Pompei 12 tracce di vita intorno al denaro

Step 12 - Sarnus Gate

PORTA DI SARNO. Veduta da nord-est. ©SSBAPES

Like many other inhabitants of Pompeii, an individual who met his death near the Sarnus Gate had tried to take his treasure with him. Next to the man were found 49 denarii and 61 aurei, some jewellery, a finely decorated mirror and four elegant silver cups.

The "treasure" of the fugitive

Naples, National Archaeological Museum, Coin cabinet. Nero Aureus, Mint of Rome, 64-65 AD

D/ NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS Testa laureata di Nerone a d.; c.p.
R/ AVGVSTVS AVGVSTA Nerone radiato e togato stante a s., con patera nella d. e scettro nella s., accanto l'imperatrice velata e drappeggiata stante a s. con patera nella d. e cornucopia nella d.; c.p.
Inv. 161524 (57); g 7,35; mm 19; RIC I, p.153, n. 44.

Comment

Close to the gate "of Sarnus" (III,8) a person who had died while trying to escape from the city towards Nocera was found. During his escape he had tried to save his "treasure": a large hoard of money (49 denarii and 61 aureii; inv. 161468-161577), some jewellery, a valuable mirror with an embossed plate decorated with fishing Cupids and four simple and elegant silver cups.

Via dell'Abbondanza, one of the most important roads in Pompeii passes through the city from east to west, starting from the Forum and reaching Via dei Teatri. It then crosses Via di Stabia and continues to the Regiones I and II terminating at the Sarnus Gate, one of the seven gates that opened into the walled city.

During the first eruption stages of Vesuvius lots of Pompeians tried to get away from the city, taking their most precious possessions with them: money, jewellery, family silver, the keys to the house. The hoards found next to the skeletons were usually kept in small wooden boxes finished in bronze or ivory, in leather or cloth bags, of which the weft is sometimes still visible on the coins.