Pompeii Casts. Victim 28, The Crouching Man or The Muleteer, found in the Palaestra, 2nd November 1937.
“After the excavation of the Quadriporticus of the Theatres, between 1935 and 1939 the largest number of victims was found in this area, almost 100 bodies, 65 of which were found in the pumice layer and the rest in the debris left by the final 2 surges (4 and 5) that hit the city.
Only two casts have been successfully taken from all the bodies found in the Palestra: one of an adult (see fig 3 on page 146 of this book, and also photos below) and the other: according to Maiuri “the handsome body of a young man, one of those strong, agile young men from Campania, with athletic legs just made for running and for the last gasp of the race”.
The victim had been identified as an athlete, also because of the discovery near his body of bronze strigils, usually used by gymnasts”
See Guzzo, P. (ed), (2003). Tales from an eruption. Milano, Electa. (p.143, article by Tiziana Rocco, and (p.144) for photos of items found–
Gold and silver armband in form of a snake,
Bronze surgical instruments,
Different sized bronze cases with lids, for medicaments, SAP 6127, 6129a-e
Silver cup covered with foil embossed with scenes of the cult of Isis, NAP 6044.
Plaster cast of figure found near the latrine, crouching on the ground with his back against the wall of the east portico.
Victim 28. Found in the Palestra, II.7.1 c.1935-1939. May 2018. Cast described as
"The Crouching Man" or "The Muleteer".
Plaster-cast of victim found near the latrine of the Palaestra, perhaps, as portrayed here, found crouching on the ground with his back against the wall of the east end of the south portico.
Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
However, when this body was cast, he was found to be tipped forwards, huddled up and bent double on his knees, when restored he was placed in this position.
See Stefani, G. (2010). The Casts, exhibition at Boscoreale Antiquarium, 2010. (p.10).
The victim is a male, adult of over 20 years of age.
Near the victim was found a bronze caldaia, a casseruola and a colatoio in bronze stuck together and an iron trident, similar to the armament of a retiarius.
Near the door of the latrine were found two strigili and a bronze vase.
Just east of the latrine door were found parts of a cisium, a two-wheeled carriage of which a cast was made
See Osanna, N.,
Capurso, A., e Masseroli, S. M., 2021. I Calchi di Pompei da Giuseppe
Fiorelli ad oggi: Studi e Ricerche del PAP 46, p. 384-6, Calco 28.
Victim 28. On display in VII.7.29 Pompeii. May 2006. Plaster cast of body and items in storage.
Two victims were found towards the eastern extremity from the southern portico, and from which plaster-casts could be made because they both lay in the high layer of ash. The one was a beautiful young man's body with agile legs knocked down on the portico floor at the first fall of the ashes.
The other, the most tragically posed, was found leaning
against the wall, kneeling, crouching on the ground, in that crouching position
that is found in Neolithic tombs, with his head folded forward, bent almost
between his knees, for the better protection of himself with his hands and
cloak against the inhalation of asphyxiating gases. He had shoes on his feet
and wore the typical cloak of the peasant, the “cuculla”, whose flaps he held tight
against his mouth. And in removing the
ash under his knees, imprints of overlapping fabrics were noticed, as if the
unfortunate man had found comfort in his tragic pose by shielding his knees
with the few garments he could arrange. (p.225-6)
For Maiuri’s
“Scavo della “Grande Palestra” nel quartiere dell’Anfiteatro, - see Notizie degli Scavi, Anno 1939, Fascicoli 7, 8, 9,
on pages 165-238.
Victim 28. From II.7.1 Pompeii Palaestra. September 2015.
Photographed on display as an exhibit in the Summer 2015 exhibition in the amphitheatre.
Victim 28. Plaster cast photographed at “A Day in Pompeii” exhibition at Melbourne Museum. September 2009.
Victim 28. 1939 NdS photo. Cast of man, leaning against the wall, kneeling, crouching on the ground, with his head folded forward, bent almost between his knees, for the better protection of himself with his hands and cloak against the inhalation of asphyxiating gases.
See Notizie degli Scavi di
Antichità, 1939, p. 226, fig.
34.