Unit I 10,12

The walls of this unit have coarse plaster and the pavement was of cocciopesto. There appears to have been a wooden stairway along the west wall, two stone blocks (each of h.: c.50 mm, and dimensions: c.450 mm × 350 mm) 2.2 m from the south wall and set at right angles to the wall forming the base. Elia reported that no finds were made here. However, the excavators recorded: part of an inscribed amphora, probably a spindle and a spindle whorl, and a small ceramic pot, on the pavement; a bronze lock bolt at 2.5 m above the pavement; and an iron door key and two nails in the lapilli. According to Elia, this was a workshop. An entrance in the east wall had been closed when a latrine was added to room 31 in the Casa del Menandro. An inscription, painted in black, was observed near the blocked doorway to the latter room. Elia believed that this unit had originally been part of the Casa del Menandro but had been separated from it and was disused at the time of the eruption. The finds, while rather small and loseable, might point to its use as a location for spinning during its final occupancy phase.

House I 10,8

The surviving plaster on the walls of this entranceway consisted of a high pink socle, delineated in red, with a white zone above. Ling observed that this overlay an earlier First-Style decoration on the east wall and that it had been patched in antiquity. Breaches are found in both the east and west walls. Outside the entrance, to either side, is a masonry bench (east bench: l.: 2.1 m, d.: 380 mm; west bench: l.: 2.4 m, d.: 460 mm), both much damaged. Finds within the entranceway consisted of bronze and iron studs, undoubtedly from the house door. Remains of plastered decoration survive on the south wall. Elia recorded a yellow dado, surmounted by a red band, with white plaster above. There is a breach in the north-west corner through to Unit no. 9, above a blocked doorway. At the centre of this front hall is a tufa impluvium (2.4 m × 2.1 m). In the north-west corner, 1 m above the pavement, were found: a small bronze ring; a bronze stud, similar to those in the entranceway and probably also from the front door; a fragment of a stone mortar or hand-mill; some glass beads; a small shell; and two bronze quadrantes, one of Nero dated ad 64. The fragmentary or loseable nature of these items suggests that they were disturbed from the ground level. Other small loseable items were found in the north-east corner: a small glass bottle, probably a toilet item; and possibly five more coins. One metre from the west side of the impluvium were found: another part of a hand-mill; two large stone weights; at least fifty-three lead weights, probably from a loom; and two other spherical stones, possibly also weights. The large number of lead weights is comparable with the quantity found under the stairway in room i of the Casa del Principe di Napoli. Another comparable group of forty loom weights was found together in a pit at Zugmantel. As Jongman noted, this amount would be equivalent to that required for one or perhaps two warp-weighted looms. It is therefore commensurate with the existence of such a loom, or looms, in this area, or of replacement loom weights, for domestic use.

House I 10,2–3

According to Elia, this area had been a ‘cubiculum’, that was later adapted as a ‘bottega’ or ‘taberna’ and decorated in the Fourth Style. Remains of painted plaster on the walls suggest that the decoration had been cursory. An L-shaped masonry counter ran west from the east door jamb of the entrance, and then south. It was plastered and painted red, decorated with plants, and had two dolia inset into the centre of the southern branch. At the southern end of this bench was a masonry fornello, of which only the base and east wall was extant at the time of excavation. Disturbed volcanic deposit was encountered 2.5 m above the pavement. The only loose finds were made on the counter. They consisted of three bronze coins, one Republican and one dating to ad 37–8. The fixtures in this area, and the graffiti at the entrance to the house, have been used as evidence that this was a shop for the heating and dispensing of food. The apparent state of the fornello suggests that it was not in use at the time of the eruption. Loose finds may have been removed after the eruption, as suggested by the breaches in the walls, or possibly during clearing of the façade. However, the complete lack of recorded finds supports an inference that it was not operating as a going concern prior to the eruption. Similar conditions were observed by Berry for the so-called ‘caupona’ in House I 9,11, from which she concluded that it was not functioning in ad 79. This entranceway led to hall 4, off which most of the rooms in this house opened. Ling notes evidence of wall plaster but no decoration was recorded by Elia. In the east wall, 1.15 m above the floor and 0.82 m from the south end, was a semi-circular lararium niche with traces of a protecting door and an associated inscription: ‘Lares Augusti’. Disturbed volcanic deposit was encountered 2.5 m above the pavement of this entranceway. The finds from the actual entrance consisted of iron fragments, which would have been part of the closing system for the street door, and a marble base.

House I 10,1

In November 1926 the excavators recorded moving lapilli from in front of this house and from the entrance but no finds were reported in these areas. On 8 July 1932 they recorded removing disturbed volcanic deposit from the middle levels in the northeast area of this insula. A breach (min. h.: 2 m), now patched, in the south end of the west wall of room 2 and 1.05 m above the floor, presumably penetrated into this space and documents disturbance after ad 79. Elia observed that the room had been covered and had been divided for all or part of its length by a ‘tramezzo ligneo’ which Ling interprets as a wooden partition to screen the stairway. In the north-east corner, are three masonry steps from a stairway which Ling argued ascended along the east wall. Ling argues that the installation of this stairway would have put out of commission the recess and lararium painting (dimensions: 0.55 m × 0.4 m) behind it. The remains of a late Third Style decoration are found on the walls. The loose finds from near the north entrance of this space and from near the entrance to room 3 were predominantly door-fittings, with the possible exception of a small marble base. A small key reported in the latter location may originally have been from storage furniture but was unlikely to have been in use as no other remains of such furnishings were recorded. The only other find in this area was a glass vessel of unknown type. Elia called this room an ‘atrium’. The finds are not particularly diagnostic but, even if this area was disturbed, they hint that it had been relatively unencumbered with furnishings, probably serving predominantly as a reception and access area for the rest of the house. The breach in the south end of the west wall of this room implies that it may have been disturbed after ad 79. The walls had a simple painted decoration but this room had no evident fixtures. According to Elia it was an ‘oecus’. The limited ceramic finds (a jug, a terra sigillata dish, and a lamp) are associated with lighting and probably with the serving or storage of foodstuffs.

Casa del Menandro Supplement

The descriptions and measurements in following entries have been translated directly from the inventories compiled by Antonio d’Ambrosio. D’Ambrosio carried out the organization of the finds that were reportedly removed from the Casa del Menandro between 1979 and 1981, and stored in the Casa di Bacco storerooms in Pompeii. These finds had been left in situ, presumably in this house, since its excavation in the 1930s. However, it is not absolutely certain that the artefacts now inventoried as being from the Casa del Menandro were actually all excavated from that house, particularly figurative pieces. Such artefacts are unlikely to have been left in the house and not inventoried at the time of excavation. Also precise provenances, within the house, have not been provided in these recent inventories. Some of these items can be identified as particular finds recorded in the excavation reports, and these have been included in the main catalogue for the Casa del Menandro. For others there are a number of possibilities which are included here and in the main catalogue. None of these artefacts have been studied in detail. Dimensions: 185 mm × 215 mm; d.: 41 mm. Description: fragment of white marble with part of an inscription in two lines (h. of letters: 38 mm): ‘MANTON / MAMI’. Present location: Pompeii Collection, GF (inv. no. 17594, locatable). Reference: Pomp. archive neg. 42120. Discussion: possibly cat. no. 765 or 920. Dimensions: h.: 140 mm; max. diam.: 158 mm. Fabric: yellowish-orange. Description: Cylindrical neck and part of an ovoid body of an amphora. Stamped. Present location: Pompeii Collection, CB (inv. no. 17595). Discussion: possibly cat. no. 275, 382, 401, 549, 551, 593, or 634. Dimensions: h.: 380 mm; diam. of rim: 113 mm. Fabric: orange. Description: fragments of an amphora of Dressel form 5. Present location: Pompeii Collection, GF (inv. no. 17596, locatable). Reference: Pomp. archive neg. D/82718. Discussion: possibly cat. no. 275, 382, 401, 549, 551, 593, or 634. Dimensions: h.: 152 mm; diam. of rim: 123 mm. Fabric: orange. Description: Fragment of an amphora with a large rounded rim, cylindrical neck, oblique shoulder, and double strap handle from the shoulder to the centre of the neck.

Casa degli Amanti (I 10,10–11)

Giornali degli Scavi A,VI,7 (Apr. 1929–Dec. 1935): 305–32 (1 Mar.–13 May 1933). Elia 1934: 321–39. The excavations of this house were mainly carried out between March and May 1933, after those of the Casa del Menandro, Casa del Fabbro, and House I 10,8. Excavations to the south of the peristyle garden of the Casa del Menandro, from September 1930, included the upper part of this house. They show comparable attention to the location of finds and the state of the deposit. Description: fragmentary handle. Present location: unknown, not inventoried at time of excavation. Discussion: probably a door handle. Dimensions: l.: 66 mm; diam.: 32 mm. Description: Bronze fitting with a solid spheroid head and shaft of circular section (max. diam.: 9 mm). Traces of iron corroded to the end of the shaft. Shaft incomplete, with a groove just above the extant end. Present location: Pompeii Collection, CB (inv. no. 5551). Discussion: Excavators identified this as a stud. However, it is more likely to be a terminal for an object, such as a steelyard, although it is rather large (see terminal of cat. no. 1778). Dimensions: 100 mm × 60 mm (GdSc). Present location: unknown, not inventoried at time of excavation. Discussion: too small for a furniture base, possibly for a statuette or vessels. Dimensions: h.: 300 mm (GdSc). Description: small amphora. Present location: unknown, not inventoried at time of excavation. Discussion: Too small for a transportation amphora, probably a household storage jar. See discussion on amphora. Dimensions: h.: 100 mm (GdSc). Description: pyramidal loom weight. Present location: unknown, not inventoried at time of excavation. Discussion: Probably similar to cat. no. 904. See discussion on loom weights. Dimensions: l.: 54 mm; preserved h.: 30 mm. Description: Bow-shaped bronze brooch. Bow consisting of a flattened piece of bronze (w.: 7 mm) with a ridge along the centre, decorated with small dots. Horizontal pivot of circular section with an iron pin. Triangular catch-plate terminating in a knob. Pin missing. Present location: Pompeii Collection, CB (inv. no. 5552). Discussion: similar to cat. no. 311 except slightly larger.

Unit I 10,13

The pavement of this unit was of cocciopesto and the walls were covered with a high cocciopesto socle with upper parts in coarse plaster. A wooden stairway ascended from the south-west corner, along the west wall, and an L-shaped, red-painted masonry bench (h.: 760 mm; l.: 3.3 m; w.: 60 mm), inset with two small dolia, projected into the centre of the room from the south-east corner. In the west end of this bench Elia recorded a masonry fornello. Remains of the closing system, included an iron door key, were found in the east entrance. The presence of the key suggests that this establishment was abandoned in haste. On the pavement near the north jamb, an inscribed amphora was found. In the northeast corner, a small ceramic vase was found. Against the south wall stood a tripod on which were found the remains of another ceramic vessel. On the bench were found: a bronze funnel; four more ceramic vases; the base of a terra sigillata dish, possibly reused; a large glass storage jar; two small glass bottles; a bronze tube; a clay lamp; and two bronze coins, one Republican and one an as of Tiberius. These finds point to this area having been used for food preparation although this is less evident for the two small glass bottles. A bronze ring, possibly a finger-ring, and four more coins (Republican and Julio-Claudian) were found a few centimetres above the pavement. At 2.5 m above the pavement were found a bronze cooking pot, a bronze bucket, and a terra sigillata dish. These objects were conceivably from the upper storey, implying that cooking and eating may also have been taking place there, although these could have been disturbed from the ground floor. Elia identified this as a ‘taberna’ and Packer referred to it as ‘Caupona Poppaeorum’. The finds indicate that food was being prepared here. Packer believed that the owner had a small apartment above. If the finds from the upper levels of the volcanic deposit were from the upper floor, this would suggest that cooking activities were also being carried out there. However, this seems an unlikely activity in the residence of someone who ran a food outlet.

Casa degli Amanti (I 10,10–11)

There are remains of coarse plaster on the lower parts of the walls of this space and the pavement is of cocciopesto. The excavators removed disturbed volcanic material mixed with plaster, particularly from the south-east corner of this room. A breach in this corner, in the east wall, would have provided access through to room 8. Near the doorway in the south wall, leading to the front hall of this house, were found: an iron handle, probably from the door; a bronze knob terminal, conceivably from a large steelyard; a small travertine base; a storage jar; a clay loom weight; and a bronze fibula. This area has been identified as a shop or workshop. The limited finds conceivably bear witness to some commercial or industrial activity having been carried out here but they are equally domestic in character, as well as fragmentary and loseable. It is quite possible that any commercial or industrial activity which might once have taken place here had ceased prior to the eruption. The walls of this entranceway were decorated in the Second Style and the pavement was of lavapesta. Ling noted repaired damage to the walls of this entranceway, which he initially attributed to the ad 62 earthquake but he has since identified the repairs as modern. The excavators removed volcanic material mixed with plaster and roof tiles from this entranceway. The only finds recorded here seem to have fallen from the upper floor (see below). The walls of this ‘atrium’ were decorated in the Fourth Style which Elia and Ling have dated to after the ad 62 earthquake. The pavement continued that of the entranceway, in lavapesta. The excavators again noted that the volcanic deposit here presented constant signs of disturbance and that nothing was preserved of the stratigraphy. At the centre of this area is a cocciopesto impluvium (inside dimensions: 2.10 m × 1.77 m). A few, scattered, loose finds were recorded in the disturbed volcanic deposit which could conceivably have been from this space (see below). Even considering the finds from disturbed deposits, the paucity of contents here is comparable to the situation in the front hall of the Casa del Menandro but contrasts with that in many other front hall in Pompeian houses.

Unit I 10,9

The pavement of this area was of mortar and the walls had a coarse plaster socle with finer white plaster above. Elia noticed numerous holes and numeric graffiti in the white plaster and therefore identified it as a workshop. The excavators noted that the pavement was in a ruined state. There is a masonry base in the south-east corner (dimensions: 1.5 m × 0.6 m). The excavators recorded the base of a fornello, probably a hearth, along the south wall and a limestone step, in the south-east corner, which they identified as the first step of a wooden stairway. Elia reported that absolutely nothing was found in this area, but recorded finds consisted of: two small marble weights and one oval lead weight; two bronze pins, possibly from a small lock; a ceramic storage jar; a ceramic bowl and a ceramic plate, probably tableware; and three large ceramic lids, possibly used in cooking. These finds are associated with weighing, storage, and possibly food preparation and eating. It is conceivable that this unit was a food outlet. If this is the case then the fixture in the south-east corner may well have been a hearth. The state of the pavement suggests that it was not in a good state of repair at the time of the eruption.

Casa del Menandro (I 10,4)

To either side of this main entranceway, on the street front, are fixed masonry seats. Such seats have been assumed to have been for waiting clients. However, in Pompeii these seats are not always in front of the largest and most elaborate houses, that is those whose occupants were likely to have had clients. They were therefore likely to have served as a public facility available to anyone, including the house occupants. No loose finds were reported from this entranceway. The only visible sign of possible post-eruption disturbance to the volcanic deposit is a small hole towards the south end of the east wall of this ‘atrium’. However, the hole seems too small to have been the breach made by a post-eruption intruder. Maiuri noted, that the wall decoration of this ‘atrium’ was of a fresh and well-preserved Fourth Style executed after the last transformation of the house. The pavement was in lavapesta. Fixtures here included a central catchment pool (impluvium), revetted in white marble that was damaged either before or during the eruption, and a lararium aedicula in the north-west corner. According to Maiuri, the aedicula was constructed after the last well-preserved wall decoration, but Ling believes they are contemporary. At least forty-five small bronze studs were found in the north-west corner of this area. These had decorated the wooden lattice of the aedicula, now reconstructed in plaster. All the other recorded moveable finds were from the south side of this space. These included: a household storage jar; two clay lamps; bronze and iron fittings, possibly from the closing system for room 8, the so-called ‘tablinum’; and bone fragments probably from a piece of furniture. In the south-west corner were found a large bronze basin and a bronze patera, both of which were conceivably associated with bathing. Contrary to what might be expected, no statuettes of Lares or other representations were found in the lararium aedicula. Maiuri therefore concluded that these must have been made of wood. If this were so, then the excavators, who were able to make a cast of the wooden latticing, would surely also have observed any statuettes inside the aedicula, objects which would seem to have been more important than the latticing.