J.J. Winckelmann invented "art history" studying the "Dresden Women" extracted from the Theater in 1709
AFoH Partners: Ancient Graffiti Project
detail of PHerc Paris 1, BYU MSI
J.S. Dunkelbarger studied Herculaneum dining spaces w/ 2018 AFoH fellowship
Drunken Satyr, bronze found at Villa dei Papiri (1754), NM 5628
Sider and Seales at the 2019 SCS Panel
American Friends of Herculaneum
promoting appreciation for herculaneum
The American Friends of Herculaneum (the AFoH, est. New York 2006) are scholars, students, docents, and amateurs of all levels interested in the ancient culture, the volcanic catastrophe, and scientific rediscovery of Herculaneum. Formally incorporated in 2012 and directly affiliated with the UK Friends of Herculaneum Society (est. Oxford 2004), our common objectives are:
- to advance the education of the public concerning Herculaneum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- to promote research on Herculaneum, including the continued investigation of the Villa of the Papyri, and the publication of important research
- to promote the conservation, for the benefit of the public, of artefacts and buildings at Herculaneum
We hope you'll join us!
Supporting High Quality Scholarship
The AFoH Board proudly supports annually graduate and undergraduate research fellowships.
Applications for each year are typically due in early March.
The AFoH are proud contributors to the forthcoming film by Jon Dunham of La Roma Films, a documentary about the next-generation technology being applied to the Herculaneum Papyri.
Why join the American Friends?
The AFoH promote public awareness of issues pertaining to Herculaneum.
We support students of papyrology, archaeology, history, and classical philology, and all who have even amateur interest in ancient Herculaneum benefit from membership.
Annual meetings, semi-annual publications of the newsletter, and on-site visits to Naples and Herculaneum arranged every other year (next in September 2022) keep AFoH members up to date and well connected.
All donations and membership subscriptions are tax deductible. Join here, or send email to "herculaneum at byu.edu".
Quid novi?
The Herculaneum Friends come of age!
The Friends of Herculaneum Society (UK) and
the American Friends of Herculaneum
will celebrate on the occasion of
the 21st anniversary
of the Societies' founding.
A conference, "Herculaneum: Contexts, Present
Progress and Future Prospects" will be held in partnership with
the Institute of Classical Studies, University of London,
13-14 October 2025.
So...
Save That Date!
Where We've Been
AFoH scholars lecture regularly in prominent venues
from Malibu to Boston and beyond.
Their study of Herculaneum takes them even farther afield.
Above, Ambra Spinelli, AFoH Scholar 2016, takes measurements
for her doctoral thesis in the Casa di Tramezzo di Legno.
AFoH Scholar 2020 Marzia D'Angelo has recently published a substantial edition of Philodemus On the Gods (De Dis) with a stunning, novel facsimile maquette of all the fragments informing her work. (Naples: Bibliopolis, 2023) AFoH board member Michael McOsker contributed to Dr D'Angelo's scholarly project.
Actively Fostering Young Scholars
We are happy to announce winners of
the 2025 AFoH Scholarships
McKay Hammarstrom (Brigham Young University)
Reagan Gibson (Florida State University)
Each is pursuing exciting, new work in the study of ancient Herculaneum. Their reports will appear
in Herculaneum Archaeology next Fall.
The American Friends of Herculaneum since 2018 have sponsored two to three annual scholarships for graduate and undergraduate students of ancient Herculaneum. The awards are typically announced in early Spring, and funding is typically available by April. Contact by email herculaneum@byu.edu for further information.
Above, Katy Knortz, AFoH Scholar 2018, studies pottery remains at Cappabiancha, Pollena Trocchia (NA) alongside other participants in the Apolline Project.