Herculaneum Women

And the Origins of Archaeology

Daehner Jens, Knoll Kordelia, Vorster Christiane, Woelk Moritz

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, three life-sized marble statues of women were found near Portici on the Bay of Naples. This momentous discovery led to further exploration of the site, which was soon identified as the ancient city of Herculaneum – one of the towns buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Since their discovery, these statues have become throughout the world as the "Herculaneum Women". This superbly illustrated volume presents, for the first time, the comprehensive story of these famous statues – from their discovery to the most recent interpretations of their importance. It also provides readers with a thorough analysis of their archaeological, historical, and artistic context.

About the Author

Jens Daehner is assistant curator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Kordelia Knoll is curator of the sculpture collection at the State Art Collections, Dresden.

Christiane Vorster is professor at the Institute of Classical Archaeology, University of Bonn.

Moritz Woelk is director of the sculpture collection at the State Art Collections, Dresden.

Reviews

"This book was designed to celebrate the display of the three Herculaneum Women at the Getty in 2007, where they holidayed while their own home, the Albertinum at Dresden, was being renovated. The beautifully illustrated volume takes the opportunity of this sojourn, and their spruce up by the conservators, to bring together their histories both as artefacts and types... [It] should be read as a well-written and informed souvenir of their holiday" – Journal of Roman Studies

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