VI.7.16 Pompeii. Casa di Mercurio or House of M. Ubonius Cogitatus and Fuscus.

Linked to VI.7.17. Excavated 1836. (Strada di Mercurio 27).

According to Fiorelli,

“Trovasi appresso una casa, che a destra della porta aveva un urinatoio seguito da cella servile, ed al termine del protiro, cui era adiacente un oecus con più armadii di legno, teneva l’atrio tuscanico privo di stanze da un lato, e dall’altro un’ala fra due cubicoli. Eravi di fronte il tablino, con largo spazio nella sinistra parete per contenere un grande armadio, ed a destra del tablino la fauce, che prima di uscire nel viridario, dava accesso ad un terzo cubicolo e ad una gradinata. Questo giardino, o meglio angusto cavedio per vasi di fiori, era circondato da tettoia, sotto cui si trovavano la cucina, la sella, ed il triclinio.”

(Translation: "Nearby there was a house, which to the right of the doorway had a urinal followed by the servants’ room, and at the end of the entrance corridor, there was an adjacent oecus with some wooden cupboards, and the Tuscan atrium with no rooms on the one side, and on the other side, an ala between two cubicula (bedrooms). The tablinum was opposite (the entrance corridor), with a wide space in the left wall to contain a large cupboard, and to the right of the tablinum was the fauces (corridor), that before exiting into the garden, gave access to a third cubiculum and a staircase.

This garden, or rather a narrow passage for flowerpots, was surrounded by a lean-to roof, under which the kitchen, “sella”, and the triclinium, were found."

See Fiorelli, G., 1875: Descrizione di Pompei, (p. 110-111)

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p. 58).

VI.7.16 Pompeii. W.1315. Entrance doorway on west side of Via Mercurio.

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

VI.7.16 Pompeii. October 2022. Looking west through entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. December 2006. Entrance doorway, looking west from Via di Mercurio.

According to Della Corte, two electoral recommendations found written on the external wall, gave the names of two Pompeians, who may have lived here –

(M. Ubonius) Cog(it)atus rog(at)    [CIL IV 215, with note 2]

Fuscus facit    [CIL IV 216]

See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.50 and note 2)

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

M(arcum) Casellium aed(ilem) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis)

Cognatus rog(at)       [CIL IV 215]

M(arcum) Holconium Priscum

aed(ilem) d(ignum) r(ei) p(ublicae) Fuscus facit       [CIL IV 216]

VI.7.16 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking towards north side of entrance.

According to Eschebach and Hobson, a latrine was on the north side of the doorway.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p.179)

See Hobson, B. 2009. Pompeii, Latrines and Down Pipes. Oxford, Hadrian Books, (p.223-4, and 228)

VI.7.16 Pompeii. June 2012. Looking west from entrance. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. September 2004. Looking west across atrium from entrance, towards tablinum and corridor to rear.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. October 2022.

Looking south-west across atrium from room on north side of entrance corridor, perhaps a latrine. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. October 2022.

Downpipe in west wall of room in south-west corner. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. October 2022.

Looking west towards tablinum in south-west corner of atrium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. October 2022.

Looking west along corridor to rear in north-west corner of atrium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. October 2022.

Looking west to recess on north side of corridor to rear. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. October 2022. Looking west along rooms on north side of the atrium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. September 2004. Rooms on the north side of the atrium.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. W1312. Wall with window and remains of wall decoration.

According to Bragantini, in ambiente 13, on the south side at the rear of the house, was a room with a circular window in its south wall.

The south wall was described as having yellow panels divided by white narrow ribbons with candelabra.

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1983. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 2. Rome: ICCD. (p.149, 607161302).

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv. Listed as being from VI.7.15.

VI.7.16 Pompeii. W.1313. Ambiente 13, west wall with remains of wall decoration.

According to Bragantini, the west wall was described as having four yellow panels with a vignette of a bird in both its north and south panel.

It was bordered with two parallel lines, and separated by narrow white panels, with golden candelabra.

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1983. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 2. Rome: ICCD. (p.149, 607161303).

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv. Listed as being from VI.7.15.