I.2.27 Pompeii. Entrance with steps to upper floor. Linked to I.2.28.

I.2.27 Pompeii. August 2023.

Looking north across Vicolo del Conciapelle towards entrance doorway, in centre, with I.2.28 on left. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

I.2.27 Pompeii. September 2010.

Looking north across Vicolo del Conciapelle towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.27 Pompeii. 1935 photo taken by Tatiana Warscher.

Looking north to entrance doorway, the atrium of I.2.28 can be seen at its rear.

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (no.47), Rome: DAIR, whose copyright it remains.

According to Warscher, quoting Fiorelli –

“Una taberna che prima faceva parte della casa seguente fu convertita in vestibolo di altra abitazione, destinata ad inquilini di un piano superiore, ai quali si era cosi procurato un ingresso independente”.

(translation: A workshop that would have been part of the following dwelling, it was converted into a vestibule of another dwelling for the tenants of the upper floor, which gave them an independent entrance”).

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.37)

Warscher wrote – “Attraverso questo vestibolo si vedono le colonne dell’atrio tetrastilo della casa no. 28”.

(translation: In the photo, across the vestibule one could see the columns of the tetrastyle atrium of house I.2.28).

Vicolo del Conciapelle, north side, Pompeii. View of the excavations at Pompeii in May 1873.

Looking towards entrance doorways of I.2.29, on left, and I.2.28, in centre, and I.2.27 right with support during excavation.

See Overbeck J., 1875. Pompeji in seinen Gebäuden, Alterthümen und Kunstwerken. Leipzig: Engelmann, p. 34.

I.2.27 Pompeii. September 2005. Lava threshold or sill, leading to small room with steps to an upper floor.

The room was linked at the rear, with the atrium of I.2.28. 

Fiorelli thought the steps could have led to a separate dwelling for a lodger or perhaps a caretaker.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.37).

I.2.27 Pompeii. September 2010.

Looking north from entrance doorway towards rear wall with doorway to atrium of I.2.28. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.27 Pompeii. September 2010. West wall, and north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.27 Pompeii. September 2010. East wall. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.27 Pompeii. September 2010.

Looking south towards entrance doorway and Vicolo del Conciapelle, from rear. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

In Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2, (the copy at DAIR), Warscher included Viola’s description of the insula, from

Gli scavi di Pompei dal 1873 al 1878, p.10 (Pompei e la regione sotterrata dal Vesuvio nell’anno 1879, Seconda parte).

This is included at the end in all parts of I.2 on the website.

“Nel dicembre del 1873 incomminciò lo scavo di questa isola – quale dovette essere abitata da moltissime persone. Infatti non si vede grande lusso di abitazioni, nè grandi locali, ove i ricchi pompeiani passavano la vita nell’ozio e nel piacere; si può invece osservare grand’economia di spazio, case piccole miste a botteghe e ad officine, onde non è difficile argomentare che quivi abitarono persone del ceto medio, le quali benchè agiate non godevano certamente della più splendide posizione.

E’ questa un’isola dove avennero frequentissime trasformazioni, per cui riesce difficillissimo intravvedere qual’era la sua forma primiera; non mancano però degli avanzi di costruzioni primitive, insieme ad altri di epoca posteriore, come si osserva in molti luoghi di Pompei.

La sua area è di mq.2948, ed è limitata da occidente dal cardo, a settentrione dalla via secunda, ad oriente dal vico parallelo al cardo e a mezzogiorno dalla via tertia che la separa dalle isole 1 e 5; il margine che la fiancheggia da tre lati escluso l’orientale e sulla via tertia di fronte al vano No.28 si vede un piccolo ponte, formato da massi posti a contrasto, il quale serve per unire i due margine (vedi la fotografia no.42c)”.

(Note: this photo can also be seen at I.5.1, I.2.28 and in the “streets” section under Vicolo del Conciapelle). 

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. Rome: DAIR.

(Translation: "In December of 1873 the excavation of this insula began – which would have been inhabited by many people. In fact you don't see great luxury homes, nor large rooms, where rich Pompeian passed life in idleness and pleasure; if you instead look at the great economy of space, small homes and shops mixed with workshops, it's not difficult to argue that here lived people in the middle class, which however well-to-do they certainly did not enjoy the most splendid position.

This was an insula where there were frequent transformations, for which it is difficult to glimpse what was the original form; it does not lack however, the remains of primitive constructions, alongside others of a later date, as can be seen in many places in Pompeii.

Its area was 2948 sq. m., and was bounded on the west by the “cardo”, on the north by via secunda, and east by a parallel vicolo to the “cardo” and in the south by the via tertia, that separated it from Insula’s 1 and 5:  the border that flanked it by three sides excluding the east and on via tertia opposite No. 28, you will see a small bridge, formed by a boulder placed to serve to unite the two edges, (see photo No. 42 c)."