Pompeii wardrobe discovery on Via dell'Abbondanza: 38 coins, make-up tools and amulets
Archaeologists at Pompeii have studied a wardrobe left closed since the eruption of 79 AD, holding 38 bronze coins, make-up tools and amulets. The house stands on Via dell'Abbondanza, in the centre of the ancient city.
At a glance
- Where
- House IX 11, 7, on Via dell'Abbondanza
- Announced
- 29 October 2026, Archaeological Park of Pompeii
- Contents
- 38 coins, make-up tools, a lamp, vessels and lead weights
- Amulets
- A necklace of at least 24 tiny objects
- Can you see it?
- No opening or display announced
- Site hours
- 9:00–17:00, last entry 15:30
What was in the wardrobe
- Personal care: tweezers, a spatula for cosmetics, a glass balm jar and an incense burner.
- Work: lead weights, perhaps for a business, in a small wooden box.
- Home life: a bronze lamp and vessels in bronze, glass and ceramic.
- Keepsakes: a necklace of at least 24 miniature amulets, with deities such as Bes and Mercury.
- Savings: 38 bronze coins in a woven basket.
This is not an intact piece of furniture: archaeologists reconstructed it from traces in the excavation. The scientific data are in the E-Journal of the Pompeii excavations.
Who lived in the house
The façade was dug in 1912, the rear rooms only recently, during restoration of the nearby Insula dei Casti Amanti. The name Cornelius Maximus is uncertain: it comes from inscriptions that are no longer visible.
The coins left behind suggest the residents had no time to retrieve them, but nobody knows who they were or what became of them. For the director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the most ordinary objects give back the human side of the past.
What it means for visitors
- For now the Park has not announced any opening of the house or display of the objects.
- The House of Marcus Fabius Rufus, closed since 1980: the Park aims for a first partial opening, with guided groups, by Christmas.
- Philip Colbert's lobsters stay in the Park until November 2026.
- Since mid-October, access to some houses has been reduced from 16:00: check what is open at the entrance.
Tip: in winter last entry is at 15:30. Leave Naples by 11:00 and choose the houses you want to see in advance.
Plan your visit
- Pompeii from Napleshow to get there, tickets and hours
- Free Pompeii daysthe dates from November to January
- Campania Express suspendedgetting there on the Circumvesuviana
- Herculaneum from Naplesthe ruins in 2–3 hours
Frequently asked questions
What was discovered at Pompeii in October 2026?
The Park announced the study of a wardrobe in house IX 11, 7 on Via dell'Abbondanza, with 38 bronze coins, make-up tools, vessels, lead weights and a necklace of amulets.
Can you see the Pompeii wardrobe?
Not yet, as far as we know: the Park's statement announces neither an opening of the house nor a display of the objects.
Who was Cornelius Maximus?
It is not certain he lived there: the name comes from inscriptions that are no longer visible. The Park's director also says the residents' identity cannot be established with certainty.
What are crepundia?
Necklaces of tiny amulets given to children, which adults could also keep. The one in the wardrobe has at least 24 pieces in faience, bone, glass paste and rock crystal.
What time does Pompeii close in winter?
From 15 October to 15 March the site is open 9:00–17:00, with last entry at 15:30.
Where to stay for your day trip to Pompeii
47 places to stay in the Central Station area on Napolibnb.it, the Naples holiday-rental portal: you contact the host directly, with no booking fees. Every listing shows its official CIN code.
