VI.9.1 Pompeii. Casa del Duca di Aumale or Casa d’Iside ed Io

or Hospitium Gabinianus or of Gabinius.

Rear entrance at VI.9.14. Excavated 1831, 1841 and 1851.

Bombed in 1943. (Strada di Mercurio 16).

Part:    1       2        3        4        5        6       VI.9.1/14 plan      VI.9.14

Graffito on an inside wall “VENIES IN GABINIANU PROMA(N)SU” [CIL IV 1314] was a written welcome which was documented by Fiorelli and Della Corte.

This led to it being classified a Hospitium or Caupona named after Gabinianum, its presumed host or patron.

The great quantity of crockery and kitchen utensils found on the site are commensurate with this classification.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.63).

See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.44, no.29)

On the 12th July 1842, the Duc d’Aumale, the son of Louis-Philippe, King of France, visited Pompeii as a guest of Ferdinand II.

According to Warscher, quoting PAH II, p.416 –

“12 Luglio – Si seguita a lavorare nel menzionata sito.

All’ora 11, S.A.R. il principe figlio del Re di Francia ha onorato questo R. sito con suo seguito, ed in loro presenza si è eseguito una scavo, nelle stanze a fondo ed a man dritta la strada di Mercurio, in dove si è rinvenuto.

Bronzo. Una conca circolare rotta nel fondo, priva di manici e con due basette mancanti. Una secchia in frammenti col suo manico distaccato. Due vasi bislunghi, uno di essi più piccolo, ambi col manico distaccato. Una lanterna in frammenti. Una forma di pasticceria di figura ovale ed in frammenti. Due basette di vasi. Un piccolo manico appartenente a qualche altro vaso. Un candelabro di altezza circa pal. 5 privo di basetta.

Marmo. Un mortaio rotto col suo pistello.

S.A.R. n’è partita di questo Real sito verso le 3 dopo la mezzanotte”

See also PAH III, p.183.

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin.

See Minervini, Bull. Napol.1843, p.68

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, Rome, (Introduzione A).

On the 8th November 1843 the Duc d’Aumale, again visited as a guest of Ferdinand II.

The Duc visited the area of VII.3.9-14 on the same day and was presented with many objects from there too. (See PAH II, 427)

See also Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.159).

VI.9.1 Pompeii. 1938 photograph by Tatiana Warscher.

Looking towards Tower XI at the northern end of Via Mercurio.   VI.9.1 is on the right.

Warscher commented that the “pomerium” was between the walls of the city and the walls of the House of Duc d’Aumale.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.1), Rome, DAIR, whose copyright it remains. 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. From model in Naples Archaeological Museum.

North end of VI.9.1 on right showing site of street altar and wall now gone.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W647 Façade on Via Mercurio, north end.

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

VI.9.1 Pompeii. North-west corner of exterior front wall on Via di Mercurio, with Tower XI and City Walls.

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

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W627. Looking north-east at façade, on Via Mercurio.

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

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.6), DAIR, Rome. 

According to Warscher, the façade of the house measured –

1) from the corner, that meant from the “pomerium of the city”, up until the entrance - 10,00

2) the entrance – 1,80

3) from the entrance to the dividing wall with the House of Meleager - 22,20

Total length of façade - 34m

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, Rome, DAIR. 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. 1957.

Looking north-east towards exterior wall, at northern end of Via di Mercurio. 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.

J57f0345

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W649 Façade on Via Mercurio, looking north-east.

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

According to Pagano and Prisciandaro, by July 1839 on the wall to the right of the entrance doorway, between VI.9.1 and VI.9.2, many inscriptions had been found.

According to Avellino, on 29th July 1839 the artist Piedimonte went to the excavations to cut the plaster from the walls.

Bilius     [CIL IV 1333]

Iun(iae) Primae     [CIL IV 1333a]
Verna Vernionis / Secundus / Secundus    [CIL IV 1334]
Antonius Rustio s(alutem)     [CIL IV 1335]
Phosphor tuis / Choreis     [CIL IV 1336]

Phosphor tuis C(h)ore(i)s ASVMA[3]     [CIL IV 1337]
Restituta tuis choreis     [CIL IV 1338]

Memor    [CIL IV 1339]
Acaccia    [CIL IV 1339a]

Iulius Quintus     [CIL IV 1340]
Restituta tuis chorei[s]      [CIL IV 1341]
Veteri     [CIL IV, 1342]
Quintinus     [CIL IV, 1343]
OPIIVALI[3]RL[3] / Pla[       [CIL IV, 1343a]

Amantes [        [CIL IV, 1344]
Severus / Severus     [CIL IV, 1345]
Ebeittuis / Egrotene Soip / [3]hats[       [CIL IV, 1345a]

C(aius) Vinif()       [CIL IV, 1346]
Felices homines va(lete) / felices       [CIL IV, 1347]
Sabinus / desvino      [CIL IV, 1348]

"GR"        [CIL IV, 1348a]

"GR"        [CIL IV, 1348b]
Pompeianus      [CIL IV, 1349]

Pompeianus      [CIL IV, 1350]
Reiners / in quid      [CIL IV, 1351]
Successus     [CIL IV, 1352]
Mil() modu()     [CIL IV, 1352a]

Elene     [CIL IV, 1352b]
Nyptae / [3] Tyche     [CIL IV, 1352c]

Cum lub()      [CIL IV, 1353]

Quibus nomini pi      [CIL IV, 1353a]
Anti[3] et Successus Amphioni     [CIL IV, 1353b]
Tuis / cum       [CIL IV, 1353c]

Commun[        [CIL IV, 1353d]
Niaereidi         [CIL IV, 1353e]
Bonum faustum felix       [CIL IV, 1354]

Sucess{t}us       [CIL IV, 1355]
Primigeni Felixs(!) et Opport[       [CIL IV, 1356]
Primig(e)nies felix     [CIL IV, 1357]
Rixa    [CIL IV, 1358]
Vestalis     [CIL IV, 1359]
"GR"     [CIL IV, 1360]
Xantus / [        [CIL IV, 1361]
Psyce        [CIL IV, 1362]

Einus / sec()      [CIL IV, 1362a]

Antus // "GR"     [CIL IV, 1363]
Mammi Veti RRI        [CIL IV, 1363a]

Ampliatus / Marcus       [CIL IV, 1363b]
Myrtale      [CIL IV, 1363c]
Nomina Nycihi(?) / Genic(a)e / Thetic(a)e(?) / Dotic(a)e Patagricae / Onomastic(a)e Onagricae / Phyrric(a)e / Byxantic(a)e / Cretic(a)e / Dymastic(a)e / Gymnic(a)e / Chizecae        [CIL IV, 1364]
Hermes / hostis / Bena[      [CIL IV, 1365]

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.155)

See PAH III, 152

See Avellino, F.M., 1841. Osservazioni sopra alcune iscrizioni e disegni graffite sulla mura di Pompei. Naples: St. Reale.

See Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de)

VI.9.1 Pompeii, on left. W.1364. Looking south on Via Mercurio, from north end.

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

VI.9.1 Pompeii. November 2023.

Looking south-east from entrance doorway of Tower XI across atrium, on right. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.9.1 Pompeii, shown on left front of picture. Looking south along Via di Mercurio, from Tower XI.

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

VI.9.1 and Via Mercurio. 1959.

Looking south towards the entrance doorway, lower centre, from Tower XI. 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.

J59f0579

VI.9.1/14 Pompeii. 1959.

Looking south-east from Tower XI towards the middle of VI.9.1. 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.

J59f0580

VI.9.1/14 Pompeii. 1959.

Looking south-east from Tower XI towards the rear of VI.9.1, at entrance VI.9.14, upper left. 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.

J59f0589

VI.9.1 Pompeii, on left. Late 19th century photograph by Sommer, numbered 1200. Looking south along Via Mercurio.

On the left is the atrium with impluvium and base of money-chest. Photo courtesy of Espen B. Andersson.

VI.9.1, on left, and Via Mercurio. C.1880-1890. G. Sommer no. 1200 but of a different date from the photo no. 1200 above.

Looking south. The atrium with impluvium can be seen on the lower left. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance doorway on Via di Mercurio, looking towards south wall of fauces.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W 626. Entrance doorway, looking east.

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

According to Warscher, quoting Nissen –

in the entrance corridor, on the left of the doorway, a square hole in the wall for fixing a bar to barrier the door, could be seen.

The threshold of lava stone measured 0,55m in its breadth.

The floor was of opus signinum of the later period.

The two entrance corridor walls, 3,55m in length, still showed some miserable traces of paintings.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.5), DAIR, Rome.  

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W629. Façade at south end of wall on Via Mercurio.

This would have originally been a doorway into a previous property, the entrance corridor of which then became the cubiculum, room 20.

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

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W 630. South end of façade on Via Mercurio.

At the rear of this wall, would be a cubiculum, room 21.

The tall remaining walls on the right would be the south walls of the large triclinium, room 15.

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

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W631.

Façade wall on Via Mercurio in south-west corner, adjoining with the peristyle wall of VI.9.2.

At the rear of this wall would be cubiculum room 16.

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

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W627. Looking north-east towards façade on Via Mercurio.

Looking towards the entrance doorway and north wall of fauces.

On the left of the doorway, a square hole in the wall for fixing a bar to barrier the door, could be seen.

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

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W625. Façade and entrance doorway, looking towards south wall of fauces.

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

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking east from entrance fauces, room 1.

According to Packer, both the entrance corridor and atrium would have had a high red dado, and plain white walls.

See Cronache Pompeiane, IV, 1978, for article by Packer, J: Inns at Pompeii: a short survey (p.24-30)

According to Warscher, the two entrance corridor walls would have been 3,55m in length, and still showed some miserable traces of paintings.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.5), DAIR, Rome. 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2005. Looking east across site of atrium, room 2, from entrance corridor.

Two bombs fell on this house in 1943, destroying the wall on the north-west side of the atrium, and part of the area on the north-east.

By 1982, according to Garcia y Garcia, the house was still abandoned and semi-derelict.

To date, there has been some clearance and improvement.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.77)

VI.9.6 Pompeii. 1830. Entrance corridor. Drawing of graffiti CIL IV 179.

See Real Museo Borbonico Vol 6. 1830.

According to Fiorelli, this hostelry, which occupied the northern end of the insula near the city walls, had been formed from three houses.

Nearby was found an electoral recommendation –

Casellium

Erastus cupit aed(ilem)    [CIL IV 179]

Fiorelli said the entrance corridor, or fauces, had much graffiti on the walls, many names, small letters of an alphabet and the epigraph

which he thought showed the name of the host, or more likely the name of the patron of the place.

Venies in Ganinianu pro Masu

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.63)

Della Corte also thought the large graffito in the andron of the house at number VI.9.1 identified Gabinius as being the proprietor –

Venies in Gabinianu(m) pro Ma(n)su     [CIL IV 1314] 

See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.44)

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

Venies in Gabinianu(m) pro Masu      [CIL IV 1314]

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking south-east across atrium, from the entrance.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. Detail from 19th century Sommer photo 1200.

Looking south across impluvium in atrium with base of money chest against east wall of atrium. Photo courtesy of Espen B. Andersson.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2006.

According to Fiorelli, found in the atrium were the remains of the travertine foundation for the strongbox, to keep the money paid by the clients.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p. 63).

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2007. Travertine foundation of strongbox, on east side of atrium.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W632. Looking east across atrium towards base of arca, or money chest.

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

According to Warscher, quoting Fiorelli,

“Against the east wall of the atrium was the base of the arca, between two doorways, leading to passageway “P”. (Warscher’s numbering).

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.13), DAIR, Rome. 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking north-east from atrium towards room 11, in rear left.

According to Warscher, quoting Fiorelli,

“The solid remains of travertine on which rested the chest for money paid by patrons can still be seen in the atrium, standing in front of three doors: the first that led into a second triclinium, (our room 11), followed by three rustic rooms at the top, and a cubiculum below with painted plaster.

The second doorway (see Warscher’s photograph no. 19), and the third doorway (see Warscher’s photographs nos. 12 & 13) both entered into the walkway on the north side of the xystus, defined by a podium, and with channels to receive the flowing rain in two cistern mouths”, (see also Warscher’s photograph no. 23).

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.63)

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, DAIR, Rome. 

VI.9.1/14 Pompeii. Chest base. Found in the atrium.

According to Pernice –

The stone is notched at right angles at the four corners and has a strong notch on the front for a third foot.

From this notch a deep groove runs across the pedestal (this probably took a strong wooden beam that was placed under the bottom of the box and thus increased the firm connection between the base and the box).

To the right of the groove is a square hole with traces of iron for a spike that went through the bottom of the box.

See Pernice, E., 1932. Hellenistische Tische, Zisternenmündungen, Beckenuntersätze, Altäre u. Truhen. Berlin, p. 73, Taf. 44.2.

DAIR 32.1100. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

Thanks to Espen B. Andersson for assisting us in our interest in money-chests.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W633. Looking north inside atrium towards north-west corner and Tower XI, at rear.

In the north-west corner was room 13, the kitchen, in centre of photo.

The kitchen contained steps to upper floor and a latrine. 

Room 12, an oecus was on the right side of the kitchen.

(Room 12 was called an ala, room “K” by Warscher).

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

According to Warscher, “this photo was taken from the south end of the atrium.

One could see the impluvium, a part of the kitchen, a part of ala “K”, and the section of the walls that separated the fauces, and room “d”.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.14), DAIR, Rome. 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2007.

Looking across site of room 14 towards the kitchen, room 13 in north-west corner. Looking north from near entrance.

According to Fiorelli, this area would have been the site of a storeroom and kitchen and latrine.

According to Warscher, the room “b” (our room 14) had a low level and in front of the door into the kitchen, there was a tufa step.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, Rome, DAIR.  

VI.9.1 Pompeii. Looking north-west across atrium towards storeroom, on left, and kitchen, in centre.

According to Warscher, one could see the impluvium in the atrium and the piece of marble that remained as proof that it was once covered with marble.

To the right of the oven was the wall that separated the kitchen from the atrium, and was also the west wall of room she called “ala K”

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.15), Rome, DAIR, whose copyright it remains.  

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W634. Room 13, oven in kitchen.

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

According to Warscher, the small oven was leaning against the north wall. The place for the wood was faced in terracotta.

This small and primitive oven could not have been a “restaurant”.

It was to be supposed that this “gabinium” was rather a reunion place frequented by slaves, workmen, etc.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.16), DAIR, Rome. 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2007. Room 13, looking west across kitchen.

The oven or hearth would have been against the north wall, on the right.

In the north-west corner, next to the oven, would have been the latrine.

Against the south wall, on the left, would have been the stairs to the upper rooms.

See Cronache Pompeiane, IV, 1978, for article by Packer, J: Inns at Pompeii: a short survey (p.24-30)

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking towards north side of atrium.

On the left would have been room 13, the kitchen, in the centre would have been room 12, an oecus.

On the right are the painted remains of the high red dado on the east wall of the atrium.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W653. Looking north across and impluvium towards oecus, room 12.

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

According to Packer, the impluvium had been described as a rectangular basin with the short sides on the north and south sides.

Originally it would have had a white marble rim.  At the time of his writing in 1978, he stated that it had disappeared.

Room 12 would have had a red dado embellished with painted plants, above which was a deep red zone separated by yellow zones and arabesques.

See Cronache Pompeiane, IV, 1978, for article by Packer, J: Inns at Pompeii: a short survey (p.24-30)

See Bullettino Archeologico Napolitano, 1, 1843, p.69

VI.9.1 Pompeii.  W1530. North-east corner of atrium,

On the left would have been room 12, the oecus with the open doorway into the atrium.

The doorway in the east wall of the atrium, on the right, would have led into a large triclinium.

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

According to Warscher, this photo showed the atrium and ala “K”.

The atrium had a rectangular shape, it was wider than it was longer, size 8,10m + 4,10m.

The impluvium (sized 2,60m + 1.50m) would have been covered with marble, as shown by a piece that one can see in the border.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.11), DAIR, Rome. 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. W638. Looking east across atrium towards doorway into room 11, the large triclinium.

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

According to Warscher, this doorway led into the yellow triclinium, room “L”.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.18), DAIR, Rome. 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. July 2011. Looking east across atrium. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

On the lower right are the remains of the doorway into room 11, and at the rear of the room can be seen the doorway into the area of room 10.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking north-east across rooms on north side of atrium.

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2005. Looking east across atrium.

Part:    1       2        3        4        5        6       VI.9.1/14 plan      VI.9.14