\li105 \f1 \fs22 A small Campanian settlement close to Naples, on the slopes of Vesuvius, Herculaneum was situated in anti
quity on the route of the great coastal road that led from Neapolis to \b \cf4 \ATXht1086 Pompeii\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 and Stabiae. It is likely that the oldest part of the city was of Greek origin, as is suggested by the legend handed down by \b \cf2 \ATXht4 Dionysius\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 of Halicarnassus, which holds that Herculaneum had been founded by Hercules on his return from his fabulous journey to Iberia. \par