740 a 
Herculae Jupiter. A more extensive: edifice stood! opposite: to 
neum. these, forming a rectangle of 228 feet by 132, supposed 
Theatre, 
to have been appropriated for the courts of justice: 
The arches of a portico»surrounding it were «s 
by columns; within it was. paved with» marble; the 
walls were painted in fresco; and. bronze. statues stood 
between 42 columns under the roof... 6 se...» 
Before the year 1738, the theatre was discovered ; the 
size of which has afforded some conjectures regarding 
the population of Herculaneum... The) building, was 
nearly entire ; very little had been displaced ; and we 
see in it one of the best:specimens extant of the archi- 
tecture of the ancients. It seems to have had two princi- 
pal gates, with inscriptions over the architraves of each, 
besides seven entrances, called vomitoria, communicating 
with the benches, Many columns and pilasters, with la- 
boured entablatures, appeared in the Proscenium, and 
some supported bronze or marble statues. The walls were 
covered with paintings in ‘the arabesque, andithe floor 
paved with marble; that ofthe orchestra, consisting of 
the finest yellow antique, is’ preserved nearly .entire ; 
and similar decorations adorned the: various apartments 
connected with the theatre. Twenty-five rowsof high 1 
and wide marble benches accommodated:,the audience ; 
which, rising gradually above each other,) gave a ‘full 
and distinct view of the arena below. ‘The ogreatest 
diameter of the theatre, taken ‘at the highest» benches, 
is 234 feet; whence'it has been computed, that it could 
contain 10,000 persons, which proves the great popula- 
tion of the city. . This theatre was rich in: antiquities, 
independent of that ornamental part to which we have 
already alluded. Statues, occupying niches, represent- 
ed the muses; scenic masks were imitated on the enta- 
blatures ; and inscriptions were engraven on different 
places.’ Analogous to the last were several large alpha- 
betical Roman characters in bronze, and a number of 
smaller size, which had probably been connected. ‘in 
some Conspicuous situation. ‘A metallic car was found 
with four bronze horses attached to‘it, nearly of thenas 
tural size; but all-in such a state of decay, that only 
one, and the spokes of’ the wheels, also of metal, could 
be preserved. A beautiful white marble statue of Ve- 
nus, only 18 inches high, in the same ‘attitudevas the 
famous Venus de Medicis, was recovered; ‘and. either 
here, or in the immediate vicinity, was founda colossal 
bronze statue of Vespasian, filled with lead, which twelve 
men were unable to move; besides many objects entire, 
there were numerous fragments of others, extremely 
interesting, which had been originally. impaired, ‘or 
were injured by attempts to obtain them. The Hers 
culaneans are said to have had a particular taste for 
theatrical entertainments ; and some authors have main- 
tained, that, disregarding the danger which menaced 
them, they remained so intent on the performance, 
that both here, and at Pompeii, they were surprised by 
the eruption of Vesuvius, and buried under it. But we 
may reasonably conclude, that, with regard to Hercula- 
neum, the theatre did not suffer materially from the 
earthquake, and that it was not attended with the de« 
struction of the spectators. Remarkably few skeletons 
have been found in this city, though many occur in the 
streets of Pompeii; but one appears under the thresh. 
hold of a door, with a bag of money in its hand, as if 
in the attitude of escaping, leaving its impression in the 
surrounding volcanic matter. Nevertheless, it might be 
here, as we are told of a different city, where the Emperor 
Nero appearing on the stage, was surprised by a sudden 
earthquake ; but the audience had time to escape, and 
the theatre fell without doing an injury. A ‘similar 
incident occurred within these few years at Naples 
HERCULANEUM. © 4 1! 
its pas : 
ported .. The > em ERE ER or the walls of 
the buildings, turning the corners,. entering. 
fe 
the doors and windows as they occurred, Two: 
equestrian statues of the finest workmanship, which 
had been erected in honour of the two consuls Balbi 
and son, were found. opposite to the theatre: and in 
prosecuting the researches into. the. public edifices and 
private houses, | or even the streets, the work- 
men met with many things worthy of observation, . A 
well now containing, water, was seen surrounded 
Legeeniente cand covered by an arch which had;ex- 
iuded the 
ubliciedifites affonded.a,copions)céllectionicorres 
buting to the amusements of the: existing generation, 
were all, att Yo motel 
brought to our immediate notice by those very things 
which it was the means of preserving. Among’ these 
we see the various articles which, administered) to the 
necessities and ‘the pleasures of the inhabitants, the em-+ 
blems of their religious sentiments, .and the very man- 
ners and customs of domesti¢ lifesi:) 
Articles in vast variety were obtained from the houses, State in 
wherein the beams appeared as if converted to charcoal ; which the 
but it is to be observed, that) all) the»remains of wood timber was 
exhibit the same aspect to. the ‘yery.heart,...'They.are 
not consumed or turned to,ashes,, owing probably to the 
exclusion of the external air by the showers, of volcanic 
matter. It is singular, that while wood, which has re~ 
mained during ages buried in»the earth, or, immer. 
sed in water, acquires additional consistence, this 
has entirely lost what it possessed. Pieces,.of thin 
and delicate texture have preserved their shape, but 
blocks of a large size are converted throughout to char- 
ound. 
If the ‘subjects recovered: from Herculaneum be Statues. 
classed according to their value,-the statues should be 
enumerated first, both as being of thefinest workmanship, 
and of the most difficult execution. Some are colossal, 
some of the natural size, and some in miniature; and the 
materials of their formation are either clay, marble, or 
