Napoli e Pompei nell’Encyclopédie

The entries “Naples”, “Herculanum”, “Pompeii” in the Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (1751-1772) are of different lengths and depths. These are entries that on the one hand report some of the effects of the archeological discoveries which amaze Europe during those years, while on the other they impose themselves as testimonies of some explanatory techniques (and of some imperfections) which are typical of the ripest “encyclopedism”. Their author De Jaucourt carries out a dedicated and significant work of construction and divulgation and he brings to the attention of the subscribers of the Encyclopédie the treasures at the core of the Vesuvius land