Pompeii Casts. Victim numbered 5, found in March 1868, among a group of seven other victims in VII.2.16, the House of Gavius Rufus.

Victim number 5, (After Ernest Breton, Pompeia, 3rd ed. (1869) p. 272.) Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

Plaster-cast of victim numbered 5, 1868, and on display in one of the rooms of the Archaeological School (VI.17.27).

According to Breton –

“This unfortunate was discovered lying on his stomach in a room to the left of the atrium in the House of Gavius Rufus (VII.2.16).

Six other skeletons were near him.

This cast came out best of all, with the exception of the left leg, which could not be reproduced, and further that his expression is the most terrifying.

He is the embodiment of despair, driven to his final paroxysm.”

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin., (p.272-73).

Victim number 5. 1868. Photographed by Giorgio Sommer. Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

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

“Man, [no.5], face down, with his hands extended. (Reg. VII. II, 16, but wrongly numbered VII.II.18)”.

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

VII.2.16 Pompeii. Undated photograph by Amodio, numbered 3002, from an album dated c.1873.

One of the seven skeletons found in the house on 12th March 1868.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Plaster-cast of victim number 5, 1868, Photo: G. Sommer.

See Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. Ann Arbor: Univ of Michigan Press, (p.94).