IX.13.6 Pompeii. Workshop of Sextus Ceius.

Linked to IX.13.4 and IX.13.5. Partly excavated 1913, 1970.

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. May 2005. Entrance, looking north.

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance on Via dell’Abbondanza.

According to Della Corte, in this workshop carrying on an unknown industry or trade was a certain Sex. Ceius.

Found on the east (right) of the entrance was an electoral recommendation –

Sex. Ceius f(acit)    [CIL IV 7974]

And also on the same wall –

[Sex. Cei fr- (or indeed) p]ater fac   [CIL IV 7973 with a note that said “if however the fragment was “ator” perhaps it expressed the profession of Ceio”.

 

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de), these read as –

]ator fac(it)       [CIL IV 7973]

 

L(ucium)  Ceium  Secundum

iuvenem  optimum

d(uumvirum)  i(ure)  d(icundo)  o(ro)  v(os)  f(aciatis)  Sex(tus)  Ceius  f[acit]       [CIL IV 7974]

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. December 2005. Remains of painted plaster above entrance.

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. June 2012. Painted plaster with chessboard pattern to east of entrance.

Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. December 2005. Plaster with chessboard pattern to east of entrance.

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. Plaster with chessboard pattern to east of entrance.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. December 2005. Detail of plaster with chessboard pattern to east of entrance.

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. December 2005. East corner of insula.

On this corner used to stand an amphora with its top half removed (Amphora Urinaria).

This was to receive the urine of passers by, for the use of the fullers or fullones.

According to Della Corte, found immediately at the turn into the eastern vicolo at the corner of the insula, was a terracotta amphora.

This had been conserved in situ from the time of excavation, (the end of April 1913).

It had been restored from broken pieces, but found with a broken rim since antiquity. This was an example of a (Urinarium) gastrum.

It would have been placed there by the fuller Fabius Ululitremulus, to collect the urine of passer’s by for his industry’s use.

The urine was used as a bleach as part of the cleaning process.

See Della Corte, M., 1965.  Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.338)

See amphora in situ in SAP photo C 753 (=D80935) taken about 1915, shown in -

See Varone, A. and Stefani, G., 2009. Titulorum Pictorum Pompeianorum, Rome: L’erma di Bretschneider, (p.471)

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. Reconstruction of Amphora Urinaria, with realistic sound effects.

Photographed at “A Day in Pompeii” exhibition at Melbourne Museum. September 2009.

 

IX.13.6 Pompeii. December 2005.

East corner of insula, adjoining unexcavated vicolo, looking north.