Fullonica di Stephanus (Laundry of Stephanus), Pompei

The Fullonica of Stephanus is a relic from ancient Pompeii, a testament to the Roman era buried beneath the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Among the four fullonics discovered in Pompeii, Stephanus holds the distinction of being the most well-preserved. Its name, Stephanus, echoes through the election posters adorning its vicinity. Upon excavation, a solitary skeleton was found within, likely belonging to the owner, Stephanus, accompanied by a sum of money totaling around 1,090 sesterces. It remains unclear whether Stephanus sought refuge within his establishment during the eruption or if another soul sought shelter there.

Upon entry, one finds themselves in a foyer leading to rooms on both the left and right. The room to the left housed the pressing apparatus for ironing clothes, while the one to the right, also accessible from the atrium, boasted red and white pictorial decorations. The atrium itself featured a transformed impluvium, now a masonry basin with flowing water, and a converted compluvium serving as a skylight. Notably, the flat roof, an uncommon feature in Pompeii, served as a drying area for garments. A staircase from the atrium led to a potential living space above. Next to the atrium, there's an oecus with matching fourth-style décor. The walls of the oecus feature winged female figures representing the Seasons, adding artistic charm.

Connected to the atrium and oecus by a corridor is the garden. What once housed a marble-covered wall with pillars, serving as a peristyle, now doubled as a clothes-drying area. At the garden's end lay three descending basins and five pestle basins for various activities. To the right stood the kitchen, where artifacts unearthed during restoration efforts between 2014 and 2015 found a new home, alongside pots, pans, and an iron grill. A painting discovered near the tanks also found its place within. Finally, on the southwest corner of the garden stood the triclinium, though its original function had been displaced with the establishment of the fullonica, its stucco decorations reminiscent of columns still adorned its walls.