ABSTRACT
The area outside Porta Ercolano at Pompeii is a significant example of the transformation of Roman urban borderscapes in the late Republican and early imperial period. Long used primarily as a burial ground, and occupied from the third century bce onwards by a scatter of sub-urban villas, the Roman period saw the construction of a large porticus with tabernae that fundamentally transformed the character of the area. This construction project involved a complete removal of all pre-existing structure as well as changes to the road system. Used for several forms of retail and small-scale manufacturing, the porticus with tabernae seems to have fallen under the authority of one owner—possibly the city—throughout its history. Through its location and history, the complex highlights the unique nature of urban development in the area just outside the city.
