According to Garcia y Garcia Region VII, Insula VI was one of the insulae most devastated over the years since its excavation.
He calls it the “Cinderella” of Pompeii. Between the years 1759 and 1762 it was vandalised and stripped by the Bourbons, then re-interred.
Then came the slow and non-systematic uncovering again before the final destruction in September 1943.
The area was ignored and abandoned during the years following the war, which reduced the insula to a heap of bricks and masonry.
See Garcia y
Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider, (p.102).
VII.6.1-6 – Diversi aditi in gran parte
obliterati, che trovansi sulla fronte settentrionale dell’isola a comminciare
da occidente, sembrano aver l’ingresso a tre botteghe, ad una casa, e a due
gradinate indipendenti per cenacoli sovrapposti.
(VII.6.1-6 – Several
entrances in large part obliterated that were found on the north side of the
insula beginning on the west side, they seemed to be the entrances to three
shops, to a house, and to two independent steps leading to rooms above.)
See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.159)
According to NdS, VII.6.1 was a narrow room through which one accessed the upper floor mezzanine (pergula) by wooden stairs.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1910,
p.439.
VII.6.1
Pompeii, doorway on right. September 2019.
Looking south-east across VII.6 on south side of Via delle Terme, from junction with Vicolo del Farmacista, on right.
Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VII.6.1 Pompeii, doorway on right near Vicolo
del Farmacista. December 2018.
Looking south-east across VII.6 on south side of Via delle Terme, from junction with Vicolo del Farmacista, on right.
Photo courtesy of Aude
Durand.
VII.6.1 Pompeii, in
centre. December 2018. Entrance
doorway, centre left.
Looking south from junction
with Via delle Terme and Vicolo del Farmacista. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. May 2005. Entrance doorway, on the right is the Vicolo del Farmacista.
VII.6.1
Pompeii. October 2023.
Looking south to
site of steps to upper floor.
Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. September 2021.
Looking south to
site of steps to upper floor.
Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking south to site of steps to upper floor.
According to Garcia y Garcia, the west wall had been rebuilt after the bombardment in 1943.
See Garcia y
Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.102 &
Fig.231)
According to NdS, “In (a), under the stairs, (the stairs of
VII.6.1 in the south-west corner) is a recess built into the exterior wall
surrounding all of the insula, and which formed the kitchen of the shop at
VII.6.2”.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1910, p.439.
7.6.1/2 Pompeii. W.1514. Looking north towards side (exterior west) wall at side of VII.6.1 on Vicolo del Farmacista.
The large square structure, on the right, would appear to be the recess built out from the exterior wall, forming the kitchen of VII.6.2.
On the left would be the corner pilaster of VI.4.11 or VI.4.12 (depending on whose plan) on Via delle Terme.
Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches
Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.
VII.6.1/2 Pompeii. May 2011.
Looking south along Vicolo del Farmacista, and on the left, the exterior west wall of bar at VII.6.1/2. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking west to the end of the Via delle Terme, where it joins Vicolo del Farmacista.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking west to the end of the Via delle Terme, where it joins Vicolo del Farmacista.
See Mazois, below.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. About 1834. Sketch by Mazois.
Looking west to the end of the Via delle Terme, where it joins Vicolo del Farmacista.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking west to the end of the Via delle Terme, where it joins Vicolo del Farmacista.
See similarities and differences with Mazois, above.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. March 2009. Road drainage on south side near VII.6.1.
Looking west to the end of the Via delle Terme, where it joins Vicolo del Farmacista.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. March 2009. Road drainage on north side near VI.4.
Looking west to the end of the Via delle Terme, where it joins Vicolo del Farmacista.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. March 2009. Road drains on south side at the end of the Via delle Terme, where it joins Vicolo del Farmacista.
VII.6.1 Pompeii. March 2009. Road drains on north side at the end of the Via delle Terme, where it joins Vicolo del Farmacista.