I.2.7 Pompeii. Shop of C. Hostilius Conops and Hirtia Psacas.

Shop with a rear room. Linked to I.2.8. Excavated 1873.

I.2.7 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking east to entrance doorway from Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

According to Warscher, quoting Fiorelli,

I.2.7 – “Questa spaziosa bottega, che stando in communicazione con la seguente, aveva pure in fondo un locale illuminato da ampia finestra, tiene sulla destra parete graffita un’epistola, da cui può trarsi con probabilità il nome del padrone del luogo, (CIL IV. 3905, see below).

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (after no.19 ‘f’), Rome: DAIR, whose copyright it remains.

(translation: I. 2.7 – "this spacious shop, that was in communication with the following, had a room at the rear lit by a large window, found on the right wall an epistle graffito, from which could be drawn with probability the name of the owner of the place, (CIL IV. 3905, see below).

I.2.7 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking east to entrance doorway, on right, with I.2.8, on left, behind screening. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

I.2.7 Pompeii. December 2007. Entrance doorway and north wall of shop.

I.2.7 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking east from entrance doorway towards rear room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

I.2.7 Pompeii. May 2005. Shop entrance doorway, in centre of picture.

I.2.7 Pompeii. September 2010. ID number plate on north side of entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.7 Pompeii. December 2007. Doorway in north wall leading into I.2.8.

I.2.7 Pompeii. September 2010. North wall in north-west corner of shop, with doorway into I.2.8. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.7 Pompeii. December 2007.

Looking east to rear room. On the north wall of the rear room would have been a wooden staircase to the upper floor.

I.2.7 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking east from entrance, towards rear room. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.7 Pompeii. December 2007. North wall of shop and rear-room, against which would have been a wooden staircase in the rear room.

I.2.7 Pompeii. September 2010. North wall of rear room, with site of stairs on left.

The wall (zoccolo and middle area) would have been painted white, panelled and compartmentalised by red painted lines (see corner area of north wall, on right). Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.7 Pompeii. September 2010. South wall of rear room. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.7 Pompeii.  December 2007. East walls of shop and rear room. Possibly the shape of the window in the wall between both can be made out.

I.2.7 Pompeii. December 2007. South wall of shop, with doorway.   

According to Fiorelli, graffiti was found on the right wall near a large window which lit the rear room. 

Neither the window or graffiti are now visible. 

The graffiti, (CIL IV 3905), which probably gave the name of the patron, read

HIRTIA PSACAS C HOSTILIO

CONIVGI SVO

CONOTI MANVDVCTORI IIT

CLIIMIINTI MONITORI FRATRI

IIT DIODOTII SORORI IIT FORTVNA

TO FRATRI IIT CIILIIRI SVIS

SALVTIIM SIIMPIIR VBIQVII

PLVRIMA IIT PRIMIGIINIAII

SVAII SALVTIIM.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.35).

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) this read

Hirtia Psacas C(aio) Hostilio

coniugi suo

Conopi manuductori et

Clementi monitori fratri

et Diodote sorori et Fortuna

to fratri et Celeri suis

salutem semper ubique

plurima(m) et Primigeniae

suae salutem      [CIL IV 3905]

I.2.7 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking towards south-east corner of shop, with doorway. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.7 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking west across shop, towards entrance doorway and Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

In Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2, (the copy at DAIR), Warscher included Viola’s description of the insula, from

Gli scavi di Pompei dal 1873 al 1878, p.10 (Pompei e la regione sotterrata dal Vesuvio nell’anno 1879, Seconda parte.

This is included at the end in all parts of I.2 on the website.

“Nel dicembre del 1873 incomminciò lo scavo di questa isola – quale dovette essere abitata da moltissime persone. Infatti non si vede grande lusso di abitazioni, nè grandi locali, ove i ricchi pompeiani passavano la vita nell’ozio e nel piacere; si può invece osservare grand’economia di spazio, case piccole miste a botteghe e ad officine, onde non è difficile argomentare che quivi abitarono persone del ceto medio, le quali benchè agiate non godevano certamente della più splendide posizione.

E’ questa un’isola dove avennero frequentissime trasformazioni, per cui riesce difficillissimo intravvedere qual’era la sua forma primiera; non mancano però degli avanzi di costruzioni primitive, insieme ad altri di epoca posteriore, come si osserva in molti luoghi di Pompei.

La sua area è di mq.2948, ed è limitata da occidente dal cardo, a settentrione dalla via secunda, ad oriente dal vico parallelo al cardo e a mezzogiorno dalla via tertia che la separa dalle isole 1 e 5; il margine che la fiancheggia da tre lati escluso l’orientale e sulla via tertia di fronte al vano No.28 si vede un piccolo ponte, formato da massi posti a contrasto, il quale serve per unire i due margine (vedi la fotografia no.42c)”.

(Note: photo (no.42c) can be seen at I.5.1, I.2.28 and in the “streets” section under Vicolo del Conciapelle). 

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. Rome: DAIR.

(translation: "In December of 1873 the excavation of this insula began – which would have been inhabited by many people. In fact you don't see great luxury homes, nor large rooms, where rich Pompeian passed life in idleness and pleasure; if you instead look at the great economy of space, small homes and shops mixed with workshops, it's not difficult to argue that here lived people in the middle class, which however well-to-do they certainly did not enjoy the most splendid position.

This was an insula where there were frequent transformations, for which it is difficult to glimpse what was the original form; it does not lack however, the remains of primitive constructions, alongside others of a later date, as can be seen in many places in Pompeii.

Its area was 2948 sq. m., and was bounded on the west by the “cardo”, on the north by via secunda, and east by a parallel vicolo to the “cardo” and in the south by the via tertia, that separated it from Insula’s 1 and 5:  the border that flanked it by three sides excluding the east and on via tertia opposite No. 28, you will see a small bridge, formed by a boulder placed to serve to unite the two edges, (see photo No. 42 c)."