Herculaneum Ins. Or. II.4. Entrance to the large vestibule of the Palaestra and the area at its rear.

Excavated 1933-54.

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Cardo V, Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking south from near Ins. Or. II.4, on left.

Cardo V, Herculaneum, photo taken between October 2014 and November 2019.

Looking north towards Ins. Or. II.4 with two large columns, on east side of roadway. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Cardo V, Herculaneum. 7th August 1976.

Looking north towards Ins. Or. II.4 with two large columns, on east side of roadway, from near Ins. Or. II.1, on right.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

Ins. Or. II.4 Herculaneum, September 2019.

Looking east from end of Decumanus Inferiore, across Cardo V, towards entrance doorway.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Ins. Or. II.4 Herculaneum, July 2015.

Looking east from end of Decumanus Inferiore, across Cardo V, towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking east towards entrance to the Palaestra.

Looking east towards monumental entrance with two tufa columns into a wide vestibule, originally with a vaulted roof decorated with red green and yellow coloured stars.

According to Parslow, in July 1757 whilst excavating in this vicinity, Karl Weber had uncovered fragments of a marble plaque commemorating Vespasian’s restoration in AD 76 of a temple dedicated to the Mater Deum which had been damaged by the earthquake of AD 62, and from this date onwards Weber referred to this building as “the Temple of the Venus or Vespasian or the Mother of the Gods.” The vaulted ceiling of this room had collapsed along the entire north side, and in a tunnel made under it a white stucco ceiling was revealed which was painted with a blue and a yellow star pattern. The upper side of the vault still bore traces of a simple black and white mosaic that must have been the floor of a room above it. Weber made a detailed study of the painted vault and counted all 966 extant stars.

Weber’s plan of this building was fairly simple, the main room of the temple (it was never called the “cella”) with its smaller “atrium” and two outside columns occupied the central position facing onto the two streets directly in front of them.”

See Parslow, C. C. (1998). Rediscovering Antiquity, Cambridge Univ. Press, (p.134-143, and fig 35 - fig. 38).

According to Kraus, - “In 1757 an epigraph was turned up which stated that the Temple of the Magna Mater (the building itself has never been located) had been restored under Vespasian in 76”.

See Kraus T. and von Matt L., 1975. Pompeii and Herculaneum: Living cities of the dead. New York: Abrams. (p.119)

According to Wallace-Hadrill,

“Then there is the mysterious Temple of Mother of the Gods, Magna Mater, restored by the Emperor Vespasian in AD 76: the inscription plaque was found in the entrance to the Palaestra, with which it seems to have no connection.”

See Wallace-Hadrill, A. (2011). Herculaneum, Past and Future, U.K, London, Francis Lincoln Ltd, (p.196).

Ins. Orientalis II.4/19, Herculaneum. 1885 drawings by Ruggiero.

Fig. 3 shows the ceiling at Ins. Or. II.4/19 said to be the Temple of the Mother of the Gods, but exact location is unknown.

Fig. 1 shows the Augusteum.

Fig. 2, shows a drawing of the Columbarium.

(Note this is shown a different way round from the drawings by Bellicard and Barker.)

See Ruggiero, M. (1885). Storia degli scavi di Ercolano ricomposta su’ documenti superstiti. Tav VIII.

Naples Archaeological Museum, Epigraphic Gallery, June 2017.

Marble plaque found in Cardo V at entrance to Palaestra, at top, inv. 3708. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Herculaneum, 1757. Left side of marble plaque found near entrance to Palaestra on Cardo V. (CIL X 1406)

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inv. 3708.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella, June 2017.

Herculaneum, 1757. Right side of marble plaque found near entrance to Palaestra on Cardo V. (CIL X 1406)

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inv. 3708.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella, June 2017.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum.

Information card from Naples Archaeological Museum, photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella, June 2017.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum. Marble plaque with inscription commemorating the restoration of the Templum Matris Deum by Vespasian in AD 76.

Imp(erator) Caesar Vespasianus Aug(ustus) pontif(ex) max(imus)

trib(unicia) pot(estate) VII imp(erator) XVII p(ater) p(atriae) co(n)s(ul) VII design(atus) VIII

templum Matris deum terrae motu conlapsum restituit    [CIL X 1406]

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 3708.

According to Cooley and Cooley, this reads

Imperator Caesar Vespasian Augustus, supreme pontiff, holding tribunician power for the seventh time, hailed victorious commander 17 times, father of the fatherland, consul 7 times, designated consul for the eight time, restored the temple of the Mother of the Gods which had collapsed in an earthquake [of 62AD].

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2014. Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge, C6, p. 41.

Ins. Or. II.4, Herculaneum, July 2015. Looking towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. Entrance doorway.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, 4th December 1971. Looking towards entrance doorway on east side of Cardo V.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. South side of vestibule from entrance doorway.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking east towards large entrance hall, from entrance doorway.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. North side of vestibule from entrance doorway.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, April 2018. Looking towards north side of entrance vestibule.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lycett-King. Use is subject to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License v.4 International.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2014. Looking towards north side of entrance vestibule.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking east from vestibule into large entrance hall.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum. Found 22nd February 1757 in the vestibule.

Statuette of Venus holding her sandal. The statuette has arm and ankle bracelets of gold.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 5133.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi, p. 214.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. North wall of large entrance hall.

According to Deiss, this room would have had a black tessellated pavement with portions set in marble, white walls relieved by architectural motifs, and a decorated vaulted ceiling. The ceiling collapsed when the volcanic debris was removed, due to the Bourbon tunnellers criss-crossing the walls and vault so many times. Portions of the vault revealed that the eight-rayed stars in wine-red, olive green, and chrome yellow were painted on a background of pale blue.

See Deiss, J.J. (1968). Herculaneum: a city returns to the sun. U.K, London, The History Book Club, (p.123-4).

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, October 2014. North wall of large entrance hall. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, October 2012. North wall of large entrance hall. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. South wall of large entrance hall.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, June 2006.

South-east corner and south wall of large entrance hall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2014. Looking east across large entrance hall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2014. Looking towards north-east corner of large entrance hall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2014. Looking west across large entrance hall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2019.

Looking west across portico, large entrance hall and vestibule towards Decumanus Inferiore, across site.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2019.

Looking west from portico, across large entrance hall towards vestibule and Decumanus Inferiore.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Ins. Or. II, 4, Herculaneum. 7th August 1976. Looking west from access roadway.

In the lower centre, the large entrance hall leading to the vestibule and entrance with two columns on Cardo V, can be seen.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

Ins. Or. II, 4, Herculaneum. 4th December 1971.

Looking west across large entrance hall towards vestibule and towards entrance (centre right) to junction on Cardo V with Decumanus Inferiore.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, in centre, Herculaneum, 1957. Looking west from rear. 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.

J57f0427

Ins. Orientalis II.4, lower part of photo. 1957. Looking west from the rear. 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.

J57f0424

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking south along west portico, from east end of large entrance hall.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2014.

Looking south-east across south end of west portico, towards the unexcavated.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, August 2013.

Looking south-east across south end of west portico, towards the unexcavated. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, October 2012.

Looking south-east across south end of west portico, towards the unexcavated. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2014. Looking south towards the south end of west portico,

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, December 2004.

Looking towards west wall and south-west corner of west portico. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, December 2004.

Looking towards remaining decoration on west wall at south end of west portico. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, December 2004.

Looking towards detail of remaining decoration on west wall at south end of west portico. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2014. Looking towards south end of west portico.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, May 2006. Looking north along west portico, from south end. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2019. Looking north from east end of large entrance hall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, photo taken between October 2014 and November 2019.

Looking north-east from east end of large entrance hall. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2014. Looking north-east from east end of large entrance hall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, October 2014.

Looking north along west portico, from east end of large entrance hall. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, August 2021. Looking north across west portico. Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2019.

Looking north across west portico. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, September 2019. 

Looking north-west across large terraced area from east end of large entrance hall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, March 2008.

Looking north across large terraced area from east end of large entrance hall. Photo courtesy of Sera Baker.

Ins. Orientalis II.4, Herculaneum, 7th August 1976. Looking north across the large terraced area from east end of large entrance hall.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

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