold bath) to the left, the less stoic headed straight into the
tepadarium
(tepid bath) to the
right. The sunken mosaic floor here is testament to the seismic activity preceding Mt Ve-
suvius's catastrophic eruption. Beyond this room lies the
caldarium
(hot bath), as well as
an exercise area.
Decumano Massimo
At the end of Cardo III, turn right into the Decumano Massimo. This ancient high street is
lined with shops; fragments of advertisements still adorn the walls, such as that to the
right of the Casa del Salone Nero. This ancient consumer information listed everything
from from the weight of goods to their price.
Further east along Decumano Massimo, a crucifix found in an upstairs room of the
Casa del Bicentenario (Bicentenary House) provides possible evidence of a Christian
presence in pre-Vesuvius Herculaneum.
