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JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. . Abstract The "Garden of Hercules" takes its name from the statue worshipped in the large lararium of the garden (II.viii.6) attached to a modest house to the W of the Great Palaestra at Pompeii. This garden was partially excavated in 1953-1954, but even in previously excavated gardens it is still sometimes possible to find evidence of ancient plants. University of Maryland excavations from 1972-1974 uncovered here a garden very different from any found thus far. The soil contours, planting pattern, provisions for watering, ancient pollen and the perfume bottles found suggest that this was a commercial flower garden, the products of which were used in making the perfume or perfumed oils, and perhaps the garlands, so important in ancient Roman life. Ancient writers speak of the importance of the flower industry in Campania; wall paintings at Pompeii picture the procedures of making garlands and perfume; inscriptions attest to the activities of the unguentarii. This garden, however, provides the first evidence for commercial flower growing within the city. THE SITE University of Maryland excavations discovered in the large open area attached to a humble house (II.viii.6), W of the Great Palaestra, a garden very different from any known thus far (ill. I; pl. 57, fig. i). This property was bordered on the N by a narrow lane that led directly to the rear of the palaestra and the amphitheater beyond. The entrance to the property was on the busy Via Nuceria which led to the Nucerian Gate, through which traffic from this part of town passed to the port on the Sarnus river.In i971 I found it almost impossible to enter the house for it was completely filled with saplings and brambles that had grown up since the site had been originally excavated in 1953-1954-1 It was necessary to cut our way through the vegetation that completely filled the atrium, before we could eventually examine the badly overgrown garden. It looked as if all evidence of ancient roots had been destroyed, but when a trial trench showed that it was possible to recover root cavities we decided to clean the garden the following year. Fortunately there were some areas in which the original lapilli had been left to a sufficient height to preserve the ancient soil contours and cavities. When we

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