I.2.12 Pompeii. Shop. Linked to I.2.13.

Excavated 1869. Bombed in 1943.

I.2.12 Pompeii, on right. September 2024.

East side of Via Stabiana, with entrance doorways from I.2.12, I.2.11, I.2.10 and I.2.9. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

I.2.12 Pompeii. July 2011. Looking east to entrance doorway (on right) from Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Warscher described this, quoting Fiorelli, as

“I.2.12/13 – due taberne aventi comunicazione tra loro.  Il podio è rivestito di marmi. 

Qui l’insula è delimitata dalla via secunda, sulla quale si aprono gl’ingressi di altre abitazioni”.

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

(translation: "I. 2.12/13 - two workshops having communication between them.  The podium was covered with marble.  

Here the insula is bounded by via secunda, on which opens the entrances of other dwellings.").

I.2.12 Pompeii. October 2024. Looking north-east towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

I.2.12 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking east to entrance doorway from Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.12 Pompeii. May 2005. Entrance doorway.

I.2.12 Pompeii. September 2010. ID number plate on north side of entrance. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.12 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking east from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

I.2.12 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking east from entrance. The lower remains of the north and east wall can be seen.

In the north wall, on the left, was a doorway into the communicating bar-room.

At the rear, in the east wall, was a doorway into the area with a wooden staircase to the upper floor and a passage leading to the latrine.

Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.12 Pompeii. December 2007. Entrance. Looking north-west towards I.2.13.

As a result of the bombing of September 1943, the structures of four rooms of these two linked places were destroyed.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.37)

I.2.12 Pompeii. October 2024. Looking east into area of rear room. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

I.2.12 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking east into area of rear room.

I.2.12 Pompeii. September 2010.

Looking from entrance towards eastern (rear) end of property. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.12 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking north-east to remains of north wall and threshold of communicating door to I.2.13.

I.2.12 Pompeii. December 2007. South wall.

I.2.12 Pompeii. September 2010.

Looking west from rear of property towards entrance 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 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: photo (no.42c) can 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)."