VI.15.3 Pompeii. Fullonica di Mustius. Excavated 1896.
In Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, prior to January 1897, this entrance doorway may be described as being in Insula 12 of Reg. VI; afterwards it was changed to Insula 15 of Reg. VI.
In Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, January 1897, plan on p.14, this fullonica was numbered as VI.15.4.
It was renumbered in Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, May 1897, p.198 as VI.15.3. See Note on Region VI, Insula 15 plan for information.
VI.15.3 Pompeii. May 2005. Entrance doorway, looking west.
According to NdS, when excavated this doorway was found to have been fitted with a door with a solid iron lock.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, January 1897, (p.20)
According to Della Corte, he surmised this characteristic fullonica was probably rented from the proprietor of VI.15.2.
He thought the name of the fuller was Mustius, and that he carried out the work with the help of a woman, perhaps his wife, named Ovia.
He made this assumption from the two electoral recommendations found to the right of the entrance doorway -
Ovia
(rogat) [CIL IV 3528]
M. Pupium Rufum
II vir. i.d.o.v.f.
Mustius fullo
facit et dealbat, scribit unicus
sine reliquis
sodalibus [CIL
IV 3529]
On the opposite side of the doorjamb, between VI.15.2 and 3, he spoke also in the name of his two neighbours Appuleia and Narcisso, proprietors of the adjoining house at VI.15.2 -
Appuleia cum
Mustio vicino f(acit) et Narcissus vos rogat
[CIL IV 3527]
See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.66, with notes 1, 2 and 3)
According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) these read –
Pupium
/
IIvir(um) i(ure)
d(icundo) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) Appuleia
cum Mustio vicino
f(acit)
et Narcissus vos
roga[t] [CIL IV 3527]
A(ulum) Vesonium
IIvir(um) o(ro)
v(os) f(aciatis) ovia [CIL IV 3528]
M(arcum) Pupium
Rufum
/ IIvir(um)
i(ure) d(icundo) dignum r(ei) p(ublicae) o(ro) f(aciatis)
Mustius fullo
facit
et dealbat
scr(ipsit) unicus
s[ine] reliq(uis)
sodalib(us) Non(is?) [3] [CIL IV
3529]
VI.15.3 Pompeii. May 2005. South-west corner of fullonica.
According to NdS, the entrance doorway led into a workshop with walls of coarse plaster and a high dado of brick plaster (mattone pesto).
Near the south wall were three dividing parallel stone walls.
The third (west wall) formed part of a parapet on three sides of a basin.
On the west side of the basin was a cistern in the south-west corner of the room.
According to Flohr, the cistern mentioned by both Mau and Sogliano has been filled up by the Soprintendenza, at some time during the 20th century.
See Rivista di Studi, XVIII, 2007, article by Flohr, M, entitled Cleaning the laundries report of the 2006 season, (p.133-134)
VI.15.3 Pompeii. May 2005. West wall of fullonica.
According to NdS, another low wall remained near the west wall, which had another three dividing walls forming vats.
At the time of excavation only the north low wall of a vat remained.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, January 1897, (p.20-21) & NdS,
1895, p.439, and p.440
In the centre of the above photo is the doorway leading to two small rear rooms in the north-west corner, according to Sogliano one of these was a kitchen.
According to Flohr, when this work-floor was excavated, it was found to be made of tiles, mostly terracotta.
Most of the tiles were still in situ and were found to be of two types.
Smaller tiles (22cm x 22cm) on the south side, with larger tiles (29cm x 29cm) covered the northern part.
Most larger tiles had three or four small holes. They were found to be Campana reliefs.
Two of these reliefs had disappeared but had left an imprint in the mortar, showing a winged Cupid on a chariot drawn by two horses.
These were similar to the two reliefs attached to the north wall of the next room.
See Rivista di Studi, XVIII, 2007, article by Flohr, M, entitled Cleaning the laundries report of the 2006 season, (p.133-134)
VI.15.3 Pompeii. May 2005. Room on north side of workshop, looking towards north-west corner.
According to NdS, the doorway from the workshop led into a spacious rustic room with a brick-plaster dado.
Some polychrome terracotta panels were fixed in the dado with iron nails (into the thickness of the plaster).
Each showed a cupid in a chariot in bas-relief.
Three of these remained, two on the north wall and one on the west wall.
They were 0.29m high and wide, representing a cupid on a galloping chariot.
The cupid was standing in the chariot with both hands on the reins and bending forward to incite the horses in the race.
All the three panels were identical, varying only in the colour which was very poorly preserved.
Almost in the centre of the north wall of the same room, on the same brick-plaster dado, Sogliano could make out traces
of figures painted onto the natural background.
The deplorable state of the preservation made it impossible to see much, but on the left there were two male figures (0.27m high), and towards the centre of the wall there was possibly a female figure, the head of another figure could just be seen at shoulder level of the female figure.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, January 1897, (p.21).
VI.15.3 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Cupid in a chariot in bas-relief.
Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 394.
VI.15.3 Pompeii.
Mosaic of a spider found in the fullonica di Mustius.
VI.15.3 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Mosaic of a spider found in the fullonica di Mustius.
Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 944.