VI.10.7 Pompeii. Casa dell’ Ancora or House of the Black Anchor. 

Rear entrance at VI.10.16. Excavated 1826 and 1829. (Strada di Mercurio 3).

Part:      1        2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9       Plan

According to the information card for this house –

“The archaeological excavations carried out in the framework of the Regio VI project have made it possible to date a large part of the architecture of the domus to the last quarter of the second century B.C, the period when the house was extended southward.

Three more phases have also been identified.

The first of these is attributed to the late republican period (first century B.C.) based on a series of decorative elements that include the large mosaic in room 18 (our room 11) with its sinopia; the second is dated to the first century A.D., based on its Third Style frescos; the third with Fourth Style decorations, is attributed to the period following the earthquake of 62 A.D.”

Via di Mercurio, east side, Pompeii. November 2024.

Looking east towards doorway to VI.10.7 on left, and VI.10.8 on right. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. November 2024. Looking east on Via di Mercurio. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. November 2024. Looking east through entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Annette Haug.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance doorway. 

According to Pagano and Prisciandaro, found in August 1826, painted in red, on the external wall between VI.10.7 & 8 (on the right) was

N(umerium) Barcham IIV(irum) v(irum) b(onum) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) ita v(obeis) Venus Pomp(eiana) sacra (sancta propitia sit)      [CIL IV 26]

Many other graffiti were also found on the same wall, see doorway at VI.10.8 for these.

In January 1827 found on the left of the doorway, between VI.10.6 and 7, were –

M(arcum) Holconium

C(aium) Gavium IIvir(os)

/[       [CIL IV 155]

M(arcum) Cerrinium

Vatiam aed(ilem)

Tintirius rog(at)      [CIL IV 156]

Holconium

Priscum IIvir(um)      [CIL IV 157]

Found on the front external wall, was –

M(arcum) Valerium aed(ilem)  

/[       [CIL IV 154

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.136)  

VI.10.7 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Looking east to exterior front facade on north side of entrance doorway.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1731.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, atrium. Looking west to Via di Mercurio through entrance fauces/vestibule.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, atrium showing entrance mosaic with black anchor pattern in vestibule.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. January 2019. Room 1, black anchor pattern on entrance vestibule mosaic. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2019. Room 1, entrance mosaic in vestibule with black anchor pattern.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2004. Room 1, entrance doorway with black anchor mosaic in vestibule.   

VI.10.7 Pompeii. January 2019.

Room 1, looking west across mosaic in entrance corridor/fauces towards anchor in vestibule. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2019.

Room 1, looking east across mosaics in vestibule/entrance corridor/fauces.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 1, step up from vestibule with black anchor mosaic. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. July 2017. Room 1, north side of entrance vestibule/fauces

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. July 2017. Room 1, remaining plaster on north wall of entrance vestibule/fauces.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2017. Entrance mosaic in corridor/fauces.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 1, detail of mosaic in entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2004. Room 1, mosaic in entrance doorway. 

VI.10.7 Pompeii. July 2017. Room 1, remaining plaster on south wall of entrance vestibule.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. July 2017. Room 1, south wall of entrance vestibule and fauces.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. July 2017. Room 1, south wall at east end.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2019. Looking east from entrance mosaic across atrium.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2017. Looking east from entrance towards atrium and tablinum.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. October 2001.

Looking east from entrance towards atrium and tablinum. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Looking east across entrance mosaic into atrium, from entrance doorway.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 892a.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2019. Looking east towards impluvium in atrium.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. July 2017. Looking east across atrium towards tablinum.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. July 2011. Room 1, looking east across atrium. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Room 1, looking east across impluvium in atrium.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1726.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Room 1, looking east across impluvium in atrium.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1726a.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. January 2019. Room 1, looking north-east across impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 1, looking north-east across impluvium in atrium from entrance. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, looking north-east across impluvium in atrium. 

VI.10.7 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 1, looking towards north-east side of atrium from entrance.

The large lava stone base for the strongbox has now been lifted, presumably to view the black and white mosaic floor remains below.

Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2019. Room 1, the large lava stone base for the strongbox on the north side of the atrium.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, north side of atrium. 

Large lava stone base for arca or cash-chest covering black and white mosaic floor remains, from between doorways to rooms 5 and 6.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Room 1, looking north-east across impluvium in atrium. 

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1778.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. 1932.

According to Pernice –

The base is located in the atrium on the left wall between the central ala and the second room (there is a gap of 9-14 cm between the base and the wall).

The base is a lava block with a not entirely regular wall made of clay and tuff bricks.

Ancient treatments: To replace the old hole for the iron spike, which caused the stone to crack, a new hole was drilled right next to it.

See Pernice, E., 1932. Hellenistische Tische, Zisternenmündungen, Beckenuntersätze, Altäre u. Truhen. Berlin, p. 75, Taf. 45.2.

DAIR 32.1102. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

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

VI.10.7 Pompeii. May 2017. Room 1, looking east to puteal on impluvium in atrium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, puteal on impluvium in atrium.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. January 2019.

Room 1, looking west across atrium towards entrance doorway, in centre. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, looking west across atrium towards entrance doorway.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. January 2019.

Room 1, looking north-west across impluvium in atrium with entrance doorway, on left. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Room 1, looking north-west across atrium, with entrance doorway, on left.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1777.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2019. Looking towards rooms on north side of atrium.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, looking towards north side of atrium. 

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2019. Looking towards south side of atrium, room 1.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, south wall of atrium. 

According to Bragantini, the dado of the atrium walls may have been painted black, the middle zone was yellow.

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1983. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 2. Rome: ICCD. (p.231)

Part:      1        2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9       Plan