T12 Pompeii. Tower XII.
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 -
The earthquake demolished large portions of the two western towers (XI and XII).
Tower XII is missing its entire exterior façade, and crude walls seal the passageways.
See Van der Graaff, I. (2018). The Fortifications of Pompeii and Ancient Italy. Routledge, (p. 135).
Vicolo di Modesto, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking north towards Tower XII. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking north from Vicolo di Modesto. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
T12 Pompeii. Tower XII. December 2007. Looking north from Vicolo di Modesto.
See Notizie degli Scavi, 1943, (p.275-294),
for article entitled “Isolation
of the wall between Porta Vesuvius and Herculaneum Gate.”
(Isolamento della cinta murale fra Porta Vesuvio e
Porta Ercolano).
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking east towards city walls and Tower XII.
City Walls and Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Interior city wall, with Mason’s marks, on west end of south side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. City walls and Tower XII, looking east.
T12 Pompeii. City walls and Pompeii Tower XII, looking east.
Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. City walls adjacent to Tower XII, on west side, looking north.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. West end of south side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking east across south side of Tower, from city wall on west side. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
South side of city walls at west side of tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Detail of remaining plaster on west side of tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii, upper right. May 2010.
Looking towards south side of city wall and tower, from doorway into VI.2.18 in Vicolo di Narciso. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. Tower XII, looking north-east from VI.2.18.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Doorway on east end of south side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. Arched doorway to Tower XII.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. Corridor from entrance to Tower XII.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Detail of vaulted passageway/corridor from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking towards north end of passageway/corridor from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Steps inside tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. Steps from corridor in Tower XII.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking towards top of steps in tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. Steps inside Tower XII.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. Steps inside Tower XII.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Middle floor of tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Blocked up doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
T12 Pompeii. Tower XII. December 2007. Looking south-west from outside city walls towards tower.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2015.
Looking south-west from walk around walls towards east side of Tower XII. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking south-west towards Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking towards lower and middle floors of tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XI, Pompeii or Tower XII? Pre 1944. Looking south-west towards north side of Tower.
This is shown in NdS (as below) as being from Tower XI and is very similar to Tower XII in its current state of preservation.
According to NdS –
Un restauro parziale, suggerito dall’opportunità
di giovarsi di una delle torri per avere una veduta panoramica delle rovine,
venne precedentemente eseguito della Torre XI, più comunemente nota con il nome
di Torre della Via di Mercurio: il restauro si limitò al secondo ripiano della
torre. La fotografia a fig. 13 mostra quale fosse lo stato di conservazione
delle strutture esterne ed interne prima della ripresa della cortina murarie e
delle volte.
(A partial restoration, suggested by the opportunity to take advantage of one of the towers to give a panoramic view of the ruins, was previously carried out on Tower XI, more commonly known as the Tower of the Via di Mercurio: the restoration was limited to the second level of the tower. The photograph in fig. 13 shows the state of conservation of the external and internal structures before the restoration of the curtain wall and the vaults.)
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità,
1944-45, (fig. 13, p. 293)
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2015.
Looking south from walk around walls towards middle floor of Tower XII. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking south towards room on middle floor on top of city wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking south towards Tower on top of city wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII looking south-west from walk around walls. May 2015.
The base of the tower walls can be made out in the grassed area near to the arched room. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2015.
Looking south from walk around walls towards room in lower and middle floor of Tower XII. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
T12 Pompeii. Tower XII. December 2004. Looking south from outside the walls.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking south towards base of Tower built into north side of city wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2015.
Looking south from walk around walls, showing details of lower room of Tower XII. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
Looking south towards base of Tower built into north side of city wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Looking east through doorway at rear of vaulted room in base of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking east through doorway. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Looking south towards wall on base of Tower on east side of vaulted room. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking east from interior through doorway along city walls. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. December 2007.
Looking east through eastern doorway of remaining room on middle floor, from interior of Tower XII.
Tower XI is visible along the top of the walls.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking east from top of city wall towards west side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking west from Tower along top of city walls. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. December 2007. Looking west along the top of the walls from Tower XII.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail of merlon capping stone from west side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail of merlon capping stone from west side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Detail of merlon capping stone from west side of Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
T12 Pompeii. December 2007. Tower XII western entrance, from top of walls. Looking east.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2015.
Looking south-east from walk along walls towards west side of Tower XII, with doorway from wall-walk. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking south-east from top of city wall towards VI.2, Pompeii. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Tower XII, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking south-west towards VI.1.25/6 from Tower. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
City Walls on north side of Pompeii. May 2010.
Looking south-east from near Tower XII across VI.7 towards Via di Mercurio and VI.9 from top of wall. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.