As I slowly emerge from my blogging hibernation, I can’t help but be struck (again) by the latest Pompeii news working through the Italian press about the collapse of a small wall associated with the Caupona of Demetrius and Helpis Afra. While I can’t find a photo of the extent of the damage, most of the reports, it appears, include something to the effect:

La piccola cinta in muratura di circa 2 metri di lunghezza e non  decorato da affreschi, era stato restaurato nel Dopoguerra. Gli esperti ripararono i danni arrecati alla struttura dai bombardamenti del 1943.

• via: Nuovo crollo agli Scavi di Pompei, cede un muretto | Napoli Fanpage (Fanpage)

i.e. the collapse is in a structure that was restored after the allied bombardment in WWII. Years ago — five, in fact — I noted that most of the wall collapses at Pompeii seem to be in areas that were restored in the wake of said bombing and that it might be a good idea to ‘check the mortar’ or something. Am I the only one who sees the pattern?

See also:

• Pompei, nuovo crollo. Cede muro in area chiusa al pubblico | Online-News (Online News)
• Pompei, nuovo crollo: cede un muretto (Mondotivu)
• Pompei, crolla un muro negli scavi (VesuvioLive)