V.I.13 Pompeii. Thermopolium/Caupona, Inn of Salvius. Excavated 1875.

For extra detailed information see Swedish Pompeii Project web site

According to Civale, -

“A large entrance hall opened onto the selling area, where there was a U-shaped brick counter with six dolia set into it, containing the food which was probably also displayed on shelves lining a wall.  Two other rooms for customers’ use were accessible from the shop area, decorated with 4th style paintings, and faced onto a courtyard at the end of which was the kitchen.  The owner’s quarters were on the upper floor. The body of a fugitive was found in the shop, surrounded by some coins and a remarkable amount of jewellery: 5 pairs of earrings, 11 gold rings, 3 silver rings, as well as a spoon and a small silver-disc with a head in bas-relief, numerous gemstones and two bronze signet rings/seals. The quantity, value and variety of the objects are inconsistent with the modest nature of the shop: it is probably that the Pompeian who died here at dawn on 25th August had remained too long in his flight to loot whatever he found on his way.

See British Museum catalogue: Tales from an eruption, Pompeii Herculaneum Oplontis, ed by P.G. Guzzo. (p.106-7 by Anna Civale).

V.6 Pompeii, on left. October 2023.

Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento, looking east, with side wall of V.1.13, on right. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.6 Pompeii, on left. September 2004.     Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento, looking east.           Side wall of V.1.13, on right.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023. Looking south-east towards entrance doorway on Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023. Looking north-east towards entrance doorway on Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking east towards entrance doorway on Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2004. Entrance, looking east from Via Stabiana. For description, with plan,

See - Packer, Jim: Inns at Pompeii: a short survey. In Cronache Pompeiane, IV, 1978, (p.39-43).

V.I.13 Pompeii. 9th September 1875, in an excavation carried out in the presence of Prince Umberto,

many precious items were found here, including two bronze seals with the above wording. 

See Mau, Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, p.136.

According to Eschebach, the seals read: C PRO PYLADES and MUSAE JUNI B

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p.124).

These bronze rings used for sealing documents are now held in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 110828-29.

See British Museum catalogue: Tales from an eruption, Pompeii Herculaneum Oplontis, ed by P.G. Guzzo. (p.106-7).

V.I.13 Pompeii. Seal of C PRO PYLADES. [CIL X 8058, 72]. On the ring handle is a winged caduceus.

See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. X part 2, 1883. Berlin: Reimer, p. 919.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 110828.

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

C(aius) Pro(culeius)

Pylades      [CIL X 8058, 72]

V.I.13 Pompeii. Seal of MUSAE JUNI B. [CIL X 8058, 55]. On the ring handle is a jug or vase.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 110829.

CIL X shows this as Musaei Iuni B(ruti?).

See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. X part 2, 1883. Berlin: Reimer, p. 918.

According to the Epigraphic Database Roma it may also read

Musaei Iuni B(laesi?)

See EDR CIL X 8058,55

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. Entrance, looking east. This area was hit by two bombs in 1943, and badly damaged and ruined.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.60).

V.I.13 Pompeii. July 2010. Looking north along pavement. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2020. Looking towards north wall and counter in bar-room. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking across counter towards north wall with square niche/recess in bar-room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023. Counter, looking north. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. Counter, looking north. According to Packer –

“The U-shaped counter included 6 sunken dolia, it originally had a marble veneer, and a marble herm (a bearded Bacchus) was built into the south side.”

See - Packer, Jim: Inns at Pompeii: a short survey. In Cronache Pompeiane, IV, 1978, (p.40, and note 79).

Note 79: Owing to the partial destruction of the counter and its subsequent repair, its present appearance is entirely different.

A photograph of the counter’s appearance before it was incorrectly restored can be seen in the unpublished M.A. dissertation of S.M. Ruddell.

See Ruddell, S.M. The Inn, Restaurant and Tavern Business in Ancient Pompeii. Department of History, University of Maryland, 1964.

According to Mau, the small marble herm (0.52 high) of bearded Bacchus had traces of reddish colour in his hair.

See Mau, Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, p.135.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking east across counter with remains of 6 urns.

V.1.13 Pompeii. May 2003. Detail of three of the six remaining urns. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. Counter, looking north.

V.1.13 Pompeii. May 2003. Looking north-west at rear of counter. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Packer –

Many small interesting finds were made in this room, including: two small bronze statuettes on bases, one of a Lar and one of Mercury, fragments of bronze candelabra, a badly preserved iron sword and two axes. The most interesting discoveries were, a human skeleton surrounded by money and jewellery: 5 pairs of gold earrings, 11 gold rings, 10 of which were set with semi-precious (?) stones, three silver rings, a small fragmentary silver shield with a head in low relief, 17 silver coins and a small silver spoon.

See Mau, in Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, p.136.

Packer said that Della Corte had suggested that these objects represented loot collected by the man with whose skeleton they were found. Delaying his departure from Pompeii in order to plunder, he took refuge in the shop and was probably overcome by the fumes.

See - Packer, Jim: Inns at Pompeii: a short survey. In Cronache Pompeiane, IV, 1978, (p.42-43).

V.1.13 Pompeii. c.2004-6?

Looking towards west wall in north-west corner behind counter.

Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. May 2003. Looking towards north wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Packer – this room would have had a red dado (zoccolo) with white stucco above (seen on the north and east wall).

The room’s decorations described in Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, p.135, as “simple and without interest”.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023.

Niche or recess in north wall of bar-room. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2018.

Niche or recess in north wall of bar-room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. Niche or recess in north wall.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023. Looking north-east across bar-room towards rear room. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. May 2003. Looking north-east from counter towards doorway to rear room and window overlooking front-room.

The rear room had a recess for a couch extending for almost the entire length of the north wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking east through doorway into rear room of thermopolium. 

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023. North wall of rear-room. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023. East wall, south-east corner and south wall of rear room. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. c.2004-6?   

Looking towards doorway to bar-room in west wall of rear room. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2020.

Looking towards south side of bar room, with doorway to rear room, and corridor with arched lararium niche in south wall.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023.

South-west corner of bar-room, with arched lararium niche. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023.

Arched lararium niche in south wall of bar-room. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. December 2018. Arched niche in south wall of bar-room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

V.1.13 Pompeii.  c.2004-6?

Looking towards west wall in south-west corner of bar-room.

Photo by Hans Thorwid.

“The remains of a built structure are visible in the SW corner.

Mau reported a small lead container, identified as a hearth, at this location, below the small rounded window serving as a smoke outlet.”

Photo and words courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023. South-west corner – detail. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.1.13 Pompeii. October 2023.

Looking east along corridor to rear. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking east along corridor to rear.

V.1.13 Pompeii. c.2004-6?  

Looking east along corridor, after restoration. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2004. Looking east towards rear.

According to Packer, at the rear, on the north side of the corridor, would have been another room, probably used for dining.

This room originally had a marble threshold, and also a window in its north wall overlooking the Vicolo delle Nozze d’ Argento.

This room originally would have had decorations in the Fourth Style on a white background, with a still extant red dado (north wall).

To the east of that room would have been an open courtyard which had suffered from the 1943 bombing.

The stairs to the upper floor would have been against the north wall of the courtyard, running up towards its west end with a latrine beneath in the north-west corner.

In the north-east corner, in antiquity, would have been a second rear room, also lit by a window in the north wall, but its west and south walls were demolished to enlarge the courtyard.

The kitchen stands behind the courtyard with a large hearth in the north-west corner, and one (of the formerly two) masonry supports for a table in the south-east corner.

See - Packer, Jim: Inns at Pompeii: a short survey. In Cronache Pompeiane, IV, 1978, (p.40-42).

V.1.13 Pompeii. c. 2008.

Looking east, after restoration. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. Rear of Inn of Salvius.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2018. South wall of corridor, with long recess. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. South wall of corridor, with long recess (according to Mau, originally 3.07 long x 0.38 deep).

Above this recess the arched lararium niche was found (0.375 high, 0.335 wide), and at the rear of it was another recess or small niche which would probably have held a statuette.

See Mau, Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, p.137.

V.I.13 Pompeii. December 2006. South wall.

According to Boyce, in the south wall of the corridor that led towards the rear was an arched niche.

In the rear wall of the niche there was a small vaulted recess, for a statuette.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.32, no.73)

V.1.13 Pompeii. May 2003.

Niche in south wall, with small vaulted recess at rear for a statue. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Boyce – 2 bronze statuettes were found in the room, one of a Lar (height 0.115), one of Mercury with winged petasos (height 0.112).

He quoted references - Giorn. Scavi, N.S, iii, 1877, p.253, Bull. Inst, 1877 p.136, and VIOLA, Scavi, pp74, No.8, 75, No.18.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.32, no.73).

V.1.13 Pompeii. c.2004-6?  North walls of rear rooms before reconstruction. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Pre 2009. East wall of rear room “d”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2009.

East wall of rear room “d”, after reconstruction of the south wall in 2009. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2009.

South wall of rear room “d”, after removal of scaffolding in 2009. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2008.

South wall of rear room “d”, after reconstruction in 2008. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

“Restored parts of the wall photographed and merge with the lower part and floor line of earlier photos from 2005-07.”

Photo and words courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2008.

The only preserved part of the south wall of rear room “d”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo and words courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2012.

West wall of rear room “d”, after reconstruction in 2008/9, with doorway into rear room “e” on its west side.

Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2005. West wall of rear room “d”, before reconstruction, with doorway into room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

“Room “e” is the only room in the caupona with high quality decorations. A cocciopesto floor with a circular mosaic pattern in the centre, has undecorated areas for clinae along the N and W walls. A marble threshold with two pivot holes is preserved in the doorway. A highly placed window, with recently restored window frame, opens to Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento.”

Photo and words courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2012. South wall of rear room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Pre 2012. South wall during the cleaning of room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2012.  West wall of room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Pre 2012. West wall of room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Pre 2012. North wall of room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. 2012. East wall of room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Pre 2012. East wall of room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Post 2005.

Cocciopesto flooring in room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Post 2005.

The enhanced mosaic pattern of the floor in room “e”.

Photo by Hans Thorwid and Henrik Boman.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Pre-2008.  

West wall in north-west corner of rear room “f”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Pre-2008.

Hearth built against north wall of rear room “f”, with well in north-east corner.

Photo by Hans Thorwid.

“The rear room in the caupona, room f, has a large hearth built against the N wall, and two roughly built supports for a table along the E wall.”

Photo and words courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. c.2008.

Well, built in the north-east corner of rear room “f”.

Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Post 2008. East wall of rear room “f” after restoration in 2008. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Pre 2008. East wall of rear room “f”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Post 2008. South wall of rear room “f”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Post 2008.  

West wall in south-west corner of rear room “f”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of the Swedish Pompeii Project.

Outside north wall of V.I.13, Inn of Salvius in Vicolo delle Nozze d’ Argento, on right. December 2006.

The following pages are from Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, July, relating to V.1.13.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, July, p. 135.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, July, p. 136.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, July, p. 137.

V.1.13 Pompeii. Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, July, p. 138.