Pompeii Street View. Via degli Augustali. West to East.

Part 2       Part 3      Part 1

Vicolo Storto between VII.4 and VII.2. September 2017.

Looking north from junction with Via degli Augustali. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Looking towards fountain at junction with Via degli Augustali. Vicolo Storto is on the right of the photo.

The pilaster at the rear of the fountain would have been one belonging to VII.4.32, see below.

W.1626. Taken from Vicolo di Eumachia, from between VII.9 and VII.12.

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

Via degli Augustali, Pompeii. Pre-1832.

Drawing by Gell of phalli from the façade of the shop at VII.4.32, near the entrance and inscription for Holconius and Priscus.

See Gell, W. Pompeii unpublished [Dessins de l'édition de 1832 donnant le résultat des fouilles post 1819 (?)] vol II, pl. 92 verso.

Bibliothèque de l'Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, collections Jacques Doucet, Identifiant numérique Num MS180 (2).

See book in INHA Use Etalab Licence Ouverte

According to Gell –

“At the junction of the two streets (Vicolo di Eumachia leading into Via degli Augustali, then also known as Strada dei frutti secchi (Street of dried fruits), on a house at the angle (corner) inscribed M. HOLCONIVM and PRISCVM FELICEM. AED. O.V.F., is a species of triple Phallus in terracotta of singular invention.

Near this, in a house, is the picture of a graceful young Bacchus expressing the juice of the grape into a vase placed on a column. A rampant Tiger or Lynx (?Panther) is expecting the liquor.

On a pier is written TREBIUM. AED. OVF.

                               CVM.NARI. ROG.

See Gell, W, 1832. Pompeiana: Vol 1. London: Jennings and Chaplin, p. 11 and 12.

According to PAH – 7th July 1822

“The clearing of the noted roadway is advancing a lot, and we are near to meeting the other begun to be excavated in the past year 1821, which remains on the side facing to the Civil Forum on the sides of the east and north, in which there are other buildings still buried, and perhaps of some consideration, such as some that have already been brought to light.

In a pillar to the right of the aforementioned road, a graceful figure of Bacchus had been painted in the act of pressing a bunch of grapes into a vase, and a tiger at his feet who rises eagerly to taste it. In the meantime, I have ordered that this painting be secured with a small canopy like the others, and that the usual necessary restorations of the collapsing walls of the shops discovered so far be continued.”

See PAH, II, 7th July 1822, p.55-56

29th July 1822

In the last week, just received the report by Scognamiglio, he had worked in the same place well known to him, where one of the usual fountains of travertine, which can be seen at the crossroads and junctions of that buried city.

In the façade of a house that remains behind the named fountain we can read various inscriptions, following here transcribed with all accuracy.

In the pillar near to the fountain, one could read with the usual distressed red letters:

CAPRASIVM

FELICEM                 [CIL IV 564]

M . HOLCONIVM     [CIL IV 565]

On another pilaster of the following shop, the following could be seen written in the usual red letters but small:

CVSPIVM

PANSAM . AED

IVVENEM . PROBVM

DIGNVM . REI . P . OVF (mon.)     [CIL IV 566]

And underneath -

CAPRASIVM      FELICEM

                         AED OVF (mon.)

                         PHILIPPVS          [CIL IV 567]

On another pilaster of the shop facing the described, also in red, one could read:

VETTIUM . FELICEM

        AED . ROG                  [CIL IV 615, said to be near 567]

And on the following pilaster with the same letters but in black, there was written:

M . CERRINIVM . AED

   DONATVS . ROG.             [CIL IV 616]

According to PAH - 4th August 1822:

Continuing the clearing in the same noted street, a painted block was found above the last shop on the left, in which a Priapus in the shape of an animal, measuring 1 pal squared, (0.26m sq.) was carved in bas-relief, on the side of which there were two others shown in different situations. 

I will therefore be careful to receive orders, if one has to remove it from the aforementioned site as an obscene object, or since its shape is not entirely clear for everyone, let it remain in the same way that another similar object was discovered above another shop excavated a short while: since the ancient Pompeians used to locate such objects, as it was well known to them, above their dwellings, as is used among us with the horns of animals, and with several other amulets.

See PAH, II, 1822, p.57-58

(PAH - 7 Luglio 1822:

Lo sterramento della nota strada si avanza di molto, e si sta prossimo ad incontrare l’altra incominciata a disterrarsi nel prossimo passato anno 1821, che resta al lato opposto del Foro civile ne’lati di levante e settentrione, in cui esistono seppelliti ancora altri edifizi, e forse di qualche considerazione, come alcuni che sono stati di gia posti alla luce. In un pilastro a destra della strada suddetta, si era scoperta dipinta una graziosa figura di Bacco in atto di premere un grappolo di uva dentro un vase, ed una tigre a’suoi piedi che si alza desiderosa di gustarla. Io ho disposto intanto, che venga cautelata questa dipintura con piccola tettoia come le altre, e chi si continuino le solite necessarie restaurazioni de’muri crollanti delle botteghe sinora scoperte.

PAH, II, 1822, p.55-56).

“29 Luglio 1822 -

Nella prossima scorsa settimana, giusta il rapporto ricevuto dal sorvegliante Scognamiglio, si era travagliato nello stesso locale a lei ben noto, dove si era disterrata una delle solite fontane di pietra di travertino, che si vedono nei bivi, trivi e quadrivi delle strade di quella sepolta citta. Nel prospetto di un’abitazione che resta dietro della nominata fontano si leggono varie inscrizioni, qui in seguito trascritte con tutta esattezza.

Nel pilastro vicino di essa fontana si legge colle solite lettere malconce di rosso:

CAPRASIVM

FELICEM                       [CIL IV 564]

M . HOLCONIVM           [CIL IV 565]

In un altro pilastro della bottega seguente, vedersi scritto colle solite lettere rosse piu piccole:

CVSPIVM

PANSAM . AED

IVVENEM . PROBVM

DIGNVM . REI . P . OVF (mon.)           [CIL IV 566]

e piu sotto –

CAPRASIVM      FELICEM

                         AED OVF (mon.)

                         PHILIPPVS                  [CIL IV 567]

In altro pilastro della bottega in fronte della descritta, anche di rosso si legge :

VETTIUM . FELICEM

        AED . ROG                                    [CIL IV 615, vicino a 567]

E nel pilastro in seguito colle stesse lettere ma nere, vi era scritto:

M . CERRINIVM . AED

   DONATVS . ROG.                                [CIL IV 616]

4 Agosto 1822 –

Continuandosi lo sterramento nella stessa nota strada, si era rinvenuto sopra l’ultima bottega a sinistra un quadretto costrutto di mattoni, in cui vedesi scolpito in bassorilievo un priapo a forma di animale, di misura pal. 1 in quadro, (0.26m sq.) al lati di quale ve ne sono due altri in diversa situazione espressi.

 Io dunque saro in attenzione di ricevere gli ordini, se dovra togliersi dal suddetto sito come oggetto osceno, oppure non essendo la sua forma interamente chiara per tutti, farlo rimanere nel modo stesso che trovasi un altro simile oggetto scolpito sopra altra bottega da piu tempo disterrata: poiche solevano gli antichi Pompeiani situare siffatti oggetti, come era a lei ben noto, sopra le loro abitazioni, come si usa fra noi colle corna di animali, e con diversi altri amuleti.

Vedi PAH II, 1822, p.57-58

Via degli Augustali, between VII.2 and VII.12, May 2010.

Looking east to junction with Vicolo Storto (on left) and Vicolo Eumachia (right).

Via degli Augustali, Pompeii. October 2023.

Looking south into Vicolo di Eumachia, from junction. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Via degli Augustali, south side, May 2010. Vicolo di Eumachia from the junction.

Via degli Augustali, September 2017.

Looking west from crossroads with Vicolo di Eumachia on the left and Vicolo Storto on the right.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Via degli Augustali between VII.9 and VII.4. December 2004.

Looking west from crossroads with Vicolo di Eumachia on the left and Vicolo Storto on the right.

Via degli Augustali, south side, May 2010. Looking west from VII.9.30.

Via degli Augustali, south side, December 2007. Looking west from VII.9.29.

Via degli Augustali, Pompeii. October 2023. Looking west from fountain outside VII4.32. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Via degli Augustali, north side, May 2010. Looking west from VII.4.32.

Via degli Augustali, north side, December 2007. Looking west from outside VII.4.31.

Via degli Augustali, north side near VII.4.32. December 2005. Looking west from crossroads with Vicolo Storto, on the right.

Via degli Augustali, Pompeii. October 2023.

Looking east from fountain outside VII.4.32. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Via degli Augustali, Pompeii. December 2018. Looking east between VII.2.32/33, on left, and VII.12.1/2, on right.

The junction with Vicolo Storto, is on the extreme left, and with Vicolo di Eumachia, on the extreme right. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Via degli Augustali, Pompeii, on right. December 2018.

Junction with Vicolo Storto, on left, at corner of VII.2.32/33, on right. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Via degli Augustali between VII.2 and VII.12. December 2004. Looking east from crossroads, outside of VII.12.1.

Via degli Augustali between VII.2 and VII.12. 1989.

Looking east from crossroads, outside of VII.12.1. Photo courtesy of Anne Fettis.

Via degli Augustali, north side, Pompeii. December 2018. Looking east from near VII.2.39. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Via degli Augustali, north side, December 2007. Looking east from VII.2.36.

Via degli Augustali, south side, December 2007. Looking east from VII.12.4.

Via degli Augustali, Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking east between VII.2, on left, and VII.12, on right. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Via degli Augustali. December 2007. Looking east from outside VII.12.4, on right.

Via degli Augustali. December 2007. Looking east from VII.12.4, on right, with wheel ruts worn by traffic.

Via degli Augustali. Pompeii. 1966.

Looking east at roadway surface and wheel ruts worn by traffic. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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Via degli Augustali, between VII.12 and VII.2. 4th April 1980, pre-earthquake.

Looking west from VII.12.5, on left. Photo courtesy of Tina Gilbert.

Via degli Augustali, between VII.12 and VII.2. 4th December 1971. Looking west at road surface.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

Part 3      Part 1