VIII.1.4 Pompeii. Antiquarium. Opened either 1861 (Maiuri) or 1873-4 (SAP).

Including the Larario dei Pompeianisti which was opened in 1948.

Bombed 1943. Reconstructed 1947. Reopened 13th June 1948.

Closed after earthquake in 1980. Reopened 2016.

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Pompeianisti

Secondo Maiuri l'Antiquarium è stata fondata nel 1861.

Vedi: Maiuri A., 1970. Pompeii. Roma: Istituto poligrafico dello Stato, p. 102.

Secondo il sito web PAP, L’Antiquarium di Pompei fu realizzato da Giuseppe Fiorelli tra il 1873 e il 1874 negli spazi sottostanti la terrazza del Tempio di Venere, con affaccio su Porta Marina. Fu sede espositiva di una selezione di reperti provenienti da Pompei ed esemplificativi della vita quotidiana dell’antica città, oltre che dei calchi delle vittime dell’eruzione.

Nel 1926 venne ampliato da Amedeo Maiuri, che oltre ad aggiungere grandi mappe con gli sviluppi aggiornati degli scavi dal 1748 in poi e inserire nuovi reperti provenienti dalla Villa Pisanella di Boscoreale nonché dai più recenti scavi di via dell’Abbondanza, impostò un percorso che guidava il visitatore nella storia di Pompei dalle origini fino all’eruzione. 

L’edificio fu poi gravemente danneggiato dalle bombe della II guerra mondiale nel settembre 1943 e grazie all’intervento di restauro del Maiuri, il 13 giugno del 1948 riaprì alla fruizione dei visitatori in occasione della celebrazione del 2° centenario degli scavi di Pompei. Nuovamente danneggiato, stavolta dal terremoto del 1980, da allora è rimasto chiuso al pubblico.

Nel 2010 è stato interessato da una ristrutturazione generale che restituisce alla fruizione del pubblico un edificio restaurato con interventi di allestimento integratii con una più completa offerta di conoscenza per il visitatore, multimediale e museale, e che, grazie alla realizzazione di un ascensore che dalla quota della Villa Imperiale conduce a quella di copertura dell’Antiquarium, in corrispondenza del Tempio di Venere, permette l’accesso facilitato per tutti i visitatori all’area archeologica di Pompei.

E’ stato riaperto al pubblico nella sua nuova veste di visitor center e spazio museale nell’aprile del 2016.

Vedi: Il sito web PAP

Secondo Garcia y Garcia, il 25 febbraio 1861 Fiorelli ha proposto l'istituzione di un museo a Pompei. Per la finanziaria o ragioni di disponibilità della terra il grande disegno originale non è stato proceduto. 

Nel giornale manoscritto alla data del 17 marzo 1863 mostra Fiorelli era ormai adattato un lungo rettilineo grande parte cripta era una struttura antica scoperta sotto la terrazza del Tempio di Venere. Ingresso era da una porta sotto l'arco di Porta Marina. Questo manoscritto è datato dopo la requisizione e distruzione del casino Minervini, che per anni aveva in parte le stanze antiche come cellai. Garcia y Garcia suggerisce che questo è “meglio sarebbe chiamarlo magazzino”. 

La storia di questo primo Museo Pompeiano è quasi avvolta nel mistero, e della sua prima istituzione, come del suo evolversi, non abbiamo quasi nessun tipo di documentazione. 

Nel 1873 Fiorelli (Gli Scavi di Pompei...) non ne aveva fatto cenno.

Nel 1875 Fiorelli (Descrizione...) descrivendo la Porta Marina e la cripta (nell'antichità un deposito per gli oggetti provenienti dal mare), parla già  del Museo Pompeiano, ma senza nessun’altra notizia.

Nel 1877 Fiorelli (Guida) descrive semplicemente "si ritorna alla Porta della Marina dove potrà osservare il Museo Pompeiano". Elenca anche oltre 1,600 articoli trovati nel Museo.

Possiamo pertanto presumere la sua istituzione tra gli anni 1873-4.

Vedi: Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider, p. 173ff.

Vedi: Fiorelli, G., 1875. Descrizione di Pompei. Napoli, p. 316.

Vedi: Fiorelli, G., 1877. Guida di Pompei, Napoli, pp. 87-108.

According to Maiuri the Antiquarium was founded in 1861.

See Maiuri A., 1970. Pompeii. Roma: Istituto poligrafico dello Stato, p. 102.

According to the PAP web site, The Antiquarium of Pompeii was realised by Giuseppe Fiorelli between 1873 and 1874 in the areas under the terrace of the Temple of Venus, facing Porta Marina. It was the exhibition site of a selection of finds hailing from Pompeii, which served as an example of the daily life in the ancient city, as well as exhibiting casts of the eruption victims.

In 1926, it was expanded by Amedeo Maiuri, who not only added large maps showing updated developments of the excavations from 1748 onwards, but also inserted new finds from Villa Pisanella of Boscoreale as well as from the most recent excavations in Via dell’Abbondanza, and set up a route that guided the visitors through Pompeii’s history, from its origins to the eruption.

The building was then seriously damaged by bombs during World War II, in September 1943. However, thanks to Maiuri’s renovation intervention, it was reopened to visitors on the two hundredth anniversary of Pompeii’s excavations, on 13th June 1948. It was damaged again, this time by an earthquake in 1980, and it had been closed to the public since then.

However, after a general renovation in 2010, the restored building was again open for public use with work on integrated outfitting offering a more complete multimedia and museum-like experience to the visitors. This renovation grants all visitors easier access to the archaeological area of Pompeii thanks to the installation of an elevator that leads from the level of Villa Imperiale to the height of the Antiquarium covering, in line with the Temple of Venus. It was reopened to the public as visitor centre and museum area in April 2016.

See PAP web site

According to Garcia y Garcia, on the 25th February 1861 Fiorelli proposed the institution of a Museum at Pompeii. For financial or land availability reasons the original grand design was not proceeded with.

A manuscript dated 17th March 1863 shows Fiorelli had by then adapted a long straight big crypt, part of which was an antique structure discovered below the terrace of the Temple of Venus. It was entered by a door under the arch of the Porta Marina. This manuscript is dated after the requisition and demolition of the Casino Minervini, which for years had used the antique crypt as a storage cellar. Garcia y Garcia suggests this was more a store than a museum.

The history of this museum is somewhat shrouded in mystery and lack of documented detail.

In 1873 Fiorelli (Gli Scavi di Pompei…) does not mention the Museo at all.

In 1875 Fiorelli (Descrizione…) describes the crypt (in antiquity a deposit for items coming by sea) and mentions the Museo but gives no further details.

In 1877 Fiorelli (Guida) simply describes “returning to the Porta Marina where you will observe the Museo Pompeiano”. He also lists over 1600 items found in the Museo.

All these may suggest a Museum further developed in 1873-4, possibly opened in 1875.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider, p. 173ff.

See Fiorelli, G., 1875. Descrizione di Pompei. Napoli, p. 316.

See Fiorelli, G., 1877. Guida di Pompei, Napoli, pp. 87-108.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. April 2019. Open entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. April 2019.

Looking east under Porta Marina to display advert on east side of doorway. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. January 2010.

Entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. December 2005. Entrance.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. January 2010. Room inside entrance. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. April 2022. Looking across room inside entrance. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. April 2022.

Looking towards display cabinet. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Looking across display cabinet containing silver from Moregine and bronze food warmer from I.8.17 (this end), and at the far end –

Bronze strainer and two pitchers from new excavations in Reg. V, and Terracotta bottles, jugs and red ware plates and bowls from room 11 of the House of Orion, V.2.

Looking towards the bronze Ephebus lamp holder from VII.16.17-22, and across to the marble statue of Nike, from Oplontis, at the far end.

On the wall to the right is part of a painted wall from I.6.2.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022. Tintinnabulum.

Bronze lamp with statuette of a satyr with a phallus from which small bells hang, found in I.6.3.  

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Bronze lamp with statuette of a satyr with a phallus from which small bells hang, found in I.6.3.  

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Display cabinet, looking towards silver table set from Moregine.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Silver found in the Complex of the Moregine Triclinia.

Silver table set consisting of 20 pieces: a circular serving plate, four plates, ten cups – two embossed – four stands and a teaspoon.

The inscription, Erasti sum, engraved on the back of the silverware indicates that the owner’s name was Erastus.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Detail of one of the silver embossed cups from the table set found in Moregine.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Detail of the eight silver cups, not embossed, three stands, and teaspoon found in Moregine.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

According to Conticello (in Rediscovering Pompeii, p.173, no.59) –

This is a bronze cylindrical food warmer found under the stairs in the servant’s quarters of I.8.17.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

The Romans created a range of richly decorated devices, usually in bronze, for storing hot water during triclinium banquets.

The hollow cylinder of the latter rests on an iron tripod.

The feet are in the form of lion's paws, the handles end in small hands.

A small temple with a Gorgon in the tympanum can be seen in the opening.

Two dolphins and a Triton decorate the lid.

See Le Musée Maillol : Pompéi - Un art de vivre, l’exposition du 21 septembre 2011 au 12 février 2012. Communiqué de presse.

Parco Archeologico Pompei, inventory number 6798.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Detail of small temple with a Gorgon's head, from bronze food warmer.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Looking across amulets and gems found in V.3, House with Garden, towards bronze Ephebus lamp from VII.16.17/22.

At the rear, is part of the painted wall from the oecus/triclinium of I.6.2.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Display case with amulets and gems found in V.3, House with Garden. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Detail of bronze Ephebus as an oil lamp holder, found in dining room of VII.16.17/22.

The terracotta plaques, on the wall to the left, may have been found during the excavation of the foundations of the Greek temple.

(See p.103, of Fiorelli, G., 1897. Guida di Pompei, Museo Pompeiano terracotta items, Part 5 below, for more photos).

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

Parco Archeologico Pompei, inventory number 13112.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. April 2022.

Terracotta slabs with nereids on tritons (from Pompeii), which may have been found during the excavation of the foundations of the Greek temple.

(These can also be seen in here in Part 5, mentioned in Fiorelli’s “Guida di Pompei”).

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022. Detail from bronze Ephebus. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022. Detail from bronze Ephebus. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Detail of bronze Ephebus as an oil lamp holder, found in dining room of VII.16.17/22.

Visible on the wall to the right is a wall painting from VI.17.42, House of the Golden Bracelet.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Painting depicting the wedding of Alexander the Great and Roxanne.

Central wall painting from south wall of Triclinium 20 of VI.17.42, House of the Golden Bracelet.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Marble statue of Nike, found on eastern side of pool in Villa A, at Oplontis.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Detail of rear of marble statue of Nike, found on eastern side of pool in Villa A, at Oplontis.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Detail of upper part of marble statue of Nike, found on eastern side of pool in Villa A, at Oplontis.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Detail of lower part of marble statue of Nike, found on eastern side of pool in Villa A, at Oplontis.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Bronze and Ivory Flutes, found in Via del Vesuvio. Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022. Bronze and Ivory Flutes, found in Via del Vesuvio. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Detail of Bronze and Ivory Flutes, from Via del Vesuvio.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022. Found in area of Via del Vesuvio, Pompeii.

Central mosaic picture that adorned a fountain, in front of which there was a statuette of a rabbit. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.  Found in area of Via del Vesuvio, Pompeii.

Central mosaic picture that adorned a fountain, in front of which there was a statuette of a rabbit.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Found in area of Via del Vesuvio, Pompeii.

Marble rabbit, found in front of a fountain. Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Marble herm with the head of a woman, conventionally identified as Poppea Sabina, found on eastern side of the garden, in Villa A, at Oplontis.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Marble herm with the head of a woman, conventionally identified as Poppea Sabina.

This was found on eastern side of the garden, in Villa A, at Oplontis.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Elements of marble architectural decoration from the Forum, VII.8.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Limestone relief signed by the master builder (structor) Diogenes, from VII.15.2

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Marble slab from side of household altar in atrium of V.1.26, showing the effects of the 62AD earthquake in the Forum.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Marble wall decoration made of cut marble (opus sectile) with a vegetal motif, from VIII.2.16.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii Antiquarium. February 2021. Looking through same room across display case from in front of the statue of Nike.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

On the left wall are the terracotta plaques from Pompeii.

On the right wall is the second wall painting from the north wall of the triclinium of the House of the Golden Bracelet.

In the far centre, on a shelf, are the glass panels from the House of Fabius Rufus.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Fresco showing Dionysus and Ariadne in Naxos, found on the north wall of the triclinium 20, in VI.17.42.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Glass cameo panel decorating furniture and depicting Bacchus and Ariadne, found in the House of Fabius Rufus, VII.16.17-22, room 62.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Glass cameo panel decorating furniture and depicting Bacchus and Ariadne, found in the House of Fabius Rufus, VII.16.17-22, room 62.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. From central display case. Bronze brazier found in the peristyle garden in I.10.4.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. From central display case.

Bronze strainer with inscription, on the left are glass bowls and beakers, all found in House of Menander at I.10.4.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Bronze breadbasket/plate from House of Menander at I.10.4.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Bronze pitcher with handles decorated with human faces, from House of Menander at I.10.4.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021.

Beaker decorated with indentations and a human face together with red ware plates and bowls, from I.10.4, House of Menander.   

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Bronze dish, from House of Menander at I.10.4.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. February 2021. Bronze stool, from House of Fabius Rufus, at VII.16.17-22.

Photo courtesy of Fabien Bièvre-Perrin (CC BY-NC-SA).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Photograph on display in Antiquarium, of carbon inscription found in Regio V, Casa del Giardino, on the east wall of the atrium.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

(See V.03 Giardino).

According to the information card –

“Charcoal inscription that suggests an autumn date (24th October) of the eruption of 79AD.” It can be read –

XVI K NOV IN OLEARIA

PROMA SUMSERUNT [……]

Sixteen days before the kalends of November they took from the oil pantry […..]

Iscrizione a carboncino che suggerisce una datazione autunnale (24 ottobre) dell’eruzione del 79 d.C. Si legge:

XVI K NOV IN OLEARIA / PROMA SUMSERUNT [……]

Sedici giorni prima delle calende di novembre hanno preso nella dispensa olearia […..]

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022. Looking towards statue of Livia in centre of room. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Statue of Livia from Villa of Mysteries. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Painting on wall from IX.7.1 showing procession in honour of the goddess Cybele. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Her cult statue is seated on a wooden litter beside which stand four bearers with garlands in their hair.

Behind her are two rows of worshippers led by a priest and priestess.

Some of the worshippers are playing the Pan Pipes or double flute, others beating tambourines or clashing cymbals.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (F63: p.332, T. 59,2).

VIII.1.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Foot/leg of a table, on display in exhibition in the Palaestra. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Could this be one of the monopodiums for supporting a table, as mentioned by Fiorelli, in either -

Fiorelli, G., 1897. Guida di Pompei, (p.110).

Fiorelli, G., 1877. Guida di Pompei. (p.108).

(for details of these pages, see VIII.1.4, part 5).

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Pompeianisti