VII.6.17 Pompeii. Water reservoir stairs to basement. Excavated 1817, 1840.

 

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.6.17 Pompeii. March 2009. Entrance on Vicolo delle Terme.

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii on the left. December 2006. Vicolo delle Terme looking north with VII.5 and Forum baths on the right.

Between VII.6.16 and VII.6.17 are three large water storage reservoirs that feed the Forum Baths.

These are behind the wall on the left. The tanks were 5m by 15m at the base and 9m high at the top of the curved roof.

It is estimated the reservoirs held 430,000 litres of water.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p. 41).

 

VII.5 Pompeii. May 2005. Vicolo delle Terme looking south.

The reservoirs at VII.6.17 are the tall buildings on the right.

The water tower at the Forum Baths is on the left.

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. March 2009. Entrance to VII.6.18 (upstairs)  and VII.6.17 (downstairs).

Between VII.6.16 and VII.6.17 are three large water storage reservoirs that feed the Forum Baths.

VII.6.17 gives access to the lower part of the reservoirs.

VII.6.18 gives access to the upper part of the reservoirs.

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. March 2009. Stairs down.

According to Liselotte Eschebach there were three turns of stairs.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p. 41).

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. March 2009. Stairs down.

According to Liselotte Eschebach these gave access to a large stopcock which turned the flow on and off.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p. 41).

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. March 2009. Plastered walls and ceiling of stairs.

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. March 2009. Arched plastered wall and ceiling.

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. December 2005.

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. May 2005.

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. May 2005.

 

VII.6.17 Pompeii. May 2005.