Herculaneum: Italy's Buried Treasure

by Joseph Jay Deiss

A vivid portrayal of life in Pompeii's sister city, this book includes a detailed description of the ancient Villa dei Papiri, on which the present Getty Museum in Malibu is modeled.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Italy, Archaeology, Art, Ancient History, Classical Studies

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Joseph Jay Deiss (1912–1999), an American author, businessman, historian and archaeologist, was born in Twin Falls, Idaho and graduated from the University of Texas, where he also received his Masters.

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far the best book on Herculaneum and its excavations. The book explores several aspects of public and private Roman life in the first century by describing the architecture, artifacts, and inscriptions found in the houses of Herculaneum.

My sole complaint is that the book doesn't make a very handy guidebook in Herculaneum itself. Aside from being cumbersome, the houses are never placed on a map, and the illustrations are lacking. Nonetheless, the best book available.

[Mark Hebwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastically detailed and well-written account of the ancient city of Herculaneum, complete with walkthroughs of houses and mansions, background stories bringing back to life the daily routine, habits, professions and joys of those who lived there.

One word of caution though - I am currently on holiday on the Amalfi coast and I was devouring this book on the day after my visit to the archaeological site of Herculaneum. Joseph’s detailed walkthroughs were fascinating to me because I had just been to the places he describes, and his accounts breathed additional life into an experience that to me was tangible and real. If I had not visited the places he describes, however, his analyses may have remained just a bit too abstract and theoretical, at least for my taste.

So I can absolutely recommend this book, but would say that it is probably best read after a visit to Herculaneum, rather than as a standalone historical analysis. Had I not been to the site itself, I would have awarded 4 stars, but I have been, and therefore the book gets five.

[Frederick Gault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the section about the ancient Roman lawsuit. The tablets containing all the details of this court case were frozen in lava by the volcano and are now ours to study. Amazing!

[The Ancient Geeko-Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was assigned for my Pompeii and Herculaneum culture course through Villanova University. One of the positives of this book is that the chapters are written with information about the history of Herculaneum, but with the addition of wonder and speculation of how people must have felt and lived during the time they were present in this town. The imaginative tone of the book is the reason I found it so easy to read even though it was an assigned textbook. I would have read this book on my own if I had not had it assigned for class once I had begun reading it, I may have read it faster than the initial assignments since I was sticking to only reading the pages assigned as I went. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants to get an introduction to the city of Herculaneum and learn about the town and the archaeology.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the version updated in 1985 of a book that originally came out in 1960 and I’m sure some of the material here is now fairly outdated, particularly as it relates to issues he mentions with the then current state of the continuing excavation of the site and the display of Herculaneum and Pompeii artifacts in museums. The book does still appear to be in print, I would think due to the very good discussion of what the archeological discoveries have told us about everyday life in the Roman Empire of that period.

[Stephanie Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A highly readable, fascinating, and thorough (despite its age) account of the archeological site and ancient city of Herculaneum. I recommend everyone read it before going to see the site itself, because it made everything I saw in person that much more exciting and meaningful. The little details (like the fabric press, or the sliding doors) we are able to learn about ancient Roman technology and daily life from the finds at this site are astonishing.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a bit on the dry side, but writing a detailed account of archaeological excavations while keeping things interesting and fast paced is a daunting challenge. I did find it good overall, and interesting to get the full story on the excavations that have been done there, and what they reveal about the original Roman town.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful description of the amazing ruined city of Herculaneum and the people who lived there. A bit dated now, but still very interesting, especially if you were lucky enough to visit Herculaneum in person.

[Ron Me]

Just outstanding, despite a few attempts at novelization. Take this book with you when visiting the Getty Villa or Herculaneum.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slim volume, well-written, and detailing what is known about, and has been recovered from, Herculaneum. The text is very informative and expresses great passion for the subject. The author's command of the material is excellent and his curiousity about, and empathy for, Vesuvius' victims, results in a surprisingly emotional reading experience. His criticism of how the artifacts are currently displayed, both on-site and in the National Museum in Naples, is spot on. The only real complaint I have with this book is the quality of its illustrations, virtually all black and white and grainy to boot.

[₵oincidental Ðandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tag-line on the cover of this book states: "A vivid re-creation of life in Pompeii's sister city" - it is that in spades. An excellent book that, in order to fully savour & appreciate (& to allow the mind's eye to travel), needs to be read during the quiet times of the day, unhurried & unbothered by the daily bustle.

[Jossalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

last read 4/92;
went to an excellent lecture at the Getty Villa on the latest excavations and conservation challenges at Herculaneum, so had to pick this up and re-read.
a very good overview of the finds, the history, and the updated version with newer information. many good photos and references.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history of Herculaneum, which was buried along with Pompeii by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79, and is still being uncovered today.