I.2.32 Pompeii. Side entrance of Caupona. Linked to I.2.1, I.2.30 and I.2.31.

Excavated 1872. Bombed in 1943.

I.2.32 Pompeii. September 2010. ID insula number plate, on wall on north-west corner of Vicolo del Conciapelle and Via Stabiana.

Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.32 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking east along Vicolo del Conciapelle towards Vicolo del Citarista.

Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.32 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking north towards entrance doorway, across Vicolo del Conciapelle. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

According to Della Corte, an electoral recommendation was found painted on the left side of the doorway.

It read - (Librari) rogant   (CIL IV 3385 with Note 2)

See Della Corte, M., 1965.  Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.274)

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

Popidium Rufum aed(ilem)

[3]R[3]n rogant        [CIL IV 3385]

I.2.32 Pompeii. September 2005.  Entrance.

According to Fiorelli there were various painted graffiti on the plaster on the outside wall at the side of the doorway.

Three of them were –

1) poLYBIVM                      2) POPIDIVM. RVFVM. AED                         3) POPIDIUM Rufum….        

                                                    ………ROGANT

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.33)

I.2.32 Pompeii. 1935 photo taken by Tatiana Warscher.

Looking north towards entrance doorway, across Vicolo del Conciapelle, on right. Via Stabiana can be seen on the left.

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (no.1), Rome: DAIR, whose copyright it remains.

I.2.32 Pompeii. 1935 photo taken by Tatiana Warscher.

Looking towards entrance doorway, on north side of Vicolo del Conciapelle.

Via Stabiana can be seen on the left. The doorway to I.2.31 can be seen on the right.

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (no.65), Rome: DAIR. whose copyright it remains.

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)."