Joanna muses on the Bourbon tunnels in Pompeii and Herculaneum

What is a Bourbon Tunnel, I hear you ask?

This image shows what is believed to be a Bourbon Tunnel in a decorated wall in the Casa dell’Efebo (House of the Ephebus) in Pompeii. But there’s more to that hole than you might think.

We need to go back to the early 18th century when monks in Resina, the town that had grown up over Herculaneum, were sinking a new well. By chance, they lighted on the upper tier of the theatre which had been adorned with beautiful statues. At the time, Naples was ruled by the Austrian Hapsburgs. When the wealthy Austrian Prince d’Elbeuf heard the news, he commissioned a programme of looting. His looters were to dig lateral tunnels from the well shaft and bring out what they found to decorate his new villa. Money talks, eh?

Looting was easy and fun? Not…

Looting was a dangerous occupation. Think about it. Continue reading →