VI.1.2 Pompeii. Caupona with
Thermopolium.
Linked to VI.1.3. Excavated 1770, 1784 and 1787.
Part 2 Part 1
VI.1.2 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway to second room on north side.
VI.1.2 Pompeii. March 2009. North wall of second room on north side. On the left, in the shadow, was the toilet.
According to Hobson, later this toilet was overlaid by a floor to allow the ground floor rooms to be used as work areas.
The sleeping and residential rooms were moved to the newly constructed upper storey, to which the toilet facility was also removed.
The down pipe from the upper storey which drained into the pit for this toilet was situated in a stone buttress on the northern aspect of the wall in VI.I.I, at the rear of this toilet. The buttress was built above the entrance to the cesspit.
The excavation of the cesspit below the buttress, using long-handled tools, revealed a large amount of pottery, glassware, and some coins.
Fortunately, this cesspit was only 2.5m deep and could be completely cleared.
It is possible that it had been used as a rubbish disposal pit, perhaps after the earthquake of 62CE.
See Hobson, B., 2009. Latrinae et foricae: Toilets in the Roman World. London; Duckworth. (p.63)
VI.1.2 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway to third room on north side.
VI.1.2 Pompeii. March 2009. East wall of third room on north side.
VI.1.2 Pompeii. March 2009. North-west corner of third room on north side.
VI.1.2 Pompeii. March 2009. North wall of third room on north side.
VI.1.2 Pompeii. April 2019.
Statuette of Ptah-Pateco found
in VI.1.2 on 6th October 1770. Photo
courtesy of Rick Bauer.
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 22607.
Sala (room) 88, glass cabinet V, shelf A (bottom).
Glazed terracotta statuette of Ptah-Pateco found in VI.1.2 on 6th October 1770.
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory
number 22607.
See Pagano, M., and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.68)
Glazed terracotta statuette of Ptah-Pateco found in VI.1.2 on 6th October 1770.
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 22607.
Via Consolare outside VI.1.2 near Herculaneum Gate.
Via Consolare outside VI.1.2 near Herculaneum Gate.
Painting of fountain at VI.1.2 around the year 1910
This artistically transposed the fountain from VI.13.7 on Via della Fortuna to the area of VI.1.2 on Via Consolare (see picture below)
The fountain at
VI.13.7 on Via della Fortuna.
PAH, I,1, 241, add.155: 4 ago
1770: Termopolio di Perennino Ninferoide/Thermopolium.
4 August 1770
(Another shop near to the gate of the city, opposite to that with the phallus, already described above. (see VI. 17.4).
The counter was faced with red plaster and had some steps/shelves over the same counter near to the wall, for putting the merchandise on display.
The outer wall of this shop was painted over a red field with some grotesque architectures and ornamented (defined as grotesque by the excavators) and continuing the same painting in the thickness of the wall above the steps, there was a figure that ended in foliage, and held the symbols of Mercury in his hands, the caduceus and the bag.
(See Helbig 356b)
PAH, I,1, 243, add.155:
29 September 1770:
(In the entrance of the shop, was discovered the masonry counter, and in the middle of this was a small niche with a head of a statue that seemed to be of a young person, marble, 8 (oncia)high, which remained fixed in the masonry.)
(measurement before 1840, 1 oncia = 0.021972m)
PAH, I,1, 243, add 155:
6 October 1770:
Having excavated the soil/earth above the shop noted in the past reports, and found the entire masonry counter belonging to this, which was decorated on its exterior side by two small external niches, in each of which there was affixed a marble head: one already described in the past report, but now having been better observed, it would seem that it was of a women with an ornamental headdress, like a bonnet, the height of the head/theatrical mask including the hair (oncia) 6: the other was of a woman, also crowned with ivy and berries, the height of this head/theatrical mask including the hair (oncia) 5.
Between these two niches there was a circular compartment of marble, and the rest was painted with compartments of imitation marble and with two vases, all enclosed by a wooden frame, according to all the clues. The top of the counter was covered with marble, and there were the three steps/shelves to show off the goods, as we have observed in others, and found between various clay pots and glass, all broken, were the following items which were sent to the Museum (list of finds continued on page 244).
(measurement before 1840, 1 oncia = 0.021972m)
PAH, I,1, 244: 13 ott 1770:
13 October 1770:
List of finds found on the counter.
PAH, I,1, 244-5, add 155: 20 ott 1770:
20 October 1770:
The entire above shop was excavated.
The counter which was already in part described, continued inside the shop, was adorned with some grotesque paintings in yellow, in the middle of which was a bust of Mercury with his caduceus and purse.
At the end of the counter there was a hearth, in which a bronze vase was found, and in continuation of this some minor pans or similar vessels lay, which were found in many pieces.
The walls of the shop, all around the inside were adorned with some usual paintings, and in the thickness of the doorway above the steps of the counter there was painted a red painting of Mercury, which had suffered greatly. Different tools, materials and many shattered clay vases and other glass, etc.
PAH I, 2, 54: 20 February 1794
This past night they stole one of the two heads remaining in the counter of the shop of the hot drinks, adjoining the city gate; that stolen was one that represented a woman.
They had tried to remove the other, but it is believed that they had run out of time, because they had needed to break it from the chain that it was attached to.
Sig. La Vega has decided to remove it, which he should.
See Fiorelli G.,
1860. Pompeianarum antiquitatum historia,
Vol. 1: 1748 - 1818, Naples.