Herculaneum VI.11. Rear entrance of Casa del Salone Nero or House of the black salon or room at VI.13.
House fully excavated between 1939 and 1965.
Maiuri wrote, originally around 1936, that this side entrance doorway was reached following the raised and porticoed pavement at the northern end of Cardo IV Superiore.
He described this doorway as the secondary entrance, (the main entrance still buried must open on the decumanus), into the courtyard of a patrician dwelling, surrounded by an elegant columned portico. On the southern side there are two beautiful cubicula; the little vaults preserve all the ornamental motives plainly painted; on the western side is a large black hall, with the walls divided into three rectangular paintings like mirrors, flanked by pillars and chandeliers in lively colours.
The ceiling too, with a wide skylight in the centre, recomposed from various fragments, is on a black ground. Against the wall is placed a wooden shrine in the usual form of a wooden temple, with wooden columns and little marble capitals, which preserved the little statues of a Lararium.
At present, the remaining parts of the dwelling are still hidden under the mound of the lava flow.
See Maiuri, Amedeo, (1977). Herculaneum. 7th English ed, of Guide books to the Museums Galleries and Monuments of Italy, No.53 (p.40).
VI.11 Herculaneum. September 2004. Rear entrance doorway, leading to a vestibule.
Other photos for this house can be seen at VI.13.
VI.11, Herculaneum. May 2004.
Looking north-west on Cardo IV, towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy
of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.11, Herculaneum. October 2022.
Room 15, looking north from vestibule towards peristyle. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. October 2022.
Room 15, looking south across vestibule towards doorway to kitchen and base of stairs. On the left is the entrance doorway from Cardo IV.
Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. January 2002. Looking towards south-west corner
of vestibule, with base of stairs to upper floor.
The doorway in the south wall leads into the kitchen. Photo courtesy of
Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. October 2022.
Room 20, kitchen, looking south-west from doorway in vestibule. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. May 2004. Kitchen, south wall. Photo courtesy of
Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. May 2003. Looking east in rustic storeroom, with
doorway into kitchen. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. May 2004. South wall of rustic storeroom. Photo
courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. May 2004.
Detail of south wall of rustic storeroom in south-east corner. Photo
courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. May 2004. Detail of south wall of rustic
storeroom. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. January 2002.
The window in the west wall of the storeroom gave light to the room from
the courtyard.
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. May 2003.
Looking towards west wall and north-west corner in storeroom. Photo
courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11, Herculaneum. May 2005.
Looking north towards tablinum and oecus, from above rooms in south-east
corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.11, Herculaneum. May 2003.
Looking west to exterior wall in south-east corner on Cardo IV. Photo courtesy
of Nicolas Monteix.
VI.11, Herculaneum, January 2002. Looking west to exterior wall in Cardo
IV.
Over the wall, looking west along the north portico. Photo courtesy of
Nicolas Monteix.
VI.13/11,Herculaneum. February 2007.
Looking west on Cardo IV towards exterior wall. Photo
courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
Pavement on Cardo IV Superiore, looking north along Ins. VI. from near VI.11.
October 2014. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.
Looking south along Ins. VI on west side of Cardo IV Superiore, from corner with Decumanus Maximus. May 2010.
The raised and porticoed pavement, as described by Maiuri.
Looking south along Ins. VI on west side of Cardo IV Superiore, on right. June 2014.
The raised and porticoed pavement, as described by Maiuri. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.
Looking south along east side of insula VI, on Cardo IV Superiore. September 2015.
Painted graffito. This shows the remains of a painted edict on behalf of two local aediles, M. Rufellius Robia and A. Tetteius, to prohibit the dumping of dirt and excrement near to the water tower, to prevent the pollution of the water supply.
Ins VI, Herculaneum, September 2015.
Looking towards west wall in north-east corner of insula, with street altar and remains of two painted serpents.
Ins VI, Herculaneum, September 2015. Painted serpent on south side of altar.
Ins VI, Herculaneum, June 2012. Painted serpent on south side of altar. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.
Ins. VI. May 2010. Serpent on south side of street altar.
Ins. VI. May 2010. Street altar with a serpent painted on either side.
Cardo IV, north-east corner of insula VI. May 2006. Street altar. Looking west.
Ins VI, Herculaneum, September 2015. Painted serpent on north side of altar.
Ins. VI. May 2010. Serpent on north side of street altar.
Cardo IV, north-east corner. May 2006. Street altar, and remains of painted serpents.
Fountain at north end of Cardo IV, on Decumanus Maximus. May 2006. Looking north.
Fountain at north end of Cardo IV, on Decumanus Maximus. September 2015. West end of fountain.
Fountain at north end of Cardo IV, on Decumanus Maximus. May 2006. West end of fountain.
Fountain at north end of Cardo IV, on Decumanus Maximus with figure of Venus. May 2006. West end of fountain.
Fountain at north end of Cardo IV, on Decumanus Maximus. September 2015. East end of fountain.
Fountain at north end of Cardo IV, on Decumanus Maximus. May 2006. East end of fountain.