Pompeii Casts. Victim 7 described as "the sleeping or sick man".

Found in September 1873, near a doorway into I.5.3.

In SSANP: Boscoreale Antiquarium exhibition catalogue: The Casts, 5 March – 20 December 2010. (p.5) gives the date as 25^th September 1873.

In Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. Ann Arbor: Univ of Michigan Press, (p.85), he says the cast was made in June 1873.

Victim 7 is a male adult over 20 years of age.

The body was found in I.5.3 the Officina di M. Vesonius Primus on the 25th of September 1873.

On the back you can perhaps distinguish traces of the clothing; a high belt at the waist is clearly visible.

Near the body were found six silver coins, one of bronze and an iron key.

As he seems in an attitude of rest or abandonment he was described as the sleeping or sick man.

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. 332-3, Calco n. 7.

Victim 7, photographed by Michele Amodio. Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

 According to Dwyer –

“The pose of the victim was classically serene - he seemed to swoon rather than to struggle with death.

He died in such a passive manner that it was assumed he was already stricken, earning him the name “Ammalato” (the sick man).”

See Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. Ann Arbor: Univ of Michigan Press, (p.85).

In his description of this plaster-cast in his Guida di Pompei, 1877, Fiorelli described –

“Beautiful figure of a drowsing man [no.7], who lies on his left side, resting his head on his arm and with legs drawn up. (Reg. I, ins V, number 3).”

See Fiorelli, Guida di Pompei, [Rome, 1877,] p.88-89.

See Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. Ann Arbor: Univ of Michigan Press, (p.94).

According to Fiorelli –

“[At number 3], there is a door that leads into a place that had been in ruins in antiquity. Here was found the impression of a body of a man who had been attempting to save himself by fleeing. Sensing that he was being suffocated by the volcanic gases and that he was losing his strength, he lay down on the ground and there fell calmly into his eternal sleep.”

See Fiorelli, G., 1875. Descrizione di Pompei. Napoli, (p.452-53).

Victim 7. From a coloured album by M. Amodio, dated c.1880. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Victim 7, photographed by M. Amodio, from an album dated 1878. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

Victim 7 photographed by Roberto Rive no. 492 "Morto trovato in Pompei nel 1873". Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

Victim 7, photographed by Brogi, (no. 5579), in a display case in the museum. Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

Victim 7, in display case, ca. 1870–1880. Photo Edizioni Brogi: 5579, POMPEI. (Museo) Cadavere d'uomo.

Photo courtesy of Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, inventory number St.F.1804.

Victim 7 photographed in a display case in Room III of the museum. Postcard by Carlo Cotini.

Photo courtesy of Eugene Dwyer.

VII.1.8 Pompeii. June 2012. Plaster cast of victim 7, on display in men’s changing room 2.

Found 25th September 1873 in garden area of I.5.3. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Note:

In SSANP: Boscoreale Antiquarium exhibition catalogue: The Casts, 5 March – 20 December 2010. (p.5) gives the date as 25^th September 1873.

In Dwyer, E., 2010. Pompeii’s Living Statues. Ann Arbor: Univ of Michigan Press, (p.85), he says the cast was made in June 1873.

VII.1.8 Pompeii. September 2005. Detail of head of plaster cast of body of victim 7, in men’s changing room 2.

VII.1.8 Pompeii. June 2012. Victim 7. Rear of plaster cast of body, on display in men’s changing room 2.

Found 25th September 1873 in garden area of I.5.3. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.