II.4.6 Pompeii. Entrance to Baths complex.  

Complesso di Giulia Felice (Julia Felix) or Praedia di Giulia Felice.  

First excavated 1754 to 1757 then re-interred, 1912, 1933, fully re-excavated 1951. 

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II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2005.

Main entrance to the house at II.4.6 on Via dell’ Abbondanza. Looking east.

According to Della Corte, found on the right (west side) of the principal and monumental doorway, was the famous CIL IV 1136 –

In  Praediis  Iuliae  Sp.  f.  Felicis

locantur  Balneum  Venerium  et  Nongentum  tabernae  pergulae

caenacula  ex  idibus  Aug.  Primis  in  Idus  Aug.  sextas  annos  continuos  quinque

S(i)  q(uinquennium)  d(ecurrerit)  l(ocatio)  e(rit)  n(udo)  c(onsensu)    [CIL IV 1136]

See Della Corte, M., 1965.  Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.390)

 

According to Pagano and Prisciandaro, CIL IV 1136 was found in February 1756, between II.4.5 and II.4.6, and read –

In  praedi(i)s  Iuliae  Sp(uri)  f(iliae)  Felicis

locantur

balneum  Venerium  et  nongentum  tabernae  pergulae

cenacula  ex  Idibus  Aug(ustis)  primis  in  Aug(ustas)  sextas  annos  continuos  quinque

S()  Q()  D()  L()  E()  N()  C()

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli  Naples : Nicola Longobardi. (p.22). They give a note that says the letters stand for “si quis domi lenocinium exerceat non conducito”.

 

According to Cooley, this translates as –

To let, in the estate of Julia Felix, daughter of Spurius: elegant baths for respectable people, shops with upper rooms, and apartments.

From the 13^th August next to the 13^th August of the sixth year, for five continuous years.

The lease will expire at the end of the five years.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii : A Sourcebook. London : Routledge. (p.171)

She makes the point “The final phrase is highly abbreviated (with only the initial letter of each word).

Its meaning is not certain, but likely from the context”.

 

CIL IV 1136 (and 1137) are now preserved at Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 4713.

A photo of the graffito, and surrounding ones, can be seen on pages 212 and 213 of

Varone, A. and Stefani, G., 2009. Titulorum Pictorum Pompeianorum, Rome: L’erma di Bretschneider.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2005.

Main entrance to the house at II.4.6 on Via dell’ Abbondanza.

According to Pagano and Prisciandaro, also found on the same wall between II.4.6 and II.4.5 (on the right of the doorway) were -

 

A(ulum) Suettium Verum aed(ilem)

viis a(edibus) s(acris) p(ublicis) p(rocurandis) d(ignum) r(ei) p(ublicae) probum o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis)    [CIL IV 1137 & MN 4713]

 

Trebium aed(ilem)    [CIL IV 1138 & NAP 4713]

 

Metellic[     [CIL IV 1139 & NAP 4713]

 

L(ucium) Ceium Secundum aed(ilem) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) Proculus et Canthus rog(ant)    [CIL IV 1140 & NAP ?]

 

L(ucium) C(aecilium) C(apellam)    [CIL IV 1141 & NAP 4713]

 

[3]m Sabinum

IIvir(um) i(ure) d(icundo) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis)    [CIL IV 1142]

 

Popidium L(uci) f(ilium)]

Secundum

aed(ilem) o(ro) v(os) f(aciatis) Veninosm    [CIL IV 1143 & NAP 4670]

 

These were found in 1756, see PAH. I, 1, 38, add. 95, 96, dated 15th February 1756.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli  Naples : Nicola Longobardi. (p.22).

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2005. Benches outside the entrance. Looking west.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006.   

View looking south from entrance across the east portico of the baths.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. View looking south from entrance across the portico.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. View looking east across the portico of the baths, from II.4.5

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. View looking east across the portico.

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

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. 

View looking east from entrance, showing benches for waiting clients

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006.    

View looking east from II.4.5, showing benches for waiting clients

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Detail of wall decoration on east wall.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Benches on north and east walls.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking north towards benches and entrance doorway

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Doorway to apodyterium, looking south.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. From doorway of apodyterium, looking north across portico.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking south across portico.

 

II.4.6 Pompeii. Looking south across portico of the baths.

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

 

 

 

Part 2

 

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