Herculaneum. Villa dei Papiri or Villa of the Papyri or Villa dei Pisoni.

Part 5. South-western baths.

The complex and atrium      Lower levels      Reconstructions, the Getty Villa and the Jashemskis      Monumental structure      SW Baths      House of the Dionysiac Reliefs and pavilion      Sculptures      Frescoes      Mosaics      Plan

South-western baths

This bath building found in the new Insula Occidentalis excavation area contained various finds which show that the baths were not in use at the time of the eruption, but that it had been transformed into a space for laying up boats and storing maritime equipment. In fact a small boat, currently undergoing restoration work, was found in this building. Parts of other boats already dismantled in the Roman period show that maintenance work was taking place.

This is also shown by the discovery of a red prow in the form of a serpent, a wooden rudder, six oars and a pile of planking ready for use.

As at June 2019, these were all on display with the Boat Exhibit in the building on the south side of the main access roadway.

Herculaneum, June 2014.

Red prow of a boat in the shape of a serpent’s head. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Herculaneum, June 2014. Wooden rudder. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Herculaneum, June 2019. Carbonised wooden oars.

Six oars were found in the bath building in Insula Occidentalis at Herculaneum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Herculaneum, June 2019. Coil of rope, found in the SW Baths Complex in the Insula Occidentalis.

The rope was found on top of some wooden planking, probably belonging to a boat that had been dismantled in the Roman period.

Various layers of leather had been placed on top of the rope, some of which preserves signs of stitching. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Herculaneum, June 2019. Found in the “area of the new excavations of the Insula Occidentalis”.

Capstan used for pulling large boats ashore. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

According to the information card –

“Even more exceptional is the winch found in the new excavations area of the Insula Occidentalis.

This seems to be a capstan, with its slots for the manoeuvring bars and elements for receiving the rope still well-preserved.

It is likely this was used in a maritime context, as there are direct parallels with the wooden winches used on ships and in ports until the nineteenth century.”

South-western baths, Herculaneum. Plan of baths showing outline of adjacent villa, based on 2003 plan by Pastore.

The room numbers for the baths (1 to 5) are those used on these Herculaneuminpictures pages but may differ from those used elsewhere.

See Pesando, F. and Guidobaldi, M.P. (2006). Pompei, Oplontis, Ercolano, Stabiae. Editori Laterza, (p. 389).

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010. Looking north-east.

The pool building 1 is to the right and rooms 3 and 4 are to the left of it.

In the upper left corner can be seen the excavation of the upper floor of the House of the Dionysiac Reliefs, not yet fully excavated.

Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Guidobaldi wrote, “On the upper terrace (best seen as one exits the site), 9 rooms have been excavated belonging to one or more dwellings and partly damaged by the passages of the tunnels.”

See Guidobaldi, M.P, 2009: Ercolano, guida agli scavi. Naples, Electa Napoli, (p.132-3).

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023. Looking north-east. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023. Detail of north end of exterior of west side. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023. Detail of south end of exterior of west side. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023. Looking north-west. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. May 2004.

The main bath building 1 is left, terrace 2 with its portico is to its right and the wide entrance to room 5 is at the rear.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2004. Looking north towards baths building, on left and terrace 2 on right.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stephens. ©jfsPAP0695

South-western baths, Herculaneum. June 2012.

Looking north towards baths complex 1 and terrace 2 with terrace 5 behind. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010.

Looking towards baths complex 1, on left, separated by the adjacent terrace 2, with the lower level of large residential property, on right.

Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

The three windows with their pyroclastic materials on the south side can be seen.

In the semi-circular apse, there would have been another three windows.

In the upper wall of the apse was a smaller rectangular window for light.

There were another three windows on the north side.

The terrace would have been bordered on the south and east by a portico, with flooring of cocciopesto with white tesserae dots.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023.

Room 1, looking north in interior of baths complex. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010. Room 1, interior of baths complex. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

At the north end of the hot pool was a nymphaeum.

On either side of the nymphaeum would have been a narrow doorway into room 3 and other rooms of the baths complex.

Also, on the short, north side of the pool were steps descending into the water.

On the two long sides of the pool were a total of six rectangular windows, three on each side.

These have not yet been cleared of their pyroclastic material.

There are rectangular niches visible between the windows.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023. Room 1, interior of baths complex. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010.

Room 1. Looking north along pool. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023.

Room 1, detail of north end of pool. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2004. Room 1, looking north across pool.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stephens. ©jfsPAP0682

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010.

Pool viewed from the steps at the south end. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2004. Looking north across pool, from steps at south end.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stephens. ©jfsPAP0684

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023.

South end of pool, steps descending into water at the semi-circular end of the pool. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. June 2012.

South end of pool, steps descending into water at the semi-circular end of the pool. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010.

South end of pool, steps descending into water at the semi-circular end of the pool. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010.

Nymphaeum at north end of pool with narrow doors that led to room 3 and other rooms. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023.

Looking towards east wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2004. Looking towards east wall.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stephens. ©jfsPAP0683

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010.

South-east end of pool, with rectangular niche and bow window. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

The opening would have been one of the large windows giving light into the pool-room.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. October 2023.

South-east end of pool, with rectangular niche. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

South-western baths, Herculaneum. July 2010. Rectangular niche. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

On the left can be seen the area of the window, still with its pyroclastic material in situ.

The complex and atrium      Lower levels      Reconstructions, the Getty Villa and the Jashemskis      Monumental structure      SW Baths      House of the Dionysiac Reliefs and pavilion      Sculptures      Frescoes      Mosaics      Plan