Herculaneum VI.4. Rectangular space connected with the palaestra.

According to Maiuri,

“The use of the rectangular space connected with the palaestra, with two separate entrances at VI.4 and VI.5 and which also communicates with the corner shop (VI.6), is unknown: it was probably a covered playground with a penthouse roof, perhaps a sphaeristerium where the ball game (pila) was played.”

See Maiuri, Amedeo, (1977). Herculaneum. 7th English ed, of Guidebooks to the Museums Galleries and Monuments of Italy, No.53 (p. 39).

Decumanus inferiore, looking west along north side of Ins. VI, towards doorway at VI.4. September 2015.

Decumanus inferiore, Herculaneum. September 2015. Looking west along north side of Ins. VI, towards doorway at VI.4.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum, August 2021.
Looking east across rectangular space, with entrance doorway at VI.4, centre right, from Decumanus inferiore.
Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum, August 2021.

Looking east across rectangular space, with entrance doorway at VI.4, centre right, from Decumanus Inferiore.

Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum. Photo taken between October 2014 and November 2019.
Looking east across rectangular space towards doorway to VI.7, in centre. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum. Photo taken between October 2014 and November 2019.

Looking east across rectangular space towards doorway to VI.7, in centre. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum, June 2012. Looking north-east from Decumanus Inferiore across open-exercise area of Baths. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum, June 2012.

Looking north-east from Decumanus Inferiore across open-exercise area of Baths. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum. September 2003. Looking towards north wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum. May 2003. Looking towards north wall.
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum. May 2003. Looking towards north wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum. May 2003. Detail from north wall of open exercise yard.
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum. May 2003.

Detail from north wall of open exercise yard. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

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VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum, May 2001.

Looking north-east from Decumanus Inferiore across open-exercise area of Baths. Photo courtesy of Current Archaeology.

Ins. VI.1/4/5. 1957. Looking north-east from Decumanus Inferiore across open-exercise area of Baths. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.
Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details. J57f0436

VI.1/4/5, Herculaneum. 1957.

Looking north-east from Decumanus Inferiore across open-exercise area of Baths. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

J57f0436