Herculaneum VII.1. Workshop of C. Messenius Eunomus, linked to VII.17 and 18.

Excavated 1872-73.

Plan

According to Maiuri, listed as “Old Excavations” are Insula II, numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8, and Insula VII, but only the south part belonging to dwellings at numbers 1 and 2, and shops at numbers 3 and 4. Owing to the lack of space and the overhead buildings, the excavators only succeeded in disinterring the extreme south-west corner of this insula.

See Maiuri, Amedeo, (1977). Herculaneum. 7th English ed, of Guide books to the Museums Galleries and Monuments of Italy, No.53 (p.23-25).

The ownership of this house and shop 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).

VII,1, Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking west to entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VII,1, Herculaneum, October 2014. Looking west to entrance doorway. 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,1, Herculaneum, September 2015.

Looking north along Cardo III Superiore, from junction with Decumanus Inferiore. The doorway to VII.1 is on the left.

Plan