Herculaneum IV.3. Steps to upper floor, and front façade of IV.4.

According to Maiuri, the street façade in opus reticulatum, broken by various windows and by small square openings with iron gratings, shows the remains of the long, overhanging gallery which ran along on the level of the first floor.  The smaller of the two entrances, that at number 4 (but we think he meant at number 3), led by a straight flight of stairs to the rooms overlooking the street on the upper floor.

See Maiuri, Amedeo, (1977). Herculaneum. 7th English ed, of Guide books to the Museums Galleries and Monuments of Italy, No.53 (p.30).

According to the Cooley’s, a group of wax tablets were found on the upper floor of the House of the Alcove (IV.3/4).

See Cooley, A.E. and Cooley, M.G. 2014. Pompeii and Herculaneum; a sourcebook. U.K. Abingdon, Routledge, 2nd ed. (p.212, and p.219 G12 appointment of a guardian; and p.256 H57 claiming an inheritance AD 43).

IV.3, Herculaneum, September 2015. Doorway with steps to upper floor.

IV.3, Herculaneum, October 2014.

Detail of stone steps at base of stairs to upper floor. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IV.3, Herculaneum, October 2014. East wall with doorway on upper floor. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IV.3, Herculaneum, October 2014. Looking towards south wall of room with steps. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IV,3 Herculaneum, September 2015.

Looking south-east along façade with overhanging gallery, towards four grated windows of IV.4, and doorway of IV.2, on right.

Looking south on Cardo IV Inferiore.

IV.4/3, Herculaneum, September 2015. Two most northerly windows on front façade.

IV.4/3, Herculaneum, September 2015. Window at northern end.

IV.4/3, Herculaneum, September 2015. Second window from northern end.

IV.4/3, Herculaneum, September 2015. Third window from northern end.

IV.4/3, Herculaneum, September 2015. Fourth window, on southern end.

IV.4/3, Herculaneum, July 2015. Looking north along east side of Cardo IV Inferiore. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IV.4/3, Herculaneum, October 2014. Looking north along east side of Cardo IV Inferiore. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IV.3/4, Herculaneum, May 2005.

Upper floor, looking north towards III.11 (white building, in centre), and fullonica at IV.5/6/7, on right. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

IV.3/4, Herculaneum, May 2005.

Upper floor, looking north towards III.11 (white building, on left), and fullonica at IV.5/6/7, centre. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Monteix, on the west side of the upper floor were three rectangular tubs/basins used as an attic granary.

Found: 30^th November 1928, at the back of the wall was found a rectangular tub/basin 2.09m long, by 1.54m wide, with a depth of 0.86m.

In it was a deposit of cereals, grain, inventory no.378.

Found: 8^th January 1929, the two tubs placed to the north of the already described on 30^th November have been excavated.

The second was 2.10m long, 1.50m wide, and 0.85 deep. The walls were completely covered with plaster. The base was of cocciopesto and reasonably conserved. No objects were found.

The third was 2.10m long, 1.80m wide, and 0.85m deep. No objects……

See Monteix, N. 2008. La conservation des denrées dans l’espace domestique à Pompéi et Herculanum, MEFRA 120-1, p. 131.

IV.3/4, Herculaneum, May 2005. Upper floor, looking west. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.