Pompeii Casts. Victim number 4, known as "The Pregnant Woman".

Found in February 1863 in Vicolo degli Scheletri

Found a small distance from victims numbered 1, 2 and 3.

Victim number 4, photograph by M. Amodio, from an album dated 1878. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Victim number 4, stereo card photograph by Michele Amodio. Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

Victim number 4, photographed by Brogi, (no. 5577), described on the card as “The Pregnant Woman”, in a display case in the museum.

Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

Victim numbered 4, known as The Pregnant Woman, from Cioffi (after photograph), c.1900.

In his description of this plaster-cast in his Guida di Pompei, 1877, Fiorelli described –

“Young woman [no.4], with a ring on her finger and a boot on one foot, whose leg is admirable. (Reg.VII, Insula XIV, via quarta).”

See Fiorelli, Guida di Pompei, [Rome, 1877,] p.88-89.

See Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. Ann Arbor: Univ of Michigan Press, (p.93).

According to Civale –

“Their mother, lifting her skirts as she ran, was the last of the group; she wore a few jewels and carried with her some other precious objects in a bag, among which was an amber statuette and the family silver: a few pieces of tableware and some mirrors.”

See Vicolo degli Scheletri (p.103-5, figs, 1,2 and 3), of Tales from an eruption, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis: guide to the exhibition, ed by P.G. Guzzo.

Victim numbered 4. Objects found in association with the fourth victim.

Above: emerald ring, sphere wedge earring, pearl bar earrings, pendant earring (all in gold), and amber statuette.

Below: teaspoons, mirror and silver medallion.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum.

Oggetti rinvenuti in associazione con la quarta vittima.

In alto: anello con smeraldo, orecchino a spicchio di sfera, orecchini a barretta con perle, orecchino con pendente (tutti in oro), e statuetta in ambra.

In basso: cucchiaini, specchio e medaglione in argento.

Ora al Museo Archeologico di Napoli.

Victim numbered 4. Silver medallion found with victim. Fortuna with a cornucopia and a patera in her extended right hand.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 25489.

Victim numbered 4. Amber statuette of a young boy or cupid with a head of curls and wrapped in a cloak.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 25813.

Victim numbered 4. Silver mirror with a border decorated with a series of incised palmettes.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 25716.

VII.1.47 Pompeii. April 2019. Room 8, looking across plaster-cast towards south-west corner, and west wall.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VII.1.47 Pompeii. May 2017.  Plaster-cast of victim number 4.

Plaster cast of a female, on display in triclinium 8 but found in the Vicolo degli Scheletri.

Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Victim number 4. September 2015. Plaster cast of victim on exhibit in temporary pyramid in amphitheatre.

According to Dwyer –

The fourth victim was found in the middle of the vicolo, about twenty-five metres from the other three victims.

She was often described as “the pregnant woman”, but her bunched up clothing could have accounted for the impression.

See Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. Ann Arbor: Univ of Michigan Press, (p.65-69 and fig. 39).