The ceramics from the Insula del Menandro and the significance of their distribution’

This paper uses information on ceramic vessels collated for The Insula of the Menander in Pompeii volume III: The finds, a contextual study (allIson2006) to investigate how they might have been used within and between the different houses and shops in this insula. While taking into consideration that, unless they were complete or near complete vessels or had epigraphical remains, ceramics were not paid much attention in 1930s when this insula was excavated, I carry out comparative analyses of the quantities and distribution of the different types and forms of these vessels to examine patterns of vessel use. I pay particular attention to the terra sigillata remains and take a material-cultural approach to develop greater understandings of the social practices of eating and drinking in Pompeian houses. In this paper I also highlight problems faced, and possible ways forward, when re-collating Pompeian material that has been collated with different research agenda.