The Macellum East Wall
Last updated Friday, September 19, 1997, at 3:49 PM Copyright © 1996, 1997 Kirk Martini
| Overall view of the east wall from the exterior. |
Key Characteristics
The east wall of the Macellum is notable for the lack of visible out-of-plane damage, despite walls of apparently similar geometry and construction to those on the north and south that show evidence of significant out-of-plane damage. One possible explanation is that the 62 earthquake produced predominately north-south ground motion at Pompeii, subjecting north-south walls to primarily in-plane rather than out-of-plane forces. Another more convincing explanation is that the east walls of the Macellum have significant out-of-plane buttressing from intersecting walls. The east wall of the shrine (W37.68-37.66) has a reduced length because of the buttressing effect of the shrine walls (W37.30 and W37.39) plus the intersecting wall W68.66. The northern portion of the east wall (W30.60-30.56) is similarly buttressed by the intersection wall W56.60. The southern portion of the wall (W39.79-39.87) is buttressed by the intersection walls W79.83 and W83.87. Although many of the intersecting walls have a very short plan length, the bond scars typically extend the full height of the wall, and the nature of the wall above the remaining stubs is unknown, but may have provided a substantial buttressing effect.Selected Photos
The south end
The south-east corner, from the interior.
The south-east corner, viewed from the interior Note the ancient plaster extending most of the height of the wall.
The south-east corner, viewed from the interior
Stub of W79.68 and bond scar
Juncture of W87.83 with east wall Note the full height bond scar, slightly behind W39.87.
Juncture of W79.83 with east wall The full-height bond scar aligns with neither W87.83 nor W79.83.
The shrine
The shrine. Note that the shrine walls have many returns and are well buttressed.
Stub of W79.68 and bond scar
The north end
North-east corner, from interior
The north east corner, viewed from the exterior the bond scars of W66.60 and W60.56 are visible in both photos.
Last updated Friday, September 19, 1997, at 3:49 PM
Copyright © 1996, 1997 Kirk Martini
Please send comments or questions to Martini@virginia.edu