Building plan

Basic info + History

Built early in the first century AD, this large building, situated on the east side of the Forum between the Temple of Vespasian and the Comitium, was built by the priestess Eumachia who dedicated the building and gave it to the city.

Eumachia

Eumachia was the daughter of wealthy Lucius, she obtained most of her riches by marrying into a family of higher status than her. She had a son, Marcus Numistrus Fronto, and she was the head of the fullers’ trade. She funded some of the buildings in Pompeii, including her own building, and also funded her own tomb. She was very popular with the citizens, whom ultimately converted her into a priestess and dedicated a statue to her, which can be found in the rear entrance of her building.

Marble entrance + statue

Of the outstanding facade of the building, only the entrance remains (D). It was decorated with acanthus leaves and birds. The symmetrical facade consists of two outer rectangular niches (B) which contained raised platforms perhaps used for the auctioning of goods with two inner semi-circular niches (C) which possibly held statuary. Further smaller niches flanked these curved niches; in one, according to an inscription, was the statue of Romulus, founder of Rome.

Inside the large rectangular exedra (H) a statue of Eumachia dressed as a priestess was found. It carries an inscription with it, which narrates how the fullers of the city dedicated it to her.

Apart from having a statue dedicated to her, Eumachia also had statues of the Emperors Tiberius, Augustus and his wife Livia scattered around her temple, which tells us that she was trying to gain political influence through them.

Primary Source Material (PSM) on building

-Inscription on temple:

‘Eumachia, daughter of Lucius, a public priestess, in her own name, and in the name of her son, Murcus Numistrius Fronto, made the chalcidicum, the crypta and the porticus with her own money and dedicated the same to Concordia Augusta and to Pietas.’

-Inscription on statue:

“to Eumachia, daughter of Lucius, public priestess of Pompeian Venus, from the fullers.”

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