VII.5.24 Pompeii. Forum Baths. Entrance to men’s baths and portico.

Excavated 1823.

Part 6     Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5

Other parts of the baths:   VII.5.2      VII.5.7      VII.5.8      VII.5.10      VII.5.12      VII.6.17      VII.6.18      Forum Baths Plan

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), looking south.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. October 2023. Caldarium (39) apse on the south side, with roof light. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2015. Caldarium (39) apse with roof light. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), looking towards south wall of basin alcove with lamp niche.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. December 2007. Lamp niche in basin alcove in caldarium (39).  

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), ceiling above lamp niche in basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), upper east side of basin alcove below ceiling stucco.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), circular decorative stucco above circular window on south wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), upper west side of basin alcove below ceiling stucco.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021.

Caldarium (39), detail of circular decorative stucco above circular window on south wall in basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2015. Caldarium (39), detail of stucco in apse. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2015. Caldarium (39), detail of stucco in apse. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), upper east side of basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2015. Caldarium (39) stucco on upper east side in apse with roof light. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), detail of stucco on upper east side of basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2015. Caldarium (39), detail of stucco on upper east side of basin apse. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2015. Caldarium (39), detail of stucco on upper east side of basin apse. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), circular window in centre of upper basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), upper west side of basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), stucco on west side of basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), detail of stucco on west side of basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), detail of stucco on west side of basin alcove.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. Caldarium (39) apse with roof light and marble basin (41).

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2024. Caldarium (39), looking south to marble basin (41). Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), looking south to marble basin (41).

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2016.

Caldarium (39), looking south to marble basin, labrum (41). Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. April 2011. Caldarium (39), looking south to marble basin (41). Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Large marble basin or labrum (41) in apse of caldarium (39).

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. March 2012. Large marble basin or labrum (41) in apse of caldarium (39). Photo courtesy of Marina Fuxa.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. June 2012. Large marble basin (41) in Caldarium. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns. 

In AD3-4, the duumvirs had a large marble basin set up in the hot room (caldarium).

Written around the rim in bronze letters is an inscription

Cn(aeo) Melissaeo Cn(aei) f(ilio) Apro M(arco) Staio M(arci) f(ilio) Rufo IIvir(is) iter(um) i(ure) d(icundo) labrum ex d(ecreto) d(ecurionum) ex p(ecunia) p(ublica) f(aciendum) c(uraverunt) constat HS V(milia)CCL      [CIL X 817]

Cooley translates this as:

“When Gnaeus Melissaeus Aper, son of Gnaeus, and Marcus Staius Rufus, son of Marcus, were duumvirs with judicial power for the second time, they saw to the making of the basin, by decree of the town councillors, at public expense.  It cost 5,250 sesterces.”  [CIL X 817 = ILS 5726]

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. (p.81) 

According to Berry, this recorded that it had been added in AD 3-4 by the duumvirs Gaius Melissaeus Aper and Marcus Statius Rufus.

“Gnaeus Melissaeus Aper, son of Gnaeus, and Marcus Statius Rufus, son of Marcus, duumvirs for lawsuits for the second time, had this labrum made at public expense by decree of the town councillors. It cost 5,250 sesterces”.  [CIL X 817]

See Berry, J., 2007. The Complete Pompeii. London: Thames & Hudson.  (p.152)

VII.5.24 Pompeii. March 2009. Caldarium labrum or basin (41).

On the border of the basin is written in letters of bronze:

CN. MELISSAEO. CN. F. APRO. M. STAIO. M. F. RUFO. II. VIR. ITER. ID LABRVM. EX. D. D. EX. P. P. F. C. CONSTAT. H S IↄƆ C. C. L.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.95)

VII.5.24 Pompeii. March 2012.

Remains of bronze lettering (RO. M. STAIO.) from large marble basin or labrum (41) in apse of caldarium (39). Photo courtesy of Marina Fuxa.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. October 2001. Large marble basin or labrum (41) in apse of caldarium (39). Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. March 2012.

Ceiling stucco on east wall in caldarium (39). Photo courtesy of Marina Fuxa.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2015.

Ceiling stucco in caldarium (39), and detail of remains of stucco on window opening in east wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. December 2007. Ceiling stucco in calidarium (39). 

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), ceiling stucco.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), looking north, with east wall, on right.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), detail from east wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2024.

Caldarium (39), heating duct in east wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2015. Caldarium east wall, looking south. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. June 2012. Caldarium east wall, looking south to laconicum (40). Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. December 2007. Caldarium (39) east wall, looking north.  

VII.5.24 Pompeii. May 2024. Caldarium (39), heating duct in east wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. December 2007. Caldarium (39), heating duct in wall. 

VII.5.24 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (39), looking towards east wall with doorway into tepidarium (37).

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking west along corridor to boiler rooms and working areas.

VII.5.24 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking down corridor (16) to entrance VII.5.2 (17) from Changing Room (14).

VII.5.24 Pompeii. December 2007. Doorway to room (18), now used as an exit through VII.5.3.

According to Niccolini this door led to a small cloakroom (18).

See Niccolini F, 1890. Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei: Volume Terzo. Napoli.

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5

Other parts of the baths:   VII.5.2      VII.5.7      VII.5.8      VII.5.10      VII.5.12      VII.6.17      VII.6.18      Forum Baths Plan