V.7.8 Pompeii. Doorway with outlines of doors impressed in the ash.

Excavated in June 2018.

According to CTP, there is a discrepancy in the number of doorways, not made any easier to correct by the new modern brick walling.

CTP said that according to the plan by Eschebach in 1969, there were six entrances marked, but his number 2 doorway was now missing behind the restored brick wall.  This should now leave five entrances.

There is however written documentation that Mau and Spano described seven entrances on this south front. Then Spano mentioned eight entrances.

If V.7.6 is known as the House of Paris because of the graffiti on its façade, and we can see another doorway on the east side of it, that doorway should be V.7.7. 

If V.7.6 and V.7.7 are accounted for, there must be two doorways V.7.2 and V.7.3, perhaps also even V.7.4, behind the modern brick wall.

See Van der Poel, H. B., 1986. Corpus Topographicum Pompeianum, Part IIIA. Austin: University of Texas. (p.82).

The doorways will remain a mystery until the rest of the insula is brought to light again.

Following the excavations in June 2018 the rest of the vicolo and another doorway, which we have unofficially numbered V.7.8, were uncovered.

V.7.8 Pompeii. December 2005. Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento looking west from V.7.7, on right, V.2.i on left.

Until the excavations in June 2018 the rest of the vicolo and V.7.8 behind the (invisible) photographer were still buried.

V.7.8 Pompeii. June 2018. Impression of doors in the ash and more fully excavated electoral inscription.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.8 Pompeii. June 2018. South wall on the east side of doorway during excavation with electoral inscription Lucium Albucium aedilem.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.8 Pompeii. June 2018. On the east side of doorway was an electoral inscription L ALBVCIVM AED

L(ucium) Albucium aed(ilem).

The Albucii were probably the owners of the House of the Silver Wedding.

It is worth noting that the inscriptions were created on a layer of white paint, perhaps spread over it to cover earlier writing, and in any case to ensure a standard writing surface for the preserved inscriptions, which related to the last elections held in Pompeii before AD 79.

Electoral inscriptions were also found around the corner in Vicolo c.d. dei Balconi.

Gli Albucii erano probabilmente i proprietari della Casa delle nozze d’argento.

Da notare che le iscrizioni sono realizzate su uno strato di pittura bianca, steso forse per coprire scritte precedenti e comunque per assicurare una regolare superficie scrittoria alle scritte conservate, riferibili alle ultime consultazioni elettorali di Pompei prima del 79 d.C.

Le iscrizioni elettorali sono state trovate anche dietro l'angolo a Vicolo c.d. dei Balconi.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.8 Pompeii. June 2018. Electoral inscriptions on outside east wall around the corner in Vicolo c.d. dei Balconi.

Looking west along new excavated part of Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento towards V.2.i, from electoral inscriptions. 

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.8 Pompeii. June 2018.

Electoral inscriptions on outside wall of house. Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento at north-west corner of junction with Vicolo c.d. dei Balconi.

These electoral inscriptions were HELVIVM SABINVM AEDILEM D R P U B O V F and ALBVCIVM AED.

The upper inscription reads:

L'iscrizione superiore legge:

Helvium Sabinum

aedilem d{ignum) r{ei) p{ublicae) v{irum) b{onum) o{ro) v{os) f(aciatis)

Please elect Helvius Sabinus aedile, worthy of office and a good man.

Vi prego di eleggere Elvio Sabino edile, degno dello stato, uno buono.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

See http://pompeiisites.org/en/press-kit-en/discoveries-continue-at-the-regio-v-site/

Vedi http://pompeiisites.org/press-kit/proseguono-le-scoperte-sul-cantiere-della-regio-v/