"Herculaneum, a small Roman town on the Bay of Naples, was destroyed in AD 79 by the same catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius that buried Pompeii. Sealed deep under a layer of hardened volcanic sludge the town is still only partly excavated.... Each year thousands of visitors walk the silent streets of the town and explore the reconstructed houses, shops and public buildings of this open-air musuem of Roman life.... The documents collected here illustrate Herculaneum's early history and its destruction, politics and commerce, religion and leisure as well as the rediscovery and excavation of the town. Accompanied by introductory material, notes, plans and photographs, these translated sources will be of interest to those who plan to visit the town itself or who simply enjoy Roman social history."--Back cover.