Herculaneum III.14. Casa a Graticcio or House of the Wattle Work (Opus Craticium), linked to shop at III.15.
Excavated between 1928-29.
According to Wallace-Hadrill, this was entered by a long passage leading to the garden courtyard and consisted of approximately 5 rooms, with stairs leading up to a 3 (?) room flat.
According to Maiuri, this house is an admirably preserved example of a dwelling constructed in opus craticium, with the skeleton of the wall in wood, or simply of cane trellising. This Herculaneum abode is the first organic and complete example of an entire edifice constructed in such a way on the ground and first floors. The whole natural skeleton of the house, with the exception of the outer walls and the few remaining parts of a pre-existing structure, is composed of brick pilasters and wooden frames filled with opus incertum cemented with abundant lime-mortar, the whole then being covered by the usual stratum of stucco and painted rough-cast (tectorium).
The low wide entrance corridor (the ceiling beams reproduce exactly the original beams found in a carbonized state) lead into a small courtyard instead of the usual atrium, closed all around by a high podium. Over this look out the various rooms, with wide horizontal windows on the ground floor and the narrow vertical one with low sills on the upper floor. One of the ground floor rooms, probably used as a work-room, is linked to the shop that opens onto the street at III.15. The upper floor is reached by a staircase which retains several of its original steps. Here is a narrow cubiculum vivaciously painted in red, and another larger room.
According to Wallace-Hadrill, opus craticium, as described by Vitruvius, is a type of flimsy construction, perhaps like the English “wattle and daub”. Taken by Maiuri to apply to this house, which is however of timber and rubble construction.
See Wallace-Hadrill, A. (2011). Herculaneum, Past and Future. London, Frances Lincoln Ltd., (p.346 and p.262)
According to Pesando and Guidobaldi, the entrance corridor, with two small rooms on the right (north side) led to the garden courtyard. These consisted of a small room at the front followed by a larger room in which a bed was found. The rooms on the south side of the entrance corridor on the ground floor perhaps belonged to the shop with entrance at III.15, but it is not certain whether the large room (this has clear evidence of an earlier and more noble accommodation) and the rooms at the rear with basins/tanks full of lime residue, were also linked to the shop.
A wooden staircase in the room on the west side of the courtyard led to the upper apartment, which consisted of two bedrooms and a long corridor which led to the latrine. One bedroom furnished with a window with a metal grill, contained perfectly preserved carbonized furniture (a bed, a small cupboard suspended on the wall, and a small one-legged marble table). In the other bedroom were two beds placed at an angle in a corner and a cupboard-lararium, in which were found bronze statuettes of the domestic shrine, two Lares, Jupiter, Minerva, Aesculapius, Isis-Fortuna, Fortuna, Harpocrates, and a Bacchante.
See Pesando, F. and Guidobaldi, M.P. (2006). Pompei, Oplontis, Ercolano, Stabiae. Editori Laterza, (p.325-6)
According to Wallace-Hadrill, one of the wooden cupboards in one of the upper rooms was full of objects. Found on 9th November 1928 was a bronze statuette of Jupiter holding a thunderbolt, ‘Abundantia’ (perhaps the Egyptian Isis). Aesculapius and Diana the Huntress. A week later, on 17th November, a matching pair of Lares, another ‘Abundantia’ with the horn of plenty (more than likely Fortuna then), a Minerva and the Egyptian god Harpocrates, but it is worth noting that plenty of other material was stored in the cupboard, including a bronze weight, several bronze coins, a glass plate, a pottery plate and several glass paste beads. The household gods were good at keeping their eye on valued objects.
See Wallace-Hadrill, A. (2011). Herculaneum, Past and Future. London, Frances Lincoln Ltd., (p.265).
According to Camardo and Notomista, a photo taken in the 1960’s shows details of the carbonized wooden cupboard and some of its objects.
See Camardo, D, and Notomista, M, eds. (2017). Ercolano: 1927-1961: L’impresa archeologico di Amedeo Maiuri e l’esperimento della citta museo. Rome, L’Erma di Bretschneider, (p.192, Scheda 7, fig. 6)
Ins. IV on left and Ins. III on right, Herculaneum. October 2001.
Looking south-along Cardo IV Inferiore from near III.11, on right. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.
III.14 Herculaneum, October 2023.
Looking south along west side of Cardo IV Inferiore. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
III.15/14 Herculaneum, photo taken between October 2014 and November 2019.
Looking south along
west side of Cardo IV Inferiore. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.
III.12 on right, and III.13/14/15 in centre, May 2004. Looking south-west along west side of Cardo IV Inferiore.
III.14 Herculaneum, October 2001.
Looking south-west along west side of Cardo IV Inferiore. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.
III.15, 14, and 13, Herculaneum. October 2012.
Looking towards doorways under street portico formed by balcony. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.
III.14 Herculaneum. Undated postcard entitled “Prospetti di edifici”.
Looking north towards facade on west side of Cardo IV with doorways III.15, 14, 13 under street portico formed by balcony.
Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.
III.15 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking west towards masonry column at southern end of balcony. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.15/14/13 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking east towards detail of masonry column at southern end of balcony. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.15/14/13 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking west towards masonry column in centre of balcony, between doorways at III.15 and III.14. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.15/14/13 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking east towards detail of masonry column in centre of balcony. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.15/14/13 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking west towards masonry column in centre of balcony, and doorways at III.14 and III.13. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.15/14/13 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking west towards masonry column at northern end of balcony, and doorways at III.14 and III.13. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.15/14/13 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking east towards detail of masonry column at northern end of balcony. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.15, 14, and 13 (behind right column). May 2010. Entrance doorways, and restored balcony on upper floor.
III.14 Herculaneum. August 2013. Upper floor balcony. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
III.14 Herculaneum. August 2013. Upper floor balcony. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
III.14 Herculaneum. August 2013. Upper floor. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2015. Looking south-west towards entrance doorway.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. South wall of entrance at III.14. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2015. Looking west through entrance doorway towards a small courtyard.
III.14, centre. May 2010.
Doorway to the House of the Wattle Work (a Graticcio) on west side of Cardo IV Inferiore.
III.14 Herculaneum. October 2012. Looking west along entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2010. Entrance corridor, looking west from entrance doorway.
The doorway to room 1, on the lower floor, can be seen on the right.
Room 1, lower floor, very small cella ostiaria
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Looking towards east wall.
The doorway from entrance corridor is on the right. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Looking towards west wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
Room 2, lower floor
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Looking towards east wall of a small room. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2010. Looking west towards small courtyard.
According to Jashemski, this paved courtyard gave light to the various rooms in this dwelling.
The courtyard was enclosed with a small low wall to form a basin to collect rainwater.
See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.260)
III.14 Herculaneum, May 2015. Looking towards small courtyard garden from entrance doorway.
III,14 Herculaneum. May 2003. Looking east across courtyard/garden. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. 1957. Looking east across courtyard/garden. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.
Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.
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III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Looking west across courtyard/garden. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2003. South wall of courtyard/garden. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum, April 2005. Upper south wall of courtyard/garden. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum, April 2005.
Looking towards windows into rooms on south and west side of courtyard/garden. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum, April 2005.
Looking towards rooms on upper and lower west side of courtyard/garden. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
Rooms 11, 12 and 13
III.14/15 Herculaneum, April 2005. Threshold of room 11. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15. Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 11, west wall with remains of painted decoration. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum, May 2005. Looking down onto rooms 12 and 13 with basins and tubs, from upper floor.
The upper floor area with the latrine belonging to the rear apartment, can be seen on the left. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
The rooms 12 and 13 contained basins and tubs with residue of limestone which might also have been connected to the shop at III.15.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking south towards pilaster in room 13, joined to column in room 12. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Looking towards north end of west wall, and column in north-west corner of room 12, joined to pilaster in room 13.
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. May 2003.
Room 12, east wall in south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. May 2005. Room 12, south wall in south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 12, south wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. May 2003. Room 12, south wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. May 2003. Room 12, detail from south wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 12, south-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 12, south wall, on left, room 13, south wall, on right. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Room 13, detail of south-east corner, the east wall has remains of decoration. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. May 2003. Room 13, looking towards south wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005. Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005.
Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner (enhanced). Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005. Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005.
Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner (enhanced). Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005. Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005. Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005.
Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005. Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14/15 Herculaneum. June 2005. Room 13, details of basins and tubs in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
Room 5, with steps to upper floor, rear, apartment
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2003. Room 5, pilaster at base of steps leading to upper floor, rear apartment.
The apartment consisted of an area at the top of the stairs, two cubicula and a long corridor leading to a latrine.
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
Room 1, upper floor, (rear apartment)
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Cubiculum 1, looking towards east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2003. Cubiculum 1, looking towards east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Cubiculum 1, looking towards north end of east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Cubiculum 1, detail from north-east corner of east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Cubiculum 1, detail from east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Cubiculum 1, detail from east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005.
Cubiculum 1, looking towards south-east corner and south wall, with window. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2003. Cubiculum 1, detail of carbonised bed near east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
Room 2, upper floor
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 2, looking towards east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
Found in this room were two carbonised beds placed at an angle in the corner of the room.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2003. Room 2, looking towards east wall and north-east corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2003. Room 2, looking towards east wall and south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 2, detail from south wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 2, detail from south wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 2, looking towards south wall and south-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
Found in this room were two carbonised beds placed at an angle in the corner of the room.
Also found was a cupboard/lararium in which were found bronze statuettes of the domestic cult; two Lares, Jupiter, Minerva, Asclepius, Isis, Fortuna, Harpocrates and a Bacchante.
III.14 Herculaneum. May 2003. Room 2, looking towards west wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 2, detail from west wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.