Ancient tradition connected Herculaneum with the Greek hero Heracles (Hercules in Latin) an indication that the city was of Greek origin.
The inhabitants worshipped principally Hercules as the founder of both the town and Mount Vesuvius.
Other important deities worshipped include Venus and Apollo represented in many statues in the city.

According to Strabo the Oscans founded the first settlement at Herculaneum.
They were followed by Etruscan and then Greek control.
The Greeks named the town Heraklion  and used the town as a trading post because of its proximity to the Gulf of Naples.
In the 4th century BC, Herculaneum came under the domination of the Samnites until it became a Roman municipium in 89 BC, when, having participated in the Social War ("War of The Allies" against Rome), it was defeated by Titus Didius, a legate of Sulla.

After the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the town of Herculaneum was buried under approximately 20 metres (50–60 feet) of ash.
It lay hidden and largely intact until discoveries from wells and tunnels became gradually more widely known, and notably following the Prince d'Elbeuf's explorations in the early 18th century.
Excavations continued sporadically up to the present and today many streets and buildings are visible, although over 75% of the town remains buried.
Today, the Italian towns of Ercolano and Portici lie on the approximate site of Herculaneum.
Until 1969 the town of Ercolano was called Resina.
It changed its name to Ercolano, the Italian modernisation of the ancient name in honour of the old city.
Ancient tradition connected Herculaneum with the Greek hero Heracles (Hercules in Latin) an indication that the city was of Greek origin. The inhabitants worshipped principally Hercules as the founder of both the town and Mount Vesuvius. Other important deities worshipped include Venus and Apollo represented in many statues in the city.
According to Strabo the Oscans founded the first settlement at Herculaneum. They were followed by Etruscan and then Greek control. The Greeks named the town Heraklion  and used the town as a trading post because of its proximity to the Gulf of Naples. In the 4th century BC, Herculaneum came under the domination of the Samnites until it became a Roman municipium in 89 BC, when, having participated in the Social War ("War of The Allies" against Rome), it was defeated by Titus Didius, a legate of Sulla.
After the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the town of Herculaneum was buried under approximately 20 metres (50–60 feet) of ash. It lay hidden and largely intact until discoveries from wells and tunnels became gradually more widely known, and notably following the Prince d'Elbeuf's explorations in the early 18th century. Excavations continued sporadically up to the present and today many streets and buildings are visible, although over 75% of the town remains buried. Today, the Italian towns of Ercolano and Portici lie on the approximate site of Herculaneum. Until 1969 the town of Ercolano was called Resina. It changed its name to Ercolano, the Italian modernisation of the ancient name in honour of the old city.
Herculaneum