Herculaneum VI.14. Shop, or a bar selling food and drinks.

Excavated 1960.

Wallace-Hadrill described this as a single-roomed shop, with no decorations inside.

See Wallace-Hadrill, A., 1994. Houses and Society in Pompeii and Herculaneum. New Jersey: Princeton U.P, (p.206).

In 1961, Maiuri wrote –

“Nearby (to VI.12) was the shop of a seller and also bronze-maker of jugs for oil: but this time the Bourbon tunnellers had cleaned out the shop so well that, without a beautiful sign painted outside with the depiction of the vases and the genius protector of the company, we would not have known what merchandise it was.”

(translated from -

“Accanto c’era il negozietto d’un venditore e bronziere anche lui di brocche per oleari: ma questa volta i cavamonti borbonici avevano ripulito cosi bene la bottega che, senza una bella insegna dipinta al di fuori con la raffigurazione dei vasi e del Genio protettore dell’azienda, non avremmo capito di che merce si trattasse.).

See Maiuri, A. (2008). Cronache degli scavi di Ercolano, 1927-1961. (p.120).

VI.14 Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking south to entrance doorway.

According to Camardo and Notomista, this shop was used for the deposit of numerous fragments of marble found during the excavations and stacked neatly here.

See Camardo, D, and Notomista, M, eds. (2017). Ercolano: 1927-1961. L’impresa archeologico di Amedeo Maiuri e l’esperimento della citta museo. Rome, L’Erma di Bretschneider, (p.253, Scheda 37)

Ins. VI 14 and 15, Herculaneum, September 2015. The pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway showed the painted sign with four pitchers of different coloured liquids, the drinks sold here and a list of their prices. At the top was a painted figure, and the panel at the bottom has an inscription painted in red reading NOLA, an announcement of a forthcoming gladiator’s show.

VI.14 and 15, Herculaneum, September 2015.

The pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway showed the painted sign with four pitchers of different coloured liquids, the drinks sold here and a list of their prices. At the top was a painted figure, and the panel at the bottom has an inscription painted in red reading NOLA, an announcement of a forthcoming gladiator’s show. Both of these doorways, leading into rooms of shops/bars, would have been part of the Casa del Salone nero originally.

Ins. VI 13, 14 and 15, Herculaneum, August 2013. Looking south from Decumanus Maximus towards entrance doorways. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.13, 14 and 15, Herculaneum, August 2013.

Looking south from Decumanus Maximus towards entrance doorways. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.14 Herculaneum, on right. September 2015. Detail of painted sign.

Ins. VI 14, Herculaneum, August 2013. Painted figure at the top of the pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.14 Herculaneum, August 2013.

Painted figure at the top of the pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.14 Herculaneum, August 2013.

Detail of the painted figure at the top of the painted pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

According to Cooley,

“The words ad Sancum appear painted next to an image of a bearded togate figure holding a libation dish and a staff, with his head garlanded.

This figure has been interpreted as being the god Semo Sancus, associated with guaranteeing oaths.”

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2014. Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge, (p.266-7, H80, (AE (1989)182c).

VI.13/14 Herculaneum, June 2017. Enhanced part of the shop sign showing four jugs of different colours, naming and pricing the drinks sold here together with the shop sign AD CVCVMAS (Ad Cucumas), written above the jugs. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VI.13/14 Herculaneum, June 2017.

Enhanced part of the shop sign showing four jugs of different colours, naming and pricing the drinks sold here together with the shop sign AD CVCVMAS (Ad Cucumas), written above the jugs.

Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Ins. VI 14, Herculaneum, August 2013. Detail from the painted pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway showing the painted pitchers. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.14 Herculaneum, August 2013.

Detail from the painted pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway showing the painted pitchers. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.14, Herculaneum, June 2011.
Detail from the painted pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway showing the painted pitchers.
Photo courtesy of Sera Baker.

VI.14 Herculaneum, June 2011.

Detail from the painted pilaster on the left of the entrance doorway showing the painted pitchers. Photo courtesy of Sera Baker.

VI.13 Herculaneum on left, VI.14 on right. May 2009.

Painted sign on pilaster between house entrance and shop. Looking south. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

According to Pesando and Guidobaldi, the very ancient painted graffiti NOLA, in red letters on the lower part, came to light during the restoration of the panel above. This was the announcement of a gladiatorial spectacle, inscribed by the scr (iptor) Aprilis of Capua, evidently a travelling scribe.

See Pesando, F. and Guidobaldi, M.P. (2006). Pompei, Oplontis, Ercolano, Stabiae. Editori Laterza, (p.366).

VI.13 Herculaneum on left, VI.14 on right. June 2011.
Painted sign on pilaster between house entrance and shop. Looking south.
Photo courtesy of Sera Baker.

VI.13 Herculaneum on left, VI.14 on right. June 2011.

Painted sign on pilaster between house entrance and shop. Looking south. Photo courtesy of Sera Baker.

VI.13/14 Herculaneum, April 2010.

Painted sign on pilaster between house entrance and shop. Looking south. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Cooley,

“the words ad Sancum appear painted next to an image of a bearded togate figure holding a libation dish and a staff, with his head garlanded.

This figure has been interpreted as being the god Semo Sancus, associated with guaranteeing oaths.”

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2014. Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge, (p.266-7, H80, (AE (1989)182c).

VI.13 Herculaneum on left, VI.14 on right. May 2006.

Painted sign on pilaster between house entrance and shop. Looking south. At the top is a painted figure.

The shop sign showed four jugs of different colours, naming and pricing the drinks sold here together with the shop sign AD CVCVMAS (Ad Cucumas), written above the jugs. The painted graffiti NOLA in red letters can also be seen on the lower part.

VI.13/14, Herculaneum. 4th December 1971.
Painted sign on pilaster between house entrance and shop. Looking south.
Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

VI.13/14, Herculaneum. 4^th December 1971.

Painted sign on pilaster between house entrance and shop. Looking south.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

Ins. VI 12, 13 and 14 Herculaneum, September 2015. Entrance doorways.

VI.12, 13 and 14 Herculaneum, September 2015. Entrance doorways.

Ins. VI 13, 14 and 15 Herculaneum, September 2015. Upper facades.

VI.13, 14 and 15 Herculaneum, September 2015. Upper facades.

Investigation beneath the flooring, 2005

VI.14 Herculaneum, September 2005. Flooring on north side of shop near entrance doorway, top.
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
See also Monteix, N.
“Fouilles des boutiques en façade de la Casa del Salone Nero a Herculanum (VI.12.6, VI.12.14 et VI.12.15)”.
In Rivista di Studi Pompeiani, 2007, (p.168-175).

VI.14 Herculaneum, September 2005. Flooring on north side of shop near entrance doorway, top. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.