Opgegraven huizen in Herculaneum 1860 - 1889

Roberto Rive captured "Excavated Houses in Herculaneum" using photography. The city of Herculaneum, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, was a mirror reflecting the stratified society of ancient Rome. Rive's photograph, created during a time of burgeoning interest in archaeology and classical antiquity, freezes the layers of history exposed by excavation. The act of unearthing these homes speaks to the 19th-century fascination with rediscovering and reinterpreting the past, often through a colonial lens. The image invites us to reflect on the lives of those who once inhabited these spaces. The photograph captures the tension between the grandeur of classical history and the intimate, personal stories buried beneath the volcanic ash, prompting questions about cultural heritage, historical narratives, and the power of rediscovery.