Introduction. 151 



The first, which was also the richest in finds, was discovered in 

 1876. At that time only a beginning of excavation was made. The 

 work was resumed and completed in 1 894-1 896 and 1898 by the proprie- 

 tor, Vincenzo De Prisco. This villa was a rectangular establishment, 

 about 80 x 130 feet in size, 1 consisting of a lower story which contained 

 living rooms and bath and quarters for making and storing wine and 

 olive oil, and a smaller upper story, which was probably devoted mainly 

 to sleeping-rooms. The arrangement of the lower story is exhibited in 

 the Plan, plate CXIX. The entrance on the south, or more accurately 

 the south-west, side led to an open court (A) which was bordered on 

 the north and west by a colonnade, above which were the rooms of the 

 second story. The rooms on the west consist of a kitchen (B), on one 

 side of which is a stable (H), on another the entrance to the bath com- 

 prising an apodyterium (D) with latrina (G), tepidarium (E), caldarium 

 (F), adjacent to which was the prcefurnium (C), where the water was 

 heated; furthermore a bakery (O), and a dining-room (N), with vesti- 

 bule (M), together with some smaller rooms for sleeping (K, L) and 

 storing implements (J). On the north side was the large room of the 

 wine-presses (P), 2 and a group of small rooms probably for the use of 

 the servants (V, W, X). This group, as well as the press-room, opened 

 on the corridor (Q). At the east end were rooms for crushing (Z) and 

 pressing (Y) olives, a large room of uncertain use (S), and a threshing- 

 floor (T), adjoining which was an open cistern (U). The large court 

 on the south side, filled with earthenware casks (dolia), was used for 

 the fermentation and storage of wine (R) . 3 



The details of the upper story are less clear, but it probably covered 

 the west and north sides of the quadrangle. The dining-room and 

 bath downstairs and most of the upper story appear to have been re- 

 served for the use of the owner; the room over the entrance may have 

 been occupied by the steward, while the remainder of the house was 

 given over to the servants and animals and to the business of the estate. 



In this villa were found the bronze table and the bath-tubs now in 

 Field Museum, as well as a large number of vases of bronze, silver, 

 terra-cotta and glass. The most important discovery, however, was 

 made in one of the pits beneath the floor of the room of the wine-presses 

 (plate CXIX, P 3) . Here the skeleton of a man was found, with his face 

 against the bottom of the pit. In his hands he clutched a pair of gold 

 bracelets and a gold neck-chain, while about him lay the contents of 



1 According to Pasqui. Monumenli Antichi . . . .dei Lincei VII, col. 400, the length is m. 39.70 (— 130 

 ft. 2.9 in), the width m. 25.50 ( = 83 ft. 7.9 in.). 



* The treasure above mentioned was found in the rectangular pit (3) on the south side of this 

 room. Cf. infra, p. 152. 



' For a fuller description of this villa, see Pasqui, M.A.L. VII and Mau-Kelsey, Pompeii (2d. ed.) , 

 ch. xlv, pp. 361 ff. 



