IX.9.12 Pompeii. Hospitium with stables.

Linked to IX.9.e and IX.9.13. Excavated 1888.

IX.9.e/12/13 Room Plan

IX.9.11, 12 and 13 Pompeii. Plan of insula IX.9, as seen in Notizie degli Scavi, 1891.

The lower numbers on the plan can be identified (on our website) as –

IV  = IX.9.d

V   = IX.9.e

VI  = IX.9.f

VII = IX.9.g

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1891 (p.254).

IX.9.12 Pompeii, on left. March 2009. Small vicolo, looking north from entrance doorway.

IX.9.12 Pompeii, on right. March 2009. Small vicolo, looking south from entrance doorway.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking west across room 11, from entrance doorway.

According to NdS, the entrance doorway was rather wide and it had a lava threshold.

When excavated, a big iron hinge was still fixed into the threshold.

The floor was of signinum, and much remained of the wall decoration which consisted of rustic plaster and high red zoccolo.

On the left of the entrance was the doorway to the stables, (our room 12) and on the right was a doorway to a cubiculum (our room 14).

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1891, p.256.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking west across room 11, towards rooms 13 and 15.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 13, triclinium. Looking west through window into room 16, the light yard of IX.9.e.

According to NdS, this room was lit by two windows, there would have been another in the south wall overlooking the garden (on the left).

This had another circular window above it, which would originally have been rectangular.

The flooring would have been of crushed brick (mattone pesto), and the walls were decorated with a black background with red bands.

In the centre of the north wall (on the right) was a red panel containing a painting which had partly fallen, and the parts which remained had faded.

In the south wall near the doorway to the garden area, (see IX.9.13) was a low masonry hearth, which showed the room originally had another use.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1891, p.257.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway to room 15, kitchen. Looking east from room 16, the light yard or small courtyard.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 15, north-west corner of kitchen. 

According to NdS, another puteal above a cistern-mouth was found in this area next to the doorway from the light-yard.

The water entered it from a type of small impluvium, which collected the water from the roof.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 15, remains of niche in north-west corner of kitchen

According to NdS, on the extreme west of the north wall of the kitchen was a rectangular niche, protected by a small roof.

Near this was found the usual painted lararium with Lares, the family Genius sacrificing at the altar, and a tibicine with double flute.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1891, (p.256)

According to Boyce –

In the north wall of the kitchen is a square niche (0.65 square, d.0.25, h. above floor 1.50), with a projecting tile below.

On the wall to the right of it are visible traces of a lararium painting: in the centre, the Genius (h.0.48) with a fold of the toga drawn over his head pours a libation from a patera upon an altar; behind him is the tibicen (h.0.38); on each side stands a Lar (h.0.67) in short tunic, a wreath of leaves upon his head, carrying rhyton and patera.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.93, no.465).

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 15, north wall of kitchen. On the left of the photo would be the area for the small impluvium.

In the centre would be the area where the latrine was found.

On the right would have been the hearth area. When it was discovered, the floor of the hearth was destroyed.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1891, (p.256)

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 15, looking east towards doorway to room 11.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009.

Looking east across room 11, towards the doorways to room 14, entrance doorway (centre), and room 12.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009.

Looking north-east across room 11, the atrium area. The remains of the high red zoccolo (dado) can still be seen.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway to room 14, cella ostiaria, or porter’s room. According to NdS, this was a cubiculum.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 14, east wall with window to Vicolo.

According to NdS, this cubiculum had flooring of Opus signinum, and walls were painted with a white background.

The top was covered by a vault, and in the western lunette (fanlight) was a stucco relief of Pegasus between two trees.

In the centre of each of the walls, was an unframed painting, without a cornice edging.

On the east wall a painting of a musical contest could be seen.

To the left on a seat was a bearded man of noble appearance touching the heptacord (a seven-string lyre) with his left hand, holding the plectrum in his right.

He appeared to be listening to the sounds of his rival.

To the right stood a young woman in the attitude of playing a seven string chelys (a shell shaped instrument).

In the central compartments of the other walls, the usual sanctuary with a sacred tree was painted.

On the south wall a column topped with a vase or urn to which were attached two thyrsus (a staff), a rostrum of a boat, and a tympanum (hand drum or tambourine) could be seen.

At the base of the column was an idol of Fortuna (in purple monochrome) with a cornucopia on her left arm.

The hand of the lower right arm was destroyed.

In the middle was the sacred tree, and towards the right were two figures praying to the idol.

Behind the column, on the left, was a torch leaning against its base.

On the white background was a graffito, stretching from the idol to the head of the first worshipper.

PoPLV||IC TVLIX DIIA IIST QVII NoBIS

SIICVNDA VNDSITSIIM..

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

Poplu[3]ictulix dea est que nobis

Secunda Vndsitsem       [CIL IV, 5257]

On the west wall, near the entrance doorway, was a shrine with a tree, which was planted in the middle of an area made by a trellis fence.

On the north wall, was a shrine with a tree and in front of it was a herm of Priapus (in purple monochrome).

In the other compartments of the walls were simple garlands; and in the frieze were various birds carrying jewels in their beaks, pulling pearl necklaces from drawers, or a series of small medallions and other things that could no longer be seen.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1891, (p. 256-7).

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking south-east across entrance yard to doorway to room 12, stables.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 12, stable for horses or donkeys.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Two terracotta puteals.

IX.9.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Two terracotta puteals.

IX.9.e/12/13 Room Plan