I.2.5 Pompeii. Shop. Excavated 1872. Bombed 1943.

I.2.5 Pompeii, on right. October 2024.

Looking north-east from Via Stabiana towards entrance doorway, with doorway to I.2.6, on left. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

I.2.5 Pompeii, October 2024. Looking towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

1.2.5 Pompeii. September 2010. Entrance doorway, looking east across Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

Warscher described this shop, quoting from Fiorelli: Descrizione, p.38, as –

I.2.5 “E una bottega d’incerta destinazione, con due rozze celle nel fondo”.

(translation: I.2.5 “It was a shop of uncertain use, with two rough rooms at the rear”.)

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (after photo no.12), Rome: DAIR.

I.2.5 Pompeii. September 2005. Entrance.

I.2.5 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking east across shop bombed in 1943, only the external rebuilt walls remain.

According to Eschebach, it contained a shop-room, two rustic rear rooms and a latrine.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p.15).

I.2.5 Pompeii. October 2024. Looking towards north wall and north-east corner. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

1.2.5 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking east across shop, from entrance. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.5 Pompeii. October 2024. Looking towards south wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

1.2.5 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking west across shop towards doorway and Via Stabiana. 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 incominciò lo scavo di questa isola – quale dovette essere abitata da moltissime persone. Infatti non si vede grande lusso di abitazioni, né 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 benché agiate non godevano certamente della più splendide posizione.

È questa un’isola dove avvennero frequentissime trasformazioni, per cui riesce difficilissimo 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: photo (no.42c) can be seen at I.5.1, I.2.28 and in the “streets” section under Vicolo del Conciapelle). 

(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)."

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