Pompeii.
Household shrines to the domestic gods, IX.3.2 to IX.6.g.
For some of these the actual purpose is unknown.
The individual locations identified on each item may contain further photos and details, you can see these by looking at the pompeiiinpictures pages in question.
Back to household shrines list
Region IX.
IX.3.2 Pompeii.
Painting and niche, south wall of garden area.
IX.3.2 Pompeii. July 2017. South wall of
garden area, with stucco decoration in the first style.
Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.3.2 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden area.
Niche in south wall.
IX.3.2 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden area.
Niche in south wall. The niche was originally decorated with yellow, red and
green flowers.
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e
culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni.
(p.284, no.V78).
According to Boyce, in the south wall of the
peristyle is a vaulted semi-circular niche (h.0.48, w.0.62, d.0.35, h. above
floor 1.65).
The inside walls were decorated on a white
background with red and yellow spots and outlined with red stripes.
The two Lares were painted on the wall above
the niche and below it the serpents, confronted at an altar.
Bronze statues were found in the niche on
12th July 1847: a female figure, a male figure, Hercules, Jupiter, and
Isis-Fortuna.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 82, no. 406, Pl. 4, 2.)
Helbig also gave a description of the
statuettes found in the niche:
See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten
Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (69b).
Arched niche on west wall of kitchen.
IX.3.2 Pompeii. March 2009. Niche on west
wall of kitchen, latrine, cella penaria and well or fountain room.
Boyce described this as the ruins of an
arched niche.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 82, 407B).
IX.3.5/24 Pompeii.
Aedicula lararium against west wall in atrium.
IX.3.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 3, remains of aedicula altar on south-west side of atrium, looking north from room 16.
IX.3.5 Pompeii. December 2018.
Room 3, looking west to remains of aedicula
altar in south-west side of atrium. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According
to Boyce –
The
aedicula, of which now only remains the rectangular podium (1.20 by 0.83,
h.1.10) and the bases of the two columns which supported the roof over the
shrine. The podium is coated with stucco and painted in imitation of marble and
in the centre of each side is a painted wreath.
The
whole structure was richly ornamented with mouldings of coloured stucco.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.83, no.408).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.249, no.A38).
IX.3.10/12 Pompeii.
Arched niche on south wall in bakery.
IX.3.12 Pompeii. May 2003. South wall with
niche. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.
IX.3.12 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche set
into south wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce –
the niche (h.0.45, w.0.38, d.0.25, h. above
floor 1.60) was adorned inside with painted plants, having green and brown
leaves and red flowers.
On the white plaster surrounding the niche,
there were paintings of figures.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.83 no. 409 and
Pl.26,1).
IX.3.12 Pompeii.
December 2018.
Detail
of niche set into south wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
IX.3.12
Pompeii. Niche on south wall.
Photographed
1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.
IX.3.12 Pompeii. 1959. Niche on south wall.
Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.
Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A.
Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See
collection page) and made available under the Creative
Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence
and use details.
J59f0228
IX.3.12 Pompeii. 1872 drawing of lararium
painting and niche on south wall.
The niche had green and brown leaves and red
flowers.
On the white plaster surrounding the niche,
there were paintings.
On the right, Luna was sitting on a horse.
On the left, Isis-Fortuna with large green
wings and a crescent moon with a lotus flower in the middle of her head.
To the side of Isis-Fortuna was a cupid
holding a lighted torch in both hands.
Below the niche, were two large bearded and
crested serpents in front of an altar with egg and pine-cone on top.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.83, no. 409 and
Pl.26,1).
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den
Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von
Zabern. (L102, p. 295, Taf. 45.1).
See Pappalardo, U.,
2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per
Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p. 146).
See Annali dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), Vol.
44, 1872, p. 35ff, Tav C.
IX.3.12 Pompeii. Drawing by Geremia Discanno,
1870, of lararium painting seen on south wall, but now faded.
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum.
Inventory number ADS 1093.
Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it
Utilizzabili alle
condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso
modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)
Rectangular panel coated with white stucco, with painted figures on three sides.
IX.3.12 Pompeii. December 2018.
Looking north-west towards rectangular
pilaster opposite the oven.
Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
IX.3.12 Pompeii. 1872 drawing of lararium
painting on the rectangular pilaster opposite the oven.
According to Boyce and Fröhlich –
the large rectangular pilaster opposite the
oven used to be decorated with white stucco to a height of about two metres. It
was painted on three sides.
On the main side it was painted with the
Genius pouring his libation onto a cylindrical altar with offerings, around
which a large serpent was coiled.
The tail of the serpent continued onto the
left side of the pillar, where there was a large tree.
A second tree stood to the left of the altar
painted on the main side.
On the third side the figure of the Genius
appeared again, standing on the stern of a ship which had its sails spread.
Sogliano called attention to the unusually
brown tinge of the flesh of both these figures of the Genius.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 83, no. 410
and pl. 20).
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den
Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von
Zabern. (L103, p. 295 and Taf. 45.2).
See Annali dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), Vol.
44, 1872, p. 35ff, Tav B.
IX.3.13 Pompeii.
Lararium painting on west wall of shop-room, no trace remains.
IX.3.13 Pompeii. March 2009. North wall of
caupona, with remains of stairs in north-west corner, and doorway to dwelling.
On the west wall, on the left, under the
stairs would have been a lararium painting, now disappeared.
Luckily both Fiorelli and Sogliano wrote a
good description.
Fiorelli told us that there was a Genius
flanked by Lares, the caricature of a male head, and two gladiators in combat.
Sogliano reported that the painting was done
in red monochrome on white plaster, and showed a Genius with patera and
cornucopia, sacrificing at the altar in the middle of two Lares with rhyton and
situla.
See Pappalardo, U.,
2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per
Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p. 146).
See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli
anni 1867-79. Napoli: (p.11).
According to Boyce –
On the wall of the shop is a lararium
painting (h.0.80 by w.1.20) representing the Genius with cornucopia and patera
beside an altar and on each side a Lar with rhyton and situla.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.83-4, no. 411).
See Jacobelli, L., 2003.
Gladiators at Pompeii. Rome: L’Erma
di Bretschneider. (p. 82).
Niche in north wall of kitchen.
IX.3.13 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking west
across kitchen, storeroom and latrine.
IX.3.13 Pompeii. December 2018. Kitchen,
niche on north wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According
to Boyce, in the kitchen behind the shop, in the north wall is an arched niche
(h.0.45, w.0.45, d.0.20, h. above floor 1.05).
See
Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia
of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.84, no.412).
IX.3.14 Pompeii.
Arched niche in north wall of shop-room.
IX.3.14
Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north to entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of
Aude Durand.
IX.3.14 Pompeii.
December 2018.
Detail of niche, and
altar in shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
In the north wall is an arched niche (h.0.30,
w.0.43, d.0.18, h. above floor 1.37), and against the wall below it stands a
masonry altar (0.62 by 0.55. h.0.62).
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.84, no.413).
IX.3.14 Pompeii.
December 2018. Niche in north wall, above altar. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
IX.3.14 Pompeii.
December 2018. Detail of niche set into north wall of shop. Photo courtesy of
Aude Durand.
IX.3.15 Pompeii.
Lararium, in atrium, but no trace found.
IX.3.15 Pompeii.
March 2009. Room 2, atrium, looking north across atrium.
According to Boyce –
The report (Giorn.
Scavi, N.S., ii, 1872, 281 (March 9 1871) describes the discovery in the
atrium of un larario and within it a badly corroded alabaster statuette
(h.0.16) of a seated figure, fragments of another statuette of ivory, and a
terracotta lamp.
There are now to be
seen in this atrium no traces of a lararium which could have contained
statuettes.
Apparently the find
is to be referred to another house, though from the description given (Note,
see below) it is not possible to locate it elsewhere.
(Note – “Nel lato meridionale della stessa isola, cioe
nel prolungamento del vicolo di Augusto ….. la seconda casa”.)
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p84, no. 416C).
Painting found on north wall of cubiculum in south-west corner of peristyle.
IX.3.15 Pompeii.
March 2009. Room 6, north-west corner. The flooring in this room was of
cocciopesto.
According to PPM,
the following painting of Isis-Fortuna was cut from the north wall of this
room.
See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei:
Pitture e Mosaici: Vol. IX. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.334-5)
![IX.3.15 Pompeii. Picture of Isis Fortuna with horn of plenty and sistrum and with a foot on a globe. To the right is Hesperos and left is Helios or Harpocrates - Helios. The painting of Isis-Fortuna (MN Inventory 8836) was found in 1847 in IX, iii, 15 on the north wall of a cubiculum, either room 5 or 6 on our plan, (according to PPM it was found in room 6, which is room "h" in their book). It was discovered while carrying out supporting work on one of the walls of the Casa di Suonatrici which joined the two houses. Our thanks to Raffaele Prisciandaro for his help in identifying the following sources:
(Casa di Philocalus; parete N del cubicolo; CIL 04, 882 (197); BAIt 1, 1862, n. 20, 1862, pp. 159 160; Panofka, BdI 1847, pp. 127-128 “nell’appoggiar una delle mura della casa delle Suonatrici si è scoperta al muro della casa accanto una pittura …”)
Frohlich says this picture was found on the north wall of the shop IX.3.7. See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L101: p.294).
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum, where it is shown as from IX.3.15.
According to Boyce, above the garland at the top of the painting was a painted inscription, whose reading was long disputed.
He quoted it as published in C.I.L – PILOcaLVS VOTVM SOL LIBES MERITO.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 84, 415B)
According to Della Corte, the owner of this house and shop at number 16, was a Philocalus. He had a sacred painting made for his bedroom and had the following dedication painted on it in his name:
P(h)ilo(ca)lus votum sol(vit) libe(n)s merito [CIL IV 882]
See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.191)
(Note 4 on page 191, said that Fiorelli referred to and gave the painting to shop IX.3.7).](Pompeii%20Household%20Shrines%20p14_files/image036.jpg)
IX.3.15 Pompeii.
Picture of Isis Fortuna with horn of plenty and sistrum and with a foot on a
globe.
To the right is
Hesperus and left is Helios or Harpocrates - Helios.
The painting of
Isis-Fortuna (MN Inventory 8836) was found in 1847 in IX, iii, 15 on the north
wall of a cubiculum, either room 5 or 6 on our plan, (according to PPM it was
found in room 6, which is room “h” in their book).
It was discovered
while carrying out supporting work on one of the walls of the Casa di
Suonatrici which joined the two houses.
Our thanks to
Raffaele Prisciandaro for his help in identifying the following sources:
(Casa di Philocalus; parete N del cubicolo; CIL 04, 882
(197); BAIt 1, 1862, n. 20, 1862, pp. 159 160; Panofka, BdI 1847, pp. 127-128
“nell’appoggiar una delle mura della casa delle Suonatrici si è scoperta al
muro della casa accanto una pittura …”)
Frohlich says this
picture was found on the north wall of the shop IX.3.7.
He points out that
the painting was described by Panofka in 1847, so it could not be IX.3.15 which
was first excavated in 1861.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und
Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L101: p.294. taf.47,1).
Now in Naples
Archaeological Museum, inventory number 8836, where it is shown as from
IX.3.15.
According to Boyce,
above the garland at the top of the painting was a painted inscription, whose
reading was long disputed.
He quoted it as
published in C.I.L – PILOcaLVS
VOTVM SOL LIBES
MERITO.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 84, no. 415B)
According to Della
Corte, the owner of this house and shop at number 16, was a Philocalus.
He had a sacred
painting made for his bedroom and had the following dedication painted on it in
his name:
P(h)ilo(ca)lus
votum sol(vit) libe(n)s
merito [CIL IV 882]
See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed
Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli:
Fausto Fiorentino. (p.191)
(Note 4 on page 191,
said that Fiorelli referred to and gave the painting to shop IX.3.7).
According to PPM,
there was no agreement in 19th century bibliography on whether the
painting came from the shop IX.3.7 or a room of IX.3.15.
See Bragantini I., in 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol.
IX. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p.314.
IX.3.15 Pompeii.
Drawing by Giuseppe Abbate, 1847, of lararium painting with CIL IV 882, above
it.
Now in Naples
Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 1094.
Photo © ICCD. http://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it
Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione -
Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)
According to PPM,
the note on this reproduction performed by G. Abbate in 1847 and finished
before July 30 of that year (ADS 1094) “on the outside of a side wall of the
house so called the Suonatrice” is too generic to solve the problem of the
original location of this painting.
See Bragantini I., in 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol.
IX. Roma:
Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p. 335.
Aedicula against east wall of peristyle.
IX.3.15 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 12, aedicula lararium.
According to Boyce –
the base (h.0.85 by 0.30, h.0.70) contained a large rectangular recess (h.0.50, w.0.56, d.0.53) coated with white stucco.
Above it the two thick (0.25) side walls support a pediment, and with the east wall of the room form a rectangular niche (h.0.65, w.0.35, d.0.60).
In the back wall of the rectangular niche was a semi-circular recess.
The interior was decorated with red spots on a white background.
The tympanum was blue. There were red stripes dividing the exterior of the structure into sections.
This shrine is nowhere mentioned in the excavation reports.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p. 84, no. 414, Pl. 34, 1).
IX.3.15 Pompeii. Pre-1937. Room 12, aedicula lararium against east wall of peristyle. Photo by Tatiana Warscher.
IX.3.20 Pompeii.
Lararium painting (no trace remains) at side of rectangular niche in west wall of room with oven and millstones.
IX.3.20 Pompeii.
December 2018.
Room 1, looking west
towards doorway to room 9 and niche on west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude
Durand.
IX.3.20 Pompeii.
December 2018. Room 1, looking towards west wall with niche. Photo courtesy of
Aude Durand.
According to Boyce-
this rectangular
niche with ledge had a lararium painting (h.1.20 by w.1.57) on the wall at its
side.
The Genius with the
assistance of tibicen and camillus performed a sacrifice at the altar.
The Camillus was
very small and carried an urceus in one hand and a patera in the other.
A Lar stood on each
side.
Below, a single
serpent approached an altar complete with offerings.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p. 84, 417).
See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La
Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore.
(p. 147).
See Trendelenburg in Bullettino
dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1871, p.207.
IX.3.20Pompeii.
October 2022.
Room 1, detail of
niche on west wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
Painting on east wall of garden area above masonry podium.
IX.3.20 Pompeii.
December 2007. Room 8, garden area. Raised planting bed or bench.
According to
Jashemski, the garden had a raised planting bed or bench (0.55m high) along the
west, north and east walls.
In the centre was a
low circular marble table.
See Jashemski, W.
F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume
II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.234, no. 482).
IX.3.20 Pompeii.
December 2007. Room 8, garden area. East wall with raised planting bed or
bench.
On the plaster above
the bench to the right was a lararium painting of the river god Sarnus.
On the left was a
painted altar approached by a single snake, the outline of which can still be
seen.
See Jashemski, W.
F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume
II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.234, no. 482).
IX.3.20 Pompeii.
1964.
Room 8, garden area.
East wall with raised planting bed or bench and painted serpent. Photo by
Stanley A. Jashemski.
Source: The
Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland
Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative
Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.
J64f1636
IX.3.20
Pompeii. W.1519. Drawing of Room 8, the
garden area, with lararium painting and serpent.
According to
Warscher, this was a drawing after a drawing lost in Russia. She located it as being from IX.3.17.
Photo by Tatiana
Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.
IX.3.20 Pompeii.
1871. Room 8, garden area. East wall with raised planting bed or bench. 1871
drawing of the river god Sarnus, serpent and altar.
According to Boyce,
the lararium painting (h.0.70) on the east wall was divided into two panels.
In the panel on the
right (w.0.88) was the painting of the river god Sarnus.
In the larger panel
on the left (w.1.65) was a single large crested and bearded serpent among
plants, sliding towards an altar.
The altar was
painted with imitation coloured marble, and with offerings of a pine cone and
an egg.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.84-5, 418B).
See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture
murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-79. Napoli: (p.16).
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità,
N.S.2, 1871, p. 134-5, Tav. V,2.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und
Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L104, p.295, T. 43,2).
IX.5.2/22 Pompeii.
Painting, with altar, east and south wall in kitchen.
IX.5.2 Pompeii.
December 2007. Room ‘w’, household shrine with painted walls and altar in
kitchen area.
IX.5.2 Pompeii. 1931.
Corridor ‘w’, household shrine at the doorway
to kitchen ‘s’ and adjacent to entrance IX.5.22.
DAIR 31.1777. Photo ©
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.
IX.5.2 Pompeii.
Corridor ‘w’, lararium at the doorway to kitchen ‘s’ and adjacent to entrance
IX.5.22.
May 1886. Photograph
courtesy of Society of Antiquaries, Fox Collection.
According to Boyce,
the lararium was painted on two sides of a recess, each side bordered with red
stripes.
In the centre on the
east wall was an altar, between the Genius and two young men, apparently
camilli.
On the left, behind
the camilli, stood the tibicen, of smaller proportions than the other figures.
Behind the Genius
was another Camillus, also small.
On each side of this
group of five figures, stood a Lar, larger than the other figures.
Below this group, a
bearded and crested serpent coiled towards the tufa altar in the corner of the
east and south wall of the recess.
The tufa altar had
been altered to fit into its new position in the corner, and then covered with
a thick layer of stucco.
On the upper south
wall of the recess, Vesta was painted, pouring a libation onto a yellow painted
altar.
At her side stood an
ass wearing a wreath of leaves. Vesta held a red halter attached to the ass’s
muzzle.
Below Vesta was a
single painted plant.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p.85, no.419, and Pl.16,2).
See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und
Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern.
(L105: p.296, T. 49,2).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.205, no.99).
IX.5.2 Pompeii.
March 2017. Corridor ‘w’, looking south towards lower household shrine with
altar in kitchen area.
Foto Christian Beck,
ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.5.2/22 Pompeii.
February 2020. Room ‘w’.
Looking east from
entrance doorway at IX.5.22 with detail of altar. Photo courtesy of Aude
Durand.
Painting of figure of Vesta on rear wall of niche in west wall of a room in upper floor (above PPM room q).
IX.5.2 Pompeii. December
2007. Room ‘q’, west wall of room with vaulted ceiling.
IX.5.2 Pompeii. May
2017. Room ‘q’, looking towards upper west wall and upper floor, with
rectangular niche.
Foto Christian Beck,
ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
According to Boyce –
in the west wall of
a room on the upper floor, above the first room on the west side of the
peristyle, was a rectangular niche (h.0.60, w.0.50, d.0.28).
On its back wall was
painted the figure of Vesta (or Epona?), seated upon an ass (or with an ass
nearby).
The account in the Not.
Scavi describes the two serpents at an altar painted below the niche,
though they are not mentioned by either Sogliano or Mau.
The layer of stucco
upon which the figure of Vesta was painted has fallen away, partially revealing
beneath it an earlier layer, upon which can still be seen two standing figures,
each wearing a green garment and having a large yellow bulla suspended from his
neck; they are both alike and their posture suggest that of the Lares.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p. 85, no. 420).
See Giacobello,
F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito
domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.206, no.100).
IX.5.2 Pompeii. May
2017. Room ‘q’, detail of rectangular niche from upper floor.
Foto Christian Beck,
ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.5.4 Pompeii.
Fragmentary sacred painting with only one Lar with situla remaining at the time of excavation, no traces remain.
IX.5.4 Pompeii.
March 2019. Looking across south wall of room g, towards south-east corner of
room h.
In this area, the
lararium painting would have been seen on the south wall, no trace remains.
Foto Christian Beck,
ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
According to Boyce –
Here was seen at the
time of excavation a fragmentary sacred painting of which only one Lar with
situla remained.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.85, no.421).
He quotes the reference Notizie degli Scavi, 1878, 41 – which says
“Per la detta fauce, che contiene la latrina ed una vasca di marmo
frammentata, si entra nel forno, presso al quale è praticato il solito piccolo
vano che comunicava col panificium. Segue una stanza in parte scavata,
la quale dava accesso ad altre località, che non ancora si sono disterrate.
Sulla parete meridionale di essa è apparso un avanzo di pittura lararia, nel
quale vedesi un Lare con la situla.”
(“Through the
said corridor which contains the latrine and a fragmented marble basin, you
enter (the room of) the oven, near which is the usual small room that
communicated with the bakery. This is followed by a partly excavated room,
which gave access to other localities, which have not yet been excavated. On
the southern wall of it appeared a remnant of a Lararium painting, in which a
Lar with a situla can be seen”.)
IX.5.6/17 Pompeii.
Arched niche, east wall of garden area.
IX.5.6 Pompeii. May
2017. Room u, looking towards east wall of garden area with niche.
Foto Christian Beck,
ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
According to Boyce,
Mau measured this arched niche as h.0.31, w.0.39, d.019.
In 1937 Boyce said
the niche measured h.0.70, w.0.60, d.0.20.
He felt that such a
discrepancy could not be explained by the falling away of the coating of
plaster which had left the bricks quite bare.
In front of the
niche stood a small masonry altar.
He gave the
references – Not. Scavi, 1878, 262; Bull. Inst., 1879, 94; Overbeck-Mau, 290.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.85, no. 422)
IX.5.6 Pompeii. February 2020. Room u,
looking towards niche on east wall in garden area. Photo courtesy of Aude
Durand.
IX.5.6 Pompeii. May
2017. Room u, detail of niche on east wall in garden area.
Foto Christian Beck,
ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.5.9 Pompeii.
Arched niche in north wall of kitchen, with painting.
IX.5.9 Pompeii.
March 2017. Room “n”, looking north across kitchen.
Foto Christian Beck,
ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.5.9 Pompeii. May
2017. Room “n”, niche on north wall.
Foto Christian Beck,
ERC
Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.5.9 Pompeii.
1930s photo by Tatiana Warscher. Room “n”, arched niche in north wall of
kitchen.
According to Boyce –
In the north wall
near the hearth, is an arched niche (h.0.55, w.0.50, d.0.30, h. above floor
1.10), on the wall on each side of which a burning altar is painted, with a
yellow serpent gliding towards it between plants and flowers.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.
85-86, no. 423, Plate 2,4).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.207, no.101).
IX.5.11/13 Pompeii.
Rectangular niche in north wall of kitchen, with painting. (No photo).
Foto Christian Beck, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
According to Boyce –
In the kitchen entered from the east side of
the peristyle and having separate communication with the street at IX.5.13, in
the north wall is a rectangular niche (h.0.40, w.0.45, d.0.20, h. above floor
0.95), and on the wall beside it are faint traces of the original lararium
painting.
He gives the reference - Bull. Inst. 1879, p.195, which says - .
“Fra l’ingresso e il
focolare evvi nel muro nord la nicchia de’Lari e deboli tracce della pittura
lararia”.
(Between the entrance and the hearth, there
is in the north wall faint traces of the niche of the Lares and lararium
painting).
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the
Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.86, no.424).
(Note: it looks like the north wall at rear
of the hearth has fallen).
IX.5.14 Pompeii.
Fragmentary lararium painting on south wall of kitchen (room q), no trace remains.
IX.5.14 Pompeii. May 2005. Room “q”, kitchen.
Looking north-east towards hearth in kitchen
(room “q”), on south side of peristyle, in servants’ area.
According to Boyce, on the south wall of this
kitchen, was a fragmentary lararium painting.
Boyce said that Mau thought this kitchen was
reserved for the use of the members of the household.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the
Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.
(p.86, no.426).
See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le
pitture murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-79. Napoli: (p.19, no.69).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani:
Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni,
(p.209, no.103).
IX.5.14 Pompeii. May 2017. Kitchen “q”,
looking towards south wall.
Foto Christian Beck, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.5.14 Pompeii. May 2017. Kitchen “q”,
detail from south wall.
Foto Christian Beck, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.5.16 Pompeii.
Painting on south wall of kitchen (PPM room e’), no trace remains.
IX.5.16 Pompeii. December 2018.
Looking north across atrium a’ from entrance
doorway, on right is the doorway into the atrium “b” of IX.5.14.
On the left (west) side of atrium a’, on the
left, is the doorway to kitchen and latrine e’.
Centre left, is the doorway to cubiculum
f’. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce, on the south wall of the
kitchen was a large rectangular panel (h.1.0 w.2.0) of white stucco.
On it were painted two yellow serpents with
red crest and beards.
These were on either side of a tile embedded
and projecting from the wall.
A fire was painted on the wall above the
tile.
The background was painted with plants, and
across the top were two painted garlands.
On each of the garlands was a painted bird.
See Boyce, G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.
(p. 86, no. 425)
IX.5.16 Pompeii. March 2017. Room e’, looking
east along south wall.
Foto Christian Beck, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
According to PPM –
South wall of the kitchen, nothing is
preserved of the lararium with serpents, as described by Mau (p.210).
He described – Two serpents approach to the
altar with the pinecone and egg between plants and flowers above were three
ribbons and on each of them was a bird, a fourth and a fifth ribbons hung down
on both sides. Note that the kitchen intended for the private use of the master
was in "u" (which corresponds to the room "q" of the plan
published here).
See Carratelli, G. P.,
1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici. IX
(9). Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.658 and 659, no.99).
IX.5.16 Pompeii. March 2017. Room e’, looking
towards south wall at east end.
Foto Christian Beck, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
IX.5.18 Pompeii.
Painting, no trace remains, on east wall of cubiculum. (No photo.)
IX.5.18 Pompeii. May 2017. Room “g”, east
wall in north-east corner.
Foto Christian Beck, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
Foto
Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
Zevi considered room “z” may have been a
wooden lararium with a marble base.
See Zevi, F., 1964. La Casa Reg IX.5.18-21 a Pompei e le sue
pitture: Studi Miscellanei 5. Roma: Bretschneider. (p.11, T: IX,1).
According to Sogliano, found in the second
cubiculum on the left side of the peristyle, was the Genio Familiare.
See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli
anni 1867-79. Napoli: (p.10, no.11).
According to Boyce, on the east wall of the
cubiculum was a lararium painting, the upper part had fallen.
From a branch of the tree hung a head of a
stag.
On the left of the tree, the figure of the
Genius (h.0.13) is found, holding in his left, together with the usual
cornucopia, a rudder which rested upon a green globe at his feet.
To the left was a small altar, with the
serpent gliding towards it. Further to left, was a huge tripod.
On the right stood a male figure, nude except
for a green cloak, in his left he held two long spears or poles.
The whole painting, except for the green
parts, is done in reddish monochrome on a white ground.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.86, no.427).
IX.6.3 Pompeii.
Painting on east wall of kitchen, no trace remains. (No photo).
According to Boyce –
on the east wall (not photographed) was a
lararium painting, (h. uncertain as the upper part was damaged when found
w.1.32).
An altar stood between the Genius on the
right, and the tibicen on the left.
On each side was a Lar with rhyton and situla
standing between two shrubs.
In the lower zone were two serpents
confronted at an altar furnished with two eggs.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.86, no.428).
See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli
anni 1867-79. Napoli: (p.12, no. 25).
According to Giacobello, today the painting
has been totally lost.
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e
culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni.
(p.209, no.104).
IX.6.3 Pompeii. May
2005. Terracotta puteal in kitchen area, “i”.
According to Mau, in
the corner to the left of the entrance doorway was the mouth of the cistern
with terracotta puteal.
Back in time this
had been roughly refaced with white stucco.
In a nearby corner
was a low basin (0.74 x 0.98, 0,18 deep).
The hearth, in the
south-east corner, was of an irregular shape.
Nearby on the left
wall was the usual lararium painting.
See Mau in Bullettino dell’Instituto
di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1880, (p.220).
IX.6.4 Pompeii.
Cubiculum with vaulted niche on north side of atrium. (No photo).
IX.6.4 Pompeii. July 2017.
Looking north-east from entrance doorway, the area of the cubiculum (x) with vaulted niche is approximately right of centre.
Foto Annette
Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
According to Sogliano -
“vaulted niche in cubiculum (x), in which on the 5th
December 1878 the marble bust of a roman person was found”.
See Sogliano, in Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1879, (p.19-20).
Lararium painting in north-east corner of kitchen, above hearth, no trace
remains. (No photo).
IX.6.4 Pompeii.
April 2019. Looking east from Vicolo di Tesmo. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.
The north-east
corner of the kitchen would have been approximately where the scaffolding can
be seen, centre of photo.
IX.6.4 Pompeii.
December 2019. Looking east from entrance doorway across atrium. Photo courtesy
of Giuseppe Ciaramella.
IX.6.4 Pompeii. May
2005. Looking east across site.
The eastern extent
of the house can be seen across the centre of the photo, in the middle left.
The pile of stones
in the middle centre of the picture, against the north-east wall of the
kitchen, would be the site of the hearth, with site of lararium painting above
it.
The wall with a
doorway in room “z”, leading to the peristyle of IX.6.5, can be seen in the
wall on the left.
According to Boyce –
In the small open
courtyard behind the tablinum in the south wall is an arched niche (h.0.32,
w.0.27, d.0.25, h. above floor 2.10).
In its floor was a
depression and in the vault of the ceiling a hole; it is called by the Not.
Scavi – la piccola nicchia dei Penati.
In the kitchen
behind this court, in the north-east corner stands the hearth and on both walls
above it is the lararium painting (h.055).
On the north wall is
the Genius with cornucopia and patera, pouring a libation upon an altar
furnished with offerings, around which a serpent is coiled. On the east wall is
a burning altar and on each side of it stands a Lar with rhyton and patera.
He quotes references
- Sogliano 21, Not. Scavi, 1879, 20; Bull. Inst. 1880, 233.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.86, no.429
& 430).
According to Garcia
y Garcia, during the night bombing of 16th September 1943, the prothyron, the
atrium and four nearby rooms adjoining the south and south-west of this house
were hit by a bomb. The pavement and street outside were also damaged.
Another bomb
destroyed a good part of the large room on the east of the house and the
perimeter eastern wall of the room on the north-east.
See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra
a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.153).
Arched niche in south wall of open courtyard, behind tablinum.
IX.6.4 Pompeii. April 2019. Looking east from
Vicolo di Tesmo, with south wall, on right. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.
IX.6.4 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking east across
site.
According to Boyce –
In the small open courtyard behind the
tablinum in the south wall is an arched niche (h.0.32, w.0.27, d.0.25, h. above
floor 2.10).
In its floor was a depression and in the
vault of the ceiling a hole; it is called by the Not. Scavi – la piccola nicchia dei Penati.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.86, no.429)
According to Garcia y Garcia, during the
night bombing of 16th September 1943, the prothyron, the atrium and four nearby
rooms adjoining the south and south-west of this house were hit by a bomb. The
pavement and street outside were also damaged.
Another bomb destroyed a good part of the
large room on the east of the house and the perimeter eastern wall of the room
on the north-east.
See Garcia y Garcia, L.,
2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.153).
IX.6.4 Pompeii. May 2024. Looking towards upper south wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
IX.6.7 Pompeii.
Small niche in west wall of kitchen.
![IX.6.7 Pompeii. May 2005.
Looking south from entrance doorway, into large kitchen (room “p” on plan) with remains of hearth (on left of entrance doorway under the window), a tub/basin against the east wall and doorway to room “s” on east side of peristyle of IX.6.5. According to Mau, the entrance doorway (at IX.6.7) was originally 2,11 wide so he assumed that here, at one time, some industry was done, but that it was later narrowed to 1.06. In the last times of the house, "p" was the kitchen with hearth leaning against the north wall, and above it was a square window. Against the east wall, a tub/basin was leaning (2.24 x 0.76 measured externally, and 0,65 high) with a hole near the bottom, which, however, was completely filled with various stones added with mortar: room "q" was the latrine with small window that narrowed towards the vicolo; rooms "r" and "s" could be considered as cupboards/storerooms and each had a window into the kitchen, which for its part had a small window near to the south-west corner onto the peristyle, and in the same corner a niche (0.40 high x 0.33 wide) that could have been used as a lararium or for putting a light, or for the figurines of the Lares: a lararium painting was not found.
See Mau in BdI 1880, (p.231)
According to Boyce, in the west wall was a small niche which may have been used for either lamp or lararium.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.86, no. 431).
According to Della Corte, the following electoral recommendation was found here -
Oppius (Gratus) rog(at) [CIL IV 3696] (see note 3 on page 164)
See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino.(p.164)
According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de), this read as –
Oppiu<s> Severum aed(ilem) [CIL IV 3696]](Pompeii%20Household%20Shrines%20p14_files/image092.jpg)
IX.6.7
Pompeii. May 2005.
Looking
south from entrance doorway, into large kitchen (room “p” on plan) with remains
of hearth (on left of entrance doorway under the window), a tub/basin against
the east wall and doorway to room “s” on east side of peristyle of IX.6.5.
According
to Mau, the entrance doorway (at IX.6.7) was originally 2,11m wide so he
assumed that here, at one time, some industry was done, but that it was later
narrowed to 1.06m. In the last times of
the house -
Room
"p" was the kitchen with hearth leaning against the north wall, and
above it was a square window. Against the east wall, a tub/basin was leaning
(2.24 x 0.76 measured externally, and 0,65 high) with a hole near the bottom,
which, however, was completely filled with various stones added with mortar.
Room
"q" was the latrine with small window that narrowed towards the
vicolo.
Rooms
"r" and "s" could be considered as cupboards/storerooms and
each had a window into the kitchen, which for its part had a small window near
to the south-west corner onto the peristyle, and in the same corner a niche
(0.40 high x 0.33 wide) that could have been used as a lararium or for putting
a light, or for the figurines of the Lares: a lararium painting was not found.
See Mau in Bullettino dell’Instituto
di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1880, (p.231)
According
to Boyce, in the kitchen entered from the posticum at No.7, in the west wall
was a small niche (h.0.40, w.0.33, d.0.28, h. above floor 1.55) which may have
been used for either lamp or lararium.
He quotes
reference – Bull. Inst., 1880, 231.
See Boyce
G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of
Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.86, no. 431).
IX.6.7 Pompeii. May 2024.
Kitchen “p”, west wall at south end with window onto peristyle of IX.6.5, and in the same corner a niche (0.40 high x 0.33 wide) that could have been used as a lararium or for putting a light, or for the figurines of the Lares: a lararium painting was not found.
See Mau in Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza
Archeologica (DAIR), 1880, (p.231).
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of
the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.86, no. 431).
Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
IX.6.8 Pompeii.
Aedicula lararium against west wall in south-west corner of garden area.
IX.6.8 Pompeii. February
2020. Looking west across atrium. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
IX.6.8 Pompeii. February 2020.
Aedicula lararium in garden area 9. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce –
In the south-west
corner of the garden area stands an aedicula – a rectangular masonry structure
(1.36 by 0.67, h.2.65) with gable roof.
The front side is
ornamented with an aedicula façade surrounding the opening of an arched,
semicircular niche.
There is no podium,
for the niche extends to the floor. ………….
The interior of the
niche is coated with yellow stucco, and upon it are painted a leafy tree with
birds flying about it, and on each side, Cupids and marine monsters. The
vaulted ceiling is ornamented with a stucco shell.
On the floor within
the niche, stands a rectangular base, apparently intended to support a statue;
it is coated with stucco and upon the front side a mask is painted. …………..
He references – Not.
Scavi, 1880, 231; Bull. Inst., 1882, 116.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.87, no.432).
Niche in west wall of atrium.
IX.6.8 Pompeii. February
2020. Niche set into pilaster in atrium. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
IX.6.8 Pompeii. May 2005. Niche on west side of atrium 2.
IX.6.e Pompeii.
Rectangular niche in east wall, with painting, no trace remains.
IX.6.e Pompeii.
April 2019. Looking north to entrance doorway, on right. Photo courtesy of Rick
Bauer.
IX.6.e Pompeii.
December 2018. East wall with niche. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce,
in the east wall of the taberna was a rectangular niche (h.0.48, w.0.43,
d.0.24, h. above floor 1.10) with peaked ceiling.
Its walls were
coated with white stucco outlined in red.
Around it on the
wall was a lararium painting, of which only a cornucopia on the left side could
be seen when excavated.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p.87, no.433)
According to
Sogliano, in the shop a sacred picture was found.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1879, p. 72.
See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture
murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-79. Napoli: (p. 19, no. 71).
IX.6.e Pompeii.
December 2018. Looking towards niche set into east wall. Photo courtesy of Aude
Durand.
IX.6.e Pompeii.
December 2018. Detail of niche set into east wall. Photo courtesy of Aude
Durand.
IX.6.g Pompeii.
Niche in room in north-west corner of peristyle, and Large niche in north wall of peristyle.
IX.6.g Pompeii. May
2005. North-west corner of peristyle, looking towards remains of IX.6.4.
The room in the
north-west corner of the peristyle would have been approximately on the right
of the above photo.
IX.6.g Pompeii. Niche set into west wall of room in north-west corner of peristyle.
According to Boyce –
in a small room in
the north-west corner of the peristyle, in the middle of the west wall was an
arched niche (h.0.32, w.0.31, d.0.15, h. above floor 1.42).
This was adorned
with an aedicula façade of applied half-columns on each side supporting a
cornice.
The cornice ran
around the curve of the arch instead of a pediment.
The lower half of
each column was red, the upper half white.
The inside walls of
the niche were decorated with many small irregular blotches of red on a white
background.
See Bullettino dell’Instituto di
Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1881, p. 23.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 87, no.435 and Pl.3, 6).
Large rectangular niche, near the north-east corner of peristyle. (No photo).
IX.6.g Pompeii. May 2005. Looking across site of atrium “2”, towards tablinum “d” and towards north wall of peristyle “4”.
According to Boyce –
In the north wall of
the peristyle, near the north-east corner, is a large rectangular niche
(h.1.13, w.0.87, d.0.38, h. above floor 0.88).
The walls of the
niche were coated with uniform white stucco, and in its floor were two square
depressions, as if for statue bases.
He thought the niche
was unusually large for an ordinary lararium.
See Bullettino dell’Instituto di
Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1881, p. 22.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 87, no. 434).
According to Jashemski, the peristyle garden at the rear of the tablinum was enclosed by a portico on the south, east, north and most of the west sides.
The portico was supported by 12 columns, and 2 engaged columns, painted red below and white above.
In the north wall of the peristyle near the north-east corner was a large rectangular niche.
The garden is completely destroyed today.
See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p. 239)
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