Rental inscription

This large panel shows an inscription and was found on the outer wall of Julia Felicis' praedium which was almost on the eastern end of Via dell'Abbondanza; it came off the wall during the first exploration in 1755-57 when the whole area was re-buried until new excavations in 1933-35 and 1952. The name of the landlady who was renting out some parts of this area can be read in the first line: In praedis I[uli]ae Sp(urii) f(iliae) Felicis / locantur / balneum venerium et nongentum tabernae pergulae / cenacula ex idibus Aug. primis in idus Aug. sextas anno[s co]ntinuo[s qu]inque / s. q. d. l. e. n. c. This was an offer of rent, and specified the date of the start of the rental period, the length of that period and, in abbreviated form, details regarding the drawing up and extension of the contract. The properties in question included a bathing-room, with "all mod. cons." (venerium meant "equipped with all facilities and conveniences") and aimed at the top end of the market (nongentum had adjectival function meaning "choice", or "suitable for people of a certain importance" such as the nongenti who used to preside over the polling stations at election times); other properties were the tabernae where hot food and drinks could be sold, with mezzanine space (pergulae) for storage or servants, and rooms on the upper storey of the building (cenacula) access to which could be had directly from the street through a side entrance. The contract would last for five consecutive years with effect from the Ides of August and in the event of extension after the five years had elapsed, it could be renewed as described by Fiorelli in abbreviated form; s(i) q(uinquennium) d(ecurrerit) l(ocatio) e(rit) n(udo) c(onsensu). This proscriptio locationis was found on the facade of this building, which is one of the most interesting in the whole of Pompeii, both on account of its layout, rather reminiscent of a proper suburban, and the floor decorations which enable us to date its construction at the 1st century B.C., and for the various types of decorative painting that have been found (the scenes of everyday life in the forum, the still lifes and the Nile scenes are very famous) and for the reconstructions that were subsequent to the 62 A.D. earthquake; these allowed the owner to keep the small but complete thermal baths working thus allowing her to rent them out; access to the baths was through an impressive distyle brick portal, opening onto Via dell'Abbondanza. The history of this house tells us a great deal about the economic vicissitudes of some families who, having fallen upon hard times, were forced to rent out part of their properties in order to maintain them and even maybe to continue living in them. Along with the main inscription, which was written in black letters traced out with the obvious help of etched guide-lines, we can find other writings, above all underneath: A Suettium Verum aed / v.e.s.p.p.d.r.p.probum ovf which is superimposed on Trebium aed around which we can read Metelljca, and L.Ceium secundum aed.o.v.f. / Proculus et Canthus rog under which we find L.C.Capellam. The technique used for removal is of some interest in this case, as in others. The plasterwork was sectioned into squares so as to facilitate their removal; they were then reconstituted in the museum. Bibliography: CIL IV, 1136-1140; A. Maiuri, Note d'epigrafia pompeiana, in Parola del Passato 1948, pp. 152-162; PPM III, pp. 184-310

Fonte: MANN
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