T10 Pompeii. Tower X.

Part 1      Part 2      Towers plan

According to Van der Graaff –

“Today, the twelve towers built into the Pompeian circuit are in ruins, their tall structures toppled during the earthquake of the 60s CE and the eruption of Vesuvius………………….. 

Each tower consisted of three floors supported by barrel vaults and interconnected by means of rear internal stairways. A door in the back provided access to the city side, and one on either flank opened on the wall-walk. A small postern in the ground floor usually opened onto the exterior side of the defences.”

See Van der Graaff, I. (2018). The Fortifications of Pompeii and Ancient Italy. Routledge, (p.71/2). (See p.71-81 – The Towers).

According to Van der Graaff -

“In February 1898, Antonio Sogliano, in an effort to date the towers more accurately, began to expose Tower X on the north side of the city.

Towards late August 1901, the operation ceased after extending west to clear the curtain wall between Towers X and XI and to (re)expose Tower XII. (Note 61). Work resumed 1906 to investigate the agger south and west of Tower XI, but Sogliano abandoned the excavations and never published the results. The graffito with Sulla’s name located on the first window on the right of Tower X mentioned previously was among his most important discoveries. (Note 62). Although the graffito provides no real association with the events of the siege, it prompted Sogliano to date the construction of this tower and the others to before Sulla’s conquest of Pompeii. (Note 63).”

See Van der Graaff, I. (2018). The Fortifications of Pompeii and Ancient Italy. Routledge, (p.16 and Note 61, 62 and 63).

(Note 62: CIL IV 5385; Sogliano, 1898a, 68)

According to Sogliano in Notizie degli Scavi, February 1898, p.68-69) –

“The upper part of the third tower, counting from the Herculaneum Gate, had been unearthed, with a portion of the surrounding wall.

Referring the reader to what was said about the walls and towers by Prof. Mau (Overbeck-Mau, Pompeji, p.42 and following) I just note that the decoration of the tower, in the First Style, was almost perfectly preserved. In this tower I copied since 1894 an epigraph graffiti on white stucco, indicated to me by Prof. Mau in Mitteilungen 1895, p.224, it was read next to the window slit on the right side of stairway by which you descend to the lower floor, and was the following –

Tower X, Pompeii. 1894 Sulla epigraph graffiti.

It was not without importance to find the name of the opponent of Pompeii traced in one of the towers: this memory of the moment brings us back almost to witness the siege of 89 BC, and almost restores life and person to the historical memory of the Roman general.”

Tower X, Pompeii. August 2023.

Looking north-east from Vicolo del Fauno towards Tower, with VI.11, centre and right. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking north-east from Vicolo del Fauno, from VI.11.1,2,3 and 4. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. December 2007. Looking north-east from VI.11.19/20.

Tower X, Pompeii. December 2006. Looking north-east from near VI.9.1.

Vicolo del Labirinto, Pompeii. May 2010.

Looking south from Tower X, with VI.15 on left, and VI.11.19/20 on right. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii, on right. July 2008. Looking south-west across north end of VI.11 towards Sorrentine Peninsula.

VI.11.19/20 is seen on the left. Photo courtesy of Barry Hobson.

Tower X, Pompeii. July 2008. Looking north-west. Photo courtesy of Barry Hobson.

Tower X, Pompeii. September 2005. Looking north from the end of Vicolo del Labirinto.

Tower X, Pompeii. 1890-1900. Tower south side and walls.

Photo courtesy of British School at Rome Digital Collections.

See http://www.bsrdigitalcollections.it/details.aspx?ID=15504&ST=SS

Tower X, Pompeii. During excavations c.1897. Looking north from the end of Vicolo del Labirinto.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1897, p153, fig1.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking north to Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Looking west along City Wall, towards east side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Looking west towards south side with doorway and abutting south City Wall, on right. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Painted plaster on east side of doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Detail of remaining white painted plaster on east side of tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Painted plaster of east side of doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Detail of painted plaster on east side of doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail on east side of doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail from upper doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Detail of painted plaster on west side of doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail on west side of doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail from south side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail from west end of south exterior wall of tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Detail of First Style white painted plaster on west end of south side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking east along south side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking north along corridor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Looking north through arrow slit/window in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Arrow slit window in north-west corner on west wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Looking east to exterior window on west side of lower floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Detail of arrow slit/window, looking east from exterior. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking towards north wall on lower floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Arrow slit windows in north wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Arrow slit window at west end of north wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

East side of arrow slit/window at west end of north wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Arrow slit window at east end of north wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Looking towards east wall in north-east corner, with window above postern gate. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Corridor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Corridor, looking north. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Arrow slit window at north end of corridor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Filled-in window in north wall near to postern gate. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail of filled in window. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Arrow slit window above postern gate in east wall in north-east corner of lower floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Postern gate, looking east along exterior of city walls towards Vesuvian Gate. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Corridor, looking south from near postern gate. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Looking east along north wall of room on lower floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. East wall of room on lower floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. South-east corner of room on lower floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. South-east corner of lower room. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. South wall of room on lower floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

South wall and south-west corner of lower room. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

South-west corner of room on lower floor, with arched doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Small arched doorway in south-west corner of lower room. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking east from arched doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Steps to first floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

North side of the interior of the tower on first floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. North side of the interior of the tower.

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

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. North-west corner on first floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Upper north-west corner on first floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Windows in north wall on first floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Detail of windows in north wall at west end. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010.

Detail of windows in north wall at east end. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. North-east corner on first floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Upper north-east corner on first floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Windows in north wall on upper second floor. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail from upper floor on north side. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Tower X, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking towards south wall on first floor.

The steps, on the left, would have led to the upper floor. The doorway, on the right, leads to steps to the lower floor.

Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.

Part 2      Towers plan