Herculaneum VII.18. Dwelling of C. Messenius Eunomus, linked to workshop at VII.17 and VII.1. 

Excavated 1872-73.

Plan

The ownership of this house and shop is attributed to C. Messenius Eunomus, an Augustale who name was graffitied on one of the columns of the Seat of the Augustales, has been hypothesized due to the discovery of a bronze seal bearing his name.

On the wall of the façade of the upper floor, you can see a latrine pertaining to the upper room above the workshop on the corner.

Found in this workshop, was a considerable quantity of grain and some nuts.

See Pesando, F. and Guidobaldi, M.P. (2006). Pompei, Oplontis, Ercolano, Stabiae. Editori Laterza, (p.371)

See Guidobaldi, M.P, 2009: Ercolano, guida agli scavi. Naples, Electa Napoli, (p.114).

According to Cooley and Cooley, thirty-two tablets were discovered on a balcony next to the House of Galba (they say at VII.8 or 9).

See Cooley, A.E. and Cooley, M.G. 2014. Pompeii and Herculaneum; a sourcebook. U.K. Abingdon, Routledge, 2nd ed.  (p.212).

VII.18 and 17, Herculaneum, October 2022.

Looking north to entrance doorways on Decumanus Inferiore. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.18 and 17, Herculaneum, September 2015. Doorways to workshop and dwelling on Decumanus Inferiore.

VII.18 and 17, Herculaneum, October 2014.

Doorways to workshop and dwelling on Decumanus Inferiore. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VII.1/18, Herculaneum. March 12, 1873. Seal found in the inner room (2) at the side of the workshop, with a window onto the street.

Seal of C. Messenius Eunomus found on 12 March 1873, in a room of the house, where it had fallen from the upper floor (together with numerous other objects).

C(ai) Mes(seni) Eunom(i)      [CIL X 8058, 51]

See Camodeca, G., 2017. Una Nuova Compravendita di Schiavo dalle Tabulae Herculanenses.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 109607.

According to Maiuri, in the large room (2) with a window with iron grille onto the public road, communicating with the atrium and the taberna, and with some traces of its decoration in the black zoccolo, gathered, together with two golden rings, a group of carnelian and hard stones engraved or in relief, several silver spoons and a statuette of Hercules, was a bronze seal with the inscription C. Mes(senius) Eunomus.

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958). Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, p. 448.

VII.18, Herculaneum. March 2019. Latrine on upper floor, accessible from a balcony.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.18, Herculaneum. September 2015. Latrine on upper floor, view from left (west).

VII.18, Herculaneum. September 2015. Latrine on upper floor, front view.

VII.18, Herculaneum. September 2015. Latrine on upper floor, view from right (east).

VII.18 Herculaneum, September 2015. Entrance doorway.

VII.18 Herculaneum, October 2014. Entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VII.18 Herculaneum, October 2022.

Looking north-east through entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.18 Herculaneum, October 2022.

Looking north towards niche in rear wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.18 Herculaneum, September 2015. Niche on rear wall.

VII.18, Herculaneum, September 2015. Niche on rear wall, from entrance doorway.

VII.18 Herculaneum, October 2022. Detail of niche on rear wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.18, Herculaneum, October 2014. Detail of niche on rear wall, from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VII.18 Herculaneum, October 2022. Looking north-west from rear wall with niche. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Plan