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Insula Orientalis II lies north of Insula Orientalis I and east of Cardo V. The whole block is occupied by a single building of opus reticulatum which runs for approximately 55 metres along Cardo V. A number of stores, built against the monumental ediface, supplied the needs of the public who frequented the Palaestra at the rear.
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Pistrinum (Ins Or. II, 8)
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The Pistrinum, or bakery, occupies a central location along Cardo V. It is one of two bakeries in the block, the
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second one being at No. 1.
Inside the bakery, the whole cycle of bread-making from milling the wheat to baking the bread was carried out.
Two lava millstones can be found in the small courtyard (They can be clearly seen in the photograph on the right). These mills were turned by donkeys, whose bones were also found.
A stable, two bathrooms, and an upstairs apartment complete the bakery.
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Palaestra (Ins Or. II, 4)
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The eastern side of the insula is wholly taken up by the partially excavated Palaestra, whose entrance consists of a rectangular room with a vaulted ceiling, preceded by two columns.
At the centre of the open area, surrounded by a portico with four arcades, is a cruciform swimming pool where a bronze fountain consisting of a five-headed serpent entwined round a tree, once stood. (This has now been replaced by a replica). In the centre of the portico, on the western wall, is a recessed room containing a central marble platform.
The north side of the area is closed by a criptoporticus whose upper storey comprises a gallery and a large room linking the Palaestra to the Decumanus Maximus. Most of the marble decoration that adorned the Palaestra was destroyed or removed during the 18th century. Two panels, however, can be seen in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples.
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The photograph above shows the north portico of the Palaestra. The bridge spanning the buildings carries the pathway leading into the site from the town of Ercolano. It gives you an idea of how deeply Herculaneum was buried.
On the left is a photograph of the Palaestra at Pompeii.
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