Pompeii. Household shrines to the domestic gods, VI.8.3/5 to VI.13.13.

 

These pages contain all the references to Lararia, Aedicula, Niches, Sacrarium/Sacellum, and Lararium paintings, found inside properties in Pompeii.

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 VI

 

VI.8.3/5 Pompeii.

Aedicula lararium, north wall of peristyle, near north-west corner.

 

VI.8.3/5 Pompeii. April 2022.

Aedicula lararium near north wall of garden area. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14, (p.48, no. 168).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.270 no.V46)

 

VI.8.8 Pompeii.

Rectangular niche in east wall of rear room.

 

VI.8.8 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north to rear of bar-room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.8.8 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking north-east towards two small rooms at rear, and east wall with niche. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce –38,

In the east wall of one of the rear rooms is a rectangular niche (h.0.38, w.0.40, d.0.14, h. above floor 1.35), its inside walls decorated with red lines and spots on a white ground, its floor projecting like a narrow shelf; Fiorelli called it la nicchia dei Penati.

See Fiorelli, Descrizione, 121.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14, (p.49, no. 169).

 

VI.8.8 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche in east wall of rear room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.8.8 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of niche in east wall of rear room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.8.15 Pompeii.

Niche in north wall of shop-room, and arched niche in west wall of rear room.

 

VI.8.15 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking west across shop towards rear rooms. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.8.15 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche in north wall of shop-room near entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.8.15 Pompeii. December 2018. Lararium niche in west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.8.15 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of Lararium niche in west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.8.15 Pompeii. c.1930s photo by Tatiana Warscher. Lararium niche in west wall.

According to Boyce, this arched niche was in the south wall of the rear room, with heavy projecting floor.

Its walls were coated with yellow stucco.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 49, no. 170, and Pl. 2, 1).

 

VI.8.20 Pompeii.

Painting on one of two pilasters at east end of peristyle.

 

VI.8.20 Pompeii. Fountain in the fullery of L. Veranius Hypsaeus, drawing by Gell.

Between the two pillars at the south end of the east side of the portico there was a fountain.

This was unlike any other fountain found at Pompeii so far.

It consisted of a marble basin supported by a small, fluted pedestal which stood in a pool of unusual shape.

Water jetted from pipes (concealed in the projection –a low wall attached to each pillar) falling into the basin.

It then overflowed into the pool.

On the left pillar was a painting of a river god, on the opposite pillar a painting of standing female figure.

There was also a painting of Bacchus and of Apollo on the low walls flanking the pillars.

There was also a painting of an altar with two large serpents on one of the pillars.

On three sides of the corner (left) pillar was a remarkable series of four paintings which pictured in detail the various processes in the fulling industry.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.134, figs 145 to 148).

According to Boyce –

“On one of two pilasters which border a kind of fountain at the east end of peristyle, are painted the figure of Sarnus, resting his elbow upon an overturned jar, and two serpents confronted at an altar. Whether the figures of Bacchus, Apollo and Venus Pompeiana (?) painted on the other faces of these pilasters are to be regarded as patron deities of the fullonica, or as decorative paintings left over from the time when the peristyle was part of a house, is uncertain.”

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14, (p.49, no. 171).

According to Kuivalainen –

“On the south pillar, depictions of a fullonica (now in MANN). On the east wall, a young standing Bacchus with a panther.”

See Kuivalainen, I., 2021. The Portrayal of Pompeian Bacchus. Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 140. Helsinki: Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, p.96, B4, as well as p.111, C8 for another young Bacchus with a panther in the same area, on the same wall.

 

VI.8.20 Pompeii. c.1830. Drawing from sketchbook of Gell, showing the fountain behind the House of the Tragic Poet.

See Gell, W. Sketchbook of Pompeii, c.1830.

See book from Van Der Poel Campanian Collection on Getty website http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2002m16b425

 

VI.8.24 Pompeii.

Niche in north wall of atrium.

 

VI.8.24 Pompeii. September 2017.

Looking towards north wall with niche and north-east corner of atrium.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

 

VI.8.24 Pompeii. May 2017. Looking towards north wall of atrium, with niche. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

 

VI.8.24 Pompeii. May 2017. Niche in north wall of atrium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

According to Boyce –

In the north wall of the atrium is an arched niche (h.0.68, w.0.66, d.0.25, h. above floor 1.45), called by Breton the lararium.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14, (p.49, no.172).

 

VI.9.1/14 Pompeii.

Lararium painting in kitchen, no traces remain.

(Note: there are two kitchens mentioned in these locations VI.9.1 and VI.9.14.) 

 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. December 2007.

Looking across site of room 14 towards the kitchen, room 13 in north-west corner. Looking north from near entrance.

According to Fiorelli, this area would have been the site of a storeroom and kitchen and latrine.

According to Warscher, the room “b” (our room 14) had a low level and in front of the door into the kitchen, there was a tufa step.

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, Rome, DAIR.  

According to Garcia y Garcia, two bombs fell in this combined house, (VI.9.1 and 14) one fell on the area to the north-west of the atrium of VI.9.1.

The other fell on this north-east part of the house. All the area was then left abandoned and semi-derelict for quite a time.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.77)

 

VI.9.1 Pompeii. Looking north-west across atrium towards storeroom, on left, and kitchen, in centre.

According to Warscher, one could see the impluvium in the atrium and the piece of marble that remained as proof that it was once covered with marble.

To the right of the oven was the wall that separated the kitchen from the atrium, and was also the west wall of room she called “ala K”

See Warscher, T, 1938: Codex Topographicus Pompejanus, Regio VI, insula 9: Pars prima, (no.15), Rome, DAIR, whose copyright it remains.  

 

VI.9.14/1 Pompeii. December 2007. Doorway to room 28, the kitchen in north-east corner.

According to Garcia y Garcia, two bombs fell in this combined house, (VI.9.1 and 14) one fell on the area to the north-west of the atrium of VI.9.1.

The other fell on this north-east part of the house. All the area was then left abandoned and semi-derelict for quite a time.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.77)

 

VI.9.14/1 Pompeii. December 2007. Room 28, north wall of kitchen.

In this area was found a badly preserved hearth, and there was formerly a lararium in the room.

According to Boyce, Avellino reported a lararium painting in the kitchen – il solito dipinto de’ Lari.

He quoted the reference Bull. Arch. Nap., i, 1843, 70

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.49, no.173)

 

VI.9.2/13 Pompeii.

Lararium painting – west wall of kitchen, no traces remain.

 

VI.9.2 Pompeii. September 2004. Room 38, west wall of kitchen.

The lararium painting was found in an area marked “u” on a plan by Overbeck.

This would coincide with the arched area on the right.

 

VI.9.2 Pompeii. About 1830. Room 38, kitchen, lararium painting. This was painted on a white plaster panel.

In the centre was a serpent coiled around an omphalos or an altar and on each side stood a Lar.

According to Boyce, the altar was a blue omphalos, the Lares wore bright violet Phrygian caps, blue tunic and red Pallium (cloak).

Each held a rhyton and situla. Each Lar was standing between two laurel trees. A garland was above.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (174, Pl: 21,2).

Helbig described the altar as an omphalos.

Giacobello said that Boyce erroneously described the altar as an omphalos, as is shown in the drawing published in Real Museo Borbonico IX, above.

Both Frohlich and Giacobello say the lararium was on the west wall, above the hearth.

See Real Museo Borbonico IX, T: XX.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (37).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.277, L65, taf. 36,1).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.175, no.53)

 

VI.9.3-5, 10-11 Pompeii.

Painting, north wall of subterranean kitchen.

 

VI.9.10/5 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway to kitchen.

 

VI.9.10/5 Pompeii. March 2009. North wall of kitchen.

 

VI.9.10/5 Pompeii. March 2009. North wall of kitchen with remains of painted lararium and altar.

Giacobello mentions a lararium painting identified by Boyce but with no description or picture.

It was on the north wall of the subterranean kitchen above a small rectangular altar. Neither has a picture.

Fröhlich does not mention it at all. Overbeck identified its location.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.175, no.54)

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14, p. 50, 175.

See Overbeck J., 1884. Pompeji in seinen Gebäuden, Alterthümen und Kunstwerken. Leipzig: Engelmann, p. 333.

 

VI.9.10/5 Pompeii. March 2009. North wall of kitchen with remains of painted lararium.

 

VI.9.10/5 Pompeii. March 2009. North wall of kitchen with remains of altar.

 

VI.9.6/7 Pompeii.

Aedicula lararium, east wall of peristyle.

 

VI.9.6 Pompeii. January 2023.

Room 17, newly planted beautiful garden area, looking south-east from west portico. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

 

VI.9.6 Pompeii. January 2023.

Room 17, aedicula lararium against east wall of garden area with altar. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

 

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.909. Room 17, lararium against east wall of pseudo-peristyle.

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14, (p. 50, no. 176).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.271 no.V47)

 

Niche, west wall of kitchen, our room 18, (PPM room 50).

 

VI.9.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 18, west wall with small arched niche, in kitchen and latrine.

According to Boyce, a fragmentary painting of Fortuna holding a rudder upon a globe, and below her, the two serpents and an altar, was reported to have been found in the kitchen.

No trace of the painting exists now.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.50, 177B).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.176, no.55)

 

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.315.

Room 18, doorway from kitchen, on left, west wall of kitchen with niche, on right.

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii.

Painting, north-west corner of kitchen, room 4. (PPM room 55).

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii. January 2023. Room 4, painted lararium in north-west corner of kitchen with hearth.

Two serpents diagonally approach a round altar, one serpent from each side of the corner of the room.

On the north wall is a serpent and round altar.  Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p277: L66).

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 4, painted lararium in north-west corner of kitchen. 

According to Boyce, in the north-west corner above the hearth is a painting of two red and yellow serpents.

The one on the right has red crest and beard; the head of the other is destroyed.

They approach an altar. There are garlands above.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.50, 178)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.176, no.56)

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii. W1068.

Room 4, north-west corner of kitchen, remains of lararium painting of serpent on north wall.

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

 

Niche in north wall of cubiculum.

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 15, cubiculum.

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii.  March 2009. Room 15, north wall of cubiculum with arched niche.

According to Boyce,

“in one of the rooms (now in ruins) behind the atrium entered at no.7 in the north wall is an arched niche with projecting floor”.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.50, no.179).

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii.  Pre-1937-39. Room 15, north wall of cubiculum with arched niche.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1588.

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 15, arched niche in north wall.

 

VI.9.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 15, plaster from north wall, underneath niche.

 

VI.10.1 Pompeii.

Painting on west or south wall beneath the stair, no traces remain.

 

VI.10.1 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking west towards marble display shelving at end of counter, with recess below.

 

VI.10.1 Pompeii. c.1830. Drawing by Gell, looking west towards Via di Mercurio with fountain outside VI.8.24.

The lararium painting showing a single serpent is seen under the steps.

See Gell, W. Sketchbook of Pompeii, c.1830.

See book from Van Der Poel Campanian Collection on Getty website http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2002m16b425

According to Boyce, on the [south wall]? beneath the stairs was a lararium painting:

A single serpent about to devour the offerings – an egg and a pinecone – on a burning altar.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.  (p.50, no.180).

 

VI.10.1 Pompeii. March 2009. South wall of caupona with hearth and doorway to rear room on south side of bar-room.

According to Eschebach, the stairs to the upper floor would have been against this south wall.

Where the modern gate has been fitted, there may be a mark showing the steps leading up the wall.

 

VI.10.1 Pompeii. May 2003.

South wall of bar-room, with remaining mark of stairs, on left. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

VI.10.7 Pompeii.

Aedicula in niche, south wall of garden area.

 

VI.10.7 Pompeii. January 2019.

Looking south-east from upper rooms towards garden area on lower floor. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

 

VI.10.7 Pompeii. September 2019. South side of garden.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

 

VI.10.7 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Room 15, looking south.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 851.

 

VI.10.7 Pompeii. January 2019.

Room 15, looking towards centre niche on south side of garden area. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.272 no.V48)

 

VI.10.13 Pompeii.

Niche on north wall, (south wall according to Boyce).

 

VI.10.13 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north to shop entrance. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.10.13 Pompeii but shown as VI.10.11 on photo. Pre-1937-39.

Looking north towards niche in north-west corner. Looking north to pilaster between VI.10.12 and 13.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1592.

 

VI.10.13 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche on north wall in north-west corner of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce, in the south wall was a large rectangular niche coated with white stucco like that of the walls of the room.

Fiorelli called it la nicchia pe’ Lari.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14, (p.50, no. 181).

 

VI.10.13 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of niche on north wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.11.8 Pompeii.

Niche in north wall of atrium.

 

VI.11.8 Pompeii. September 2005. Room 53, looking west towards entrance at VI.11.8. 

 

VI.11.8 Pompeii. December 2007. Room 50, niche. 

According to Boyce, in the north wall of the atrium were the ruins of a rectangular niche.

This was originally adorned with a stucco aedicula façade and decorated with painted ornaments.

On the inside the ornaments were red leaves, and on the outside arabesques and a peacock.

On the wall below the niche was a painting of two large serpents confronted at an altar imitating coloured marble.

The altar was furnished with offerings on the top and above the serpents was a garland.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.50, no.182).

 

VI.11.9/10 Pompeii.

Niche with painting, south-east corner of kitchen 13, (PPM room 13).

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 13, south-east corner of kitchen.

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 13, square niche on south wall of kitchen.

According to Boyce, in the south wall beside the hearth was a rectangular niche.

On the rear wall was painted the figure of the Genius.

On the floor in front of the niche stood a small masonry altar.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.51, no.183).

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 13, kitchen. Detail of painted decoration on square niche on south wall.

Painted on the rear wall was a painting of the Genius, but today faded and no longer recognisable.

In the front of the niche, there was originally a small brick altar.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.177, no.57)

 

Arched niche, west wall of kitchen 13.

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. December 2006. Room 13, looking west across kitchen area.

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 13, arched niche in west wall of kitchen.

 

Lararium painting on west wall, (?) room 14, no traces remain.

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. March 2009.

Room 10, looking north to doorway to room 14, and room 15, corridor to kitchen, baths and bakery.

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 14, north-west corner.

According to Boyce, in a room preceding the kitchen, low down in the west wall was a lararium painting done on a red background.

It showed Fortuna, crowned and wearing a whitish tunic and mantle standing holding a cornucopia in her left and rudder resting upon a globe in her right hand.

Below her coiled a serpent, raising its head towards her.

In the background were plants, above and at the sides were garlands.

Against the wall in front of the painting stood a kind of table for the offerings.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.51, no.184).

 

Lararium painting on east wall of bakery area.

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. December 2006. Room 16, household lararium.

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. December 2006.

Room 16. Household lararium showing Venus Pompeiana, Amor or Eros, and a Lar. A garland can be seen above.

According to Boyce, in the upper zone there used to be two Lares, Vesta and Venus Pompeiana.

Vesta had a wreath upon her head from which a white veil hung down her back.

On each side of her stood a Lar, clad in yellow tunic with green border.

To the left of this group of three stood Venus Pompeiana wearing red chiton and mantle and having on her head a mural crown.

To her left, between her and the Lar, was Amor, wearing an orange chlamys.

In the middle zone, a single serpent moved towards an altar painted at the left edge of the picture.

In the lowest zone lay the figure of the river Sarnus.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.51, No.185, Pl.21, 1).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.278, L67, taf.36,2).

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. September 2005. Room 16, detail of figures on lararium.

Household lararium showing Venus Pompeiana and Amor or Eros, and to the right a Lar with a cornucopia.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.51, No.185, Pl.21, 1).

 

VI.11.9/10 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Lararium painting.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1586.

 

VI.11.9 Pompeii. Drawing by Giuseppe Abbate, 1840, showing household lararium on east wall of bakery 16.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 376.

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)

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, (65).

 

VI.11.12 Pompeii.

Lararium painting in kitchen. (No photo, possibly area destroyed in 1943 bombing).

 

VI.11.11/12 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking east from garden area (7) towards entrance, on left.

Under the scaffolding, on the right, may have been the workshop, with kitchen, latrine and dormitory?

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p.200).

 

According to Boyce –

House. In the kitchen is a fragmentary painting with only the figures of the Lares preserved.

Boyce stated that the kitchen was in number VI.11.12, which this would have been linked to.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.51, no.186).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.177, no.58)

 

According to Garcia y Garcia –

the same bomb that destroyed VI.11.8 also caused the destruction of several rustic rooms in the south of house VI.11.12.

These would have had their dividing walls to the south with VI.11.10, and to the west with VI.11.8.

In the 1980s he said, all the fallen structures were in total ruin and abandoned.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.82).

 

VI.11.15 Pompeii.

Niche, at west end of corridor 7.

 

VI.11.5 Pompeii. September 2005. Room at west end of corridor.

According to Boyce, at the end of the corridor, were to be seen the ruins of a structure enclosing a rectangular niche.

The inside walls were coated with white stucco.

Here was probably the lararium described in the report as –

“un piccolo masso di fabbrica, forse ara, ed una piccolo nicchia, per cui potrebbe credersi un sacrario”.

His reference was – Bull. Arch. Nap., i, 1843, 74.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.51, no.187)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.294, no.P4).

 

VI.11.19 Pompeii.

Lararium painting, no trace remains on east wall of atrium.

 

VI.11.19 Pompeii. December 2018.

Household altar near east wall of atrium, with doorway to room (12) on left.

Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.11.19 Pompeii. December 2007.

Household altar near east wall of atrium, with doorway to room 12, on left, and to room (11) on right. 

According to Boyce, against the east wall of the atrium, to the left of the entrance, stands an altar of tufa*.

This altar was apparently coated with a layer of stucco in the late days of the city.

On the wall above it were painted the two serpents confronted at a painted altar furnished with a pine cone.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.51, no.188)

* note on page 51 reads – according to Pernice, “the altar dates from the earlier Tufa Period and still stands against the tufa wall where it was originally placed”.

* see Pernice, Hellenistische Tische, 66 and pl. 40,1.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.242, no.A19)

 

VI.11.19 Pompeii. W.1559. Altar near east side of atrium.

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii.

Large niches, west side of north portico of peristyle.

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii. May 2015.

Looking towards north wall of rear peristyle, with two large niches in north-west corner. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii. December 2006. Rear north wall with two large niches with aedicula facades. At least one of these niches was a lararium.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p51, No.189A).

Described by Giacobello as pseudo-aedicula lararium.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.273 no.V49)

 

Large arched niche with aedicula façade high up on north wall of kitchen.

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii. September 2021.

Looking towards north wall and north-east corner of kitchen, the first room at the north end of the corridor.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

(PPM – room 24)

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii. September 2021.

Looking towards north wall of Kitchen, arched niche lararium with aedicula façade.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese

(PPM – room 24)

According to Boyce, high in the north wall is a large arched niche (h.0.87, w.0.70, d.0.48, h. above floor 3.0).

It is adorned with a heavy and well-made aedicula façade (h.1.47, w.1.14).

Upon a ledge (h.0.20) which projects at the level of the floor of the niche, rest the bases of two red pilasters (w.0.22) which are applied to the wall, one on each side of the niche; they in turn support a simple pediment.

Around the curve of the niche and around the top of the inside walls run modelled stucco cornices.

Within the niche there stood a small terracotta altar.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.52, 190, Pl. 5, 2).

(PPM – room 24)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.177, no.59)

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii. August 1976. Looking towards north wall of kitchen, with arched aedicula niche.

Looking east over wall from first (middle) peristyle, into corridor with doorway to kitchen.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

(PPM – room 24)

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii. 1964.

Looking north-east from middle garden across corridor, to north wall of kitchen with its arched niche lararium. 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.

J64f1083

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii. pre-1937-39.

North wall of Kitchen, arched niche lararium with aedicula façade and small terracotta altar.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1551

(PPM – room 24)

 

Niche on west wall of kitchen.

 

VI.12.2 Pompeii. December 2006. Niche on west wall of kitchen, with doorway to Corridor 19, on left.

(PPM – room 24)

 

VI.12.4 Pompeii.

Rectangular niche on south wall of shop.

 

VI.12.4 Pompeii. December 2006. South-west corner of shop, on left side of doorway.

According to Boyce –

in the south wall to the left of the entrance, is a rectangular niche (h.0.27, w.0.25, d.0.20, h. above floor 1.35).

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.52, no.191)

 

VI.12.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Rectangular niche in south wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.12.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of rectangular niche. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.12.6 Pompeii.

Rectangular niche, in south wall of shop.

 

VI.12.6 Pompeii. June 2012. Looking towards west side of shop. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

According to Boyce, in the south wall to the left of the entrance, was a rectangular niche (0.48x0.32, 0.25 deep).

It was 1.65 above the floor.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.52, no.192).

 

VI.12.6 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards south wall in south-west corner of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.12.6 Pompeii. December 2018.

Rectangular niche set in lower south wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.12.6 Pompeii. December 2018.

Detail of niche set in lower south wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

Niche in upper south wall of shop-room.

 

VI.12.6 Pompeii. December 2018.

Arched niche in upper south wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.13.2 Pompeii.

Aedicula lararium in north-east corner of peristyle.

 

VI.13.2 Pompeii. March 2009. Remains of altar in north-east corner of peristyle.

 

VI.13.2 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Looking towards the altar in north-east corner of peristyle.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 584.

 

VI.13.2 Pompeii. 1878. Altar in north-east corner of peristyle.

Old painting showing the decoration of the lararium.

Boyce described a rectangular podium with yellow stucco bordered with red stripes.

On each of the two free sides was a serpent coiling towards a flaming altar on the free corner.

The serpents and the flaming altar were in stucco relief.

On each wall above was a Lar with rhyton and situla.

There must have originally been an aedicula with the roof supported by a single column at the one free corner of the podium.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 52, 193, Pl. 34,4).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.278, L68, taf. 39,1).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.274 no.V50)

 

VI.13.7 Pompeii.

Arched niche in west wall.

 

VI.13.7 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards west wall of shop on Via della Fortuna.   Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.13.7 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards west wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.13.7 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche in west wall at south end. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce, in the west wall is an arched niche (h.0. 33, w.0.42, d.0.20, h. above floor 1.85), with projecting floor.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.52, no.194)

 

VI.13.7 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of niche in west wall at south end. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VI.13.13 Pompeii.

Aedicula lararium against west wall of peristyle.

 

VI.13.13 Pompeii. October 2019.

Looking west across peristyle towards aedicula lararium against west wall of garden area.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

According to Boyce, against the west wall of the peristyle stands a simple aedicula (0.75 by 0.30, height 2.15).

Above a base (0.80) two side walls support a roof with small pediment, protecting a vaulted niche (h.0.76, w.0.43, d.0.40).

The whole structure is coated with a layer of white stucco.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.52, no.195, and Pl.35,4).

He quoted Not. Scavi 1876, 78, Bull. Inst. 1877, p. 164, 168)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.274 no.V51)

 

VI.13.13/18 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Aedicula shrine standing against the west garden wall.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 613.

 

 

Back to household shrines list