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Regio II is located in the eastern part of the city of Pompeii. This
part of the city was built up under Roman rule. Apparently before, there
were shacks for the poor since this corner is farthest from the forum of
Pompeii and hardly played an important role in the history of the city.
However, because low cost authorities decided to demolish the old
buildings and erect new public buildings. They ordered the construction
of several large public buildings. This is the second most visited
district in Pompeii. Firstly, one of the entrances is located here, and
secondly there are several large buildings that are perfectly preserved.
In particular, there is the Amphitheater and Palestra. The
inhabitants of Pompeii loved their Amphitheater, although it is
impossible to call them organized or peaceful. On the seats, the battles
unfolded more badly than those in the arena. Because of the boorish
behavior of gladiator-fighting fans, the authorities of the Roman Empire
even banned for the time being the bloody games of Pompeii. Palestra was
a big stadium, a kind of fitness club of the time. It also housed public
toilets for visitors of the Pompeii Amphitheater.
Pompeii Amphitheater (Insula 6)
The Amphitheatre of Pompeii is situated South of the Via dell' Abbondanza in an Eastern corner of the city near the Sarno Gate entrance. It measures 104 by 135 meters in width and length and was completed around 80 BC. Construction of this site was commissioned by two city magistrates M. Porcius and C. Quintus Valgus. The site was chosen since this part of the town had no structures and no older blocks had to be torn down to make way for a new construction. The arena was dug 6 meters (20 feet) below earth level and earthworks supported the thousands of seats for spectators. After Pompeii was struck by an earthquake in 62 AD it was reconstruction using money of Caius Cuspius Panse and his son Caius Cuspius Panse. Their statues once stood here.
Insula 1
Casa degli Aemilii, Primio and Saturninus (2) - It was
excavated in 1915 and then in 1985: it owes its name to various
electoral inscriptions found on its facade, which referred to
characters from the Aemili family; inside were also found some
objects used for the production of cosmetic products.
Imperial House (10) - Excavated between 1953 and 1955 and again in
1985, it presents, past the entrance, a small courtyard that
looks directly onto the garden, as well as for the fenestrated
triclinium; in three small rooms, there are remains of the
Pompeian red plaster.
Complex of Magic Rites (12) - Also called
the House of the Pompeian Sibyl was explored in various stages
between 1954 and 1985 : one of the most important findings were
a pair of bronzed hands, belonging to the god Sabazio, who had
the task of removing the evil eye ; paintings depicting Mercury
and Bacchus and Venus and Priapus were also found in the house
while the exedra was used for banquets and votive and magical
rites.
Insula 2
House of the Augustals (4) - Also known as the House of Messium Ampliatus, it was excavated between 1916 and 1921 and faces directly onto Via dell'Abbondanza: in addition to two electoral inscriptions on the facade, the entrance portal is characterized on the upper part by a coat of arms of the Augustan age, that is, a crown woven with branches of oak and laurel; the interior of the house is seriously damaged as a result of previous explorations.
Insula 3
House of Venus in the Shell (3)
Insula 4
Insula 7
Insula 8
The House of the Garden Hercules (6)
Insula 9
House of Quietus (1) - It was explored in various
stages in 1954, 1971 and 1987 and restored in 1988 : on the
front door it featured a depiction of Mercury, while inside
an impluvium with a cistern and several rooms that still
retain traces of frescoes including some, almost life-size,
on the columns of the triclinium, which depict Priapus,
Bacchus and other subjects like birds.
House of Jeweler
(2)
- So called because in its interior numerous precious stones
were found, it still has traces of plaster, especially in
the triclinium, where different human figures and plants can
be found: this environment opens directly into the garden,
which in turn has a stone table.
House of Lararium Fiorito
(4)- It was explored in the fifties and restored in 1988 : many
of the wall decorations have been preserved inside,
especially in the room where there is a lararium decorated
with representations of flowers and cupids; on the walls of
the other rooms, plastered in ocher yellow, there are small
pictures depicting mythological and animal characters. A
marble statue of Venus was also found.
House of the
Summer Triclinium (5) - It has the characteristic of having also
the upper floor, of which the balcony on the facade at the
entrance has been reconstructed; inside, in the garden, a
small domestic sanctuary had been built, covering an earlier
painting depicting Venus, of which only a part remains.