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28. Boscoreale. La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo.

Excavated by Sig. Ferruccio De Prisco in 1903. Reburied after excavation.

 

Located in the fondo of Pasquale Acunzo, immediately to the south of the piazzale of the Stazione ferroviaria dello Stato di Boscoreale in via Settetermini.

See Casale A., Bianco A., Primo contributo alla topografia del suburbio pompeiano: Supplemento al n. 15 di ANTIQUA ottobre-dicembre 1979, 29, p. 35, fig. 11. 

 

Secondo Grete Stefani, the phrase in the excavation documentation "nel lato sud metri 140 dalla Stazione di Boscoreale" must be understood as that the find was 140m south of the station.

Anche, nei documenti il proprietario del fondo è denominato D’Acunzo, d’Aconzo o Aconzo ma egli firma personalmente gli atti come Acunzo; si è pertanto preferito usare tale versione del cognome.

Also, in the [excavation] documents the landowner is called D'Acunzo, d’Aconzo or Aconzo but he personally signed documents as Acunzo; It is therefore preferred to use that version of the surname.

See Stefani G., 2000. La villa del Fondo Acunzo a Boscoreale: Sylva Mala XII. Boscoreale, p. 16 note 2.

 

Bibliography

Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, pp. 436-442.

Carrington, R., 1931. Studies in the Campanian Villae Rusticae: Journal of Roman Studies, 21, pp.116, n.28, 122 and note 1, fig.16.

Casale A., Bianco A., Primo contributo alla topografia del suburbio pompeiano: Supplemento al n. 15 di ANTIQUA ottobre-dicembre 1979, 29, p. 35, fig. 11. 

Castaldi, F., 1950. La trasformazione della villa rustica in rapporto alle condizioni della agricoltura: Annali Istituto Sup. S. Chiara di Napoli, 2, pp. 225 ff., fig. 5.

Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. IV, Supp 2, Part 2, 1909. Berlin: Reimer, p. 719.

Day, J., 1932. Agriculture in the life of Pompeii: Yale Classical Studies, 3, tav. A, C, n. 28.

Rostovzev, M., 1973. Storia economica e sociale dell’Impero Romano, Firenze, 5° ediz., p. 34, note 26, n. 28.

Stefani G., 2000. La villa del Fondo Acunzo a Boscoreale: Sylva Mala XII. Bollettino del Centro Studi Archeologici di Boscoreale, Boscotrecase e Trecase, pp. 11-16.

La documentazione d'archivio relativa a questo scavo è conservata presso

- La Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei (Ufficio Scavi di Pompei, scavi privati H 10).

- La Soprintendenza Archeologica di Napoli (VI A 7 e VI C 1) e I' Archivio Centrale dello Stato {Dir. Gen. AA. BB. AA., lII v. Il p., B 35, f. 89).

 

Location

 

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. 2016 location photo.
The old station is upper centre marked by four round trees and with a car park behind.
The villa was located on land immediately (140m) to the south.
Via Settetermini runs north to the roundabout in front of the station and then turns south-west before reducing in size and turning north-west again.
Photo courtesy of Google Earth.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. 2016 location photo.

The old station is upper centre marked by four round trees and with a car park behind.

The villa was located on land immediately (140m) to the south.

Via Settetermini runs north to the roundabout in front of the station and then turns south-west before reducing in size and turning north-west again.

Photo courtesy of Google Earth.

 

Villa Plan

 

villa_028_plan NdS 1921 p436 fig9

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. 1921 excavation plan.

Only partially excavated, it was a small farm with refreshment place (caupona) for the sale of wine produced.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 436, fig. 9.

 

According to Della Corte, the building shown in the plan, with simple plastered walls, belonged to a family of farmers.

It is very similar to the villa rustica excavated by sig. Carlo Rossi-Filangieri in contrada Civita-Giuliana, number 1 in Della Corte’s report.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 415.

See Villa 25. Boscoreale, Villa rustica in Contrada Cività Giuliana, Fondo Antonio Prisco.

Like villa 25, it consisted of two groups of modest buildings separated by a passageway, used also by carts, and ending in two entrances placed on the same axis, “A”, “A1”.

Also like villa 25 it seemed to extend to a public roadway by the eastern entrance “A”, while the other entrance “A1” opened onto the countryside.

The group of buildings to the north was not completely excavated, because other than rooms numbered 7, 9 and 10, the ground, overturned and mixed from beginning to end, testified clearly to the explorations carried out there in the past, and dissuaded sig. De Prisco from proceeding further there.

 

Rooms

Entrance A.

That this villa rustica, was bordered by public roadway along the eastern side was highly credible by the convenient items distributed in and around the entrance “A”, and by the large red inscription on the pilaster “a”, which puts us in the presence of a countryside caupona/bar, in which the owner endeavoured to sell wine and other surrounding products directly to passers-by.

 

In and around this main entrance, covered by a simple roof sloping to the south, and open also during the night because it had no door, were noted internally, along the pluteus “c” was a wide seat “b”, and a hearth “d”, on the which stove was embedded a lead boiler, of spherical form, for the preparation of hot potions. Externally was another seat “e”, and also a semi-circular drinking trough “f” for animals.

 

The purpose of the pilaster "a", 0.50m higher than the pluteus "c", was to provide support for the lower horizontal beam of the roof.

On its walls, the following inscriptions were traced in red, one for each of the faces of the pilaster, visible from the outside:

 

Cerdo hic bibit, Silvatice vides     CIL IV, 6868.

Cerdo Sodalibus Brundisio           CIL IV, 6867.

Cerdo Cerdonibus sal (utem)        CIL IV, 6869.

 

There were several graffiti on the plinth, reproducing names, memories, and accounts notes (CIL IV, 6870-6874; 6878-6881), amongst which the following were the most interesting:

The name of

L. Veralius Vestalis       CIL IV 6872.

 

Another recollection of Cerdone:

Cerdo hic ...      CIL IV 6871.

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. 
CIL IV 6873 graffiti on the plinth.

pr(idie) k (al.) Maias 
supposui gall(inae) (ora) ... ; 
III k(al) Maias on ...      CIL IV 6873 
See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. IV, Supp 2, Part 2, 1909. Berlin: Reimer. p. 719.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo.

CIL IV 6873 graffiti on the plinth.

 

pr(idie) k (al.) Maias

supposui gall(inae) (ora) ... ;

III k(al) Maias on ...      CIL IV 6873

See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. IV, Supp 2, Part 2, 1909. Berlin: Reimer. p. 719.

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. 
Old photo of pilaster “a” in Pompeii Antiquarium.
The importance of these inscriptions and graffiti meant the removal of the pilaster was advisable.
According to Della Corte in 1921 it was in the Pompei Antiquarium.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 437.
Unfortunately the pillar was destroyed in the bombing of 1943.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Old photo of pilaster “a” in Pompeii Antiquarium.

The importance of these inscriptions and graffiti meant the removal of the pilaster was advisable.

According to Della Corte in 1921 it was in the Pompei Antiquarium.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 437.

Unfortunately, the pillar was destroyed in the bombing of 1943.

 

Corridor B.

Corridor “B” was entered from entrance “A” by crossing the threshold “g” of Vesuvian lava, on which as in “A1”, a sturdy double door was mounted, closed at the time of the eruption. A bronze situla, 0.20m high, was found in this corridor.

 

Courtyard C.

The courtyard “C” was reached through corridor “B” on its eastern side and room “3” and entrance “A1” on its western side. In the south-west corner was the garden area “D”.

 

Garden D.

Garden area “D” was in the south-west corner of the rustic courtyard “C”.

It was raised 0.80m above the level of the courtyard and bounded by a masonry parapet wall. 

According to Jashemski: “there was a cistern puteal in the north-east corner of the garden”.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.287 and plan 127)

In “h”, as in “o” under the lean-to roof “3”, was a puteal communicating with the rainwater cistern below.

Several terracotta amphorae were found leaning against the pluteus of the garden, including one with the following inscriptions on the neck:

 

Commun(is)

Celat(i)

Aug. I. ser(vi).      CIL IV, 5814, a (in red).

 

villa_028_graffito cil 04 5814

AIMATHC.      CIL IV, 5814, b, (in black, below).

 

Room 1.

In the south-east corner was a podium “I” supporting a furnace protected at the top by two tiles forming a hood.

In the opposite corner was a tub or basin “j” with smooth surface, and a cupboard “k” embedded in the wall, divided into compartments by wooden shelves.

Items of bronze, terracotta and iron were found, together with the skeletons of several chickens.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 437.

 

Pressing room 2.

In the small pressing room “2”, for the torcular or press, there was a window open towards the east in correspondence of the top of the press “L”, which was raised 0.60m above the floor level, and had its surface and the raised rim covered in polished plaster of cocciopesto:

At “m” was the usual opening in which was fixed the wooden column of the press:

At “n” to the left of the entrance was a niche used as a lararium, in which the shattered plaster statuette of an indeterminate deity was found.

According to Boyce, “in the east wall of the peristyle court, to the left of the entrance into the torcularium, is a niche which apparently served as shrine, for within were found fragments of a plaster statuette of some divinity.” (NdS 1921, p.437)

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.  (p.100, no.499A).

 

Lean-to room 3.

Under the lean-to room "3", which was also used to keep some dolia found in fragments, a bronze coin and a six-toothed iron harrow were found.

Impressed on the rim of one of the large dolia mentioned was the stamp/mark:

M. Aerius. M.    CIL X, 8042, 6.

At “o” was a puteal communicating with the rainwater cistern below.

 

Entrance A1.

On the west side of the building, and the west side of room 3, was entrance A1 which opened on to the countryside.

It was the western end of an east-west passageway, used also by carts, which led through room 3, courtyard “C”, corridor “B”, crossing threshold “g” to entrance “A” which faced the road.

 

Vestibule 4.

This room was like a common vestibule for the remaining buildings on the north side.

Found here were the bronzes used for the reconstruction of a great equilibrium balance in wood and bronze.

See Della Corte, Librae Pompeianae, in Monumenti Antichi XXI, 1912, p. 5ff.

 

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Bronze and iron parts found in vestibule 4.
These were used for the reconstruction of a great equilibrium balance in wood and bronze.
a, a’: Empty cones
b, b’: Three pointed hooks
c: Ornamental piece with four points
d: Seven pivots
e: Iron pivot
f: Single hook
g: Fragments of a thin laminated bronze sheet

See Della Corte, Librae Pompeianae, in Monumenti Antichi XXI, 1912, p. 5ff, fig. 1.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Bronze and iron parts found in vestibule 4.

These were used for the reconstruction of a great equilibrium balance in wood and bronze.

a, a’: Empty cones

b, b’: Three pointed hooks

c: Ornamental piece with four points

d: Seven pivots

e: Iron pivot

f: Single hook

g: Fragments of a thin laminated bronze sheet

 

See Della Corte, Librae Pompeianae, in Monumenti Antichi XXI, 1912, p. 5ff, fig. 1.

 

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Vestibule 4. Reconstruction of a great equilibrium balance in wood and bronze.
See Della Corte, Librae Pompeianae, in Monumenti Antichi XXI, 1912, p. 17, fig. 4.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Vestibule 4. Reconstruction of a great equilibrium balance in wood and bronze.

See Della Corte, Librae Pompeianae, in Monumenti Antichi XXI, 1912, p. 17, fig. 4.

 

Cubiculum 5.

Found in cubiculum room “5” were an imperial bronze coin, a terracotta pot 0.07m high, a glass bottle 0.15m high, and a terracotta amphora covered with yellow varnished glass 0.15m high.

 

Cubiculum 6.

In the other cubiculum room “6” bronze, glass, ivory, lead and terracotta objects were found, including a beautiful ring-shaped pot, 0.26m wide.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 438, fig. 10.

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. 1903. Room 6, cubiculum. Ring-shaped pot 0.26m wide, found in cubiculum. This vessel is unique so far in the pompeian domestic instruments, for its shape and the technique of its ornamentation. The outside consisted of a continuous tube with circular section, its outside diameter 0.045m. The tube was decorated with lanceolate laurel leaves and round berries. See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 438-9, fig. 10.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. 1903. Room 6, cubiculum.

Ring-shaped pot 0.26m wide, found in cubiculum.

This vessel is unique so far in the pompeian domestic instruments, for its shape and the technique of its ornamentation.

The outside consisted of a continuous tube with circular section, its outside diameter 0.045m.

The tube was decorated with lanceolate laurel leaves and round berries.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 438-9, fig. 10.

 

Horreum 7.

The granary or barn, "7", was not noted for much other than for a pile of lime deposited for the restorations in progress in the building, and for some terracotta amphorae.

Three of the amphorae had the following inscriptions on the neck:

 

Claudiae

Trifolin(um vinum)      CIL IV, 5570.

 

M. C. N.     CIL IV, 6087.

 

 

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. CIL IV, 6497 as recorded in NdS.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 438.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. CIL IV, 6497 as recorded in NdS.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 438.

 

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. CIL IV, 6497 as recorded in CIL.
See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. IV, Supp 2, Part 2, 1909. Berlin: Reimer, p. 690.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. CIL IV, 6497 as recorded in CIL.

See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. IV, Supp 2, Part 2, 1909. Berlin: Reimer, p. 690.

 

Workshop, kitchen 8.

The extensive workshop "8" contained, in "p", the oven for baking bread; in "q", a square podium, on which were a kitchen range with two stoves;

in "r", a rectangular washtub with polished surface of cocciopesto; and in "s" a cupboard/storeroom.  

Provenanced from here were

Two large travertine weights with elliptical bases, one with iron handles the other with bronze;

A plate 0.14m wide; and a terracotta shallow bowl, 0.40m wide, on whose rim the mark was twice stamped in raised letters, not found in vol. X of the Corpus:

villa_028_plate stamp r NdS 1921 p439

 

From the wash-tub were provenanced four bone dice and a beautiful flask, of 0.20m in diameter, of red clay well cleaned, fitted with two circular handles placed on the sides of the short and narrow neck to the flared edge.

 

Room 9.

This room does not seem to be mentioned in the NdS other than in the note:

“The group of buildings to the north was not completely excavated, because other than rooms numbered 7, 9 and 10, the ground, overturned and mixed from beginning to end, testified clearly to the explorations carried out there in the past, and dissuaded sig. De Prisco from proceeding further there.”

 

Room 10.

Room “10”, was at one time separated from room “11” thanks to the dividing wall “u”, which was taken down in ancient times. At "t" was a large volcanic stone grinder, with the usual upper biconical catillus and pyramidical meta below.

 

Room 11.

In room “11”, along the south wall were “x” a structure with smooth surface, and “v” a tiled hut in which a sheep or goat took shelter: the skeleton of the animal was found, and with the skeleton was a bronze bell, 0.04m high, perhaps attached to a collar. Among the material of the east wall, which fell down during the excavation, a female terracotta mask, 0.14m high, was found.

 

Room 12.

The room “12” contained two structures, the one “y”, all in masonry, leaning against the east wall, the other “z”, in the south-west corner with its floor resting above small wooden joists.  

Many finds were provenanced from here, bronze, silver coins, gold, a gemstone, ivory, porphyry, lead, iron, glass and terracotta.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440.

But the find worthy of particular note was the group of seven bronze statuettes collected on the podium “y”.

 

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. 1903. Room 12.  Podium “y”.
Group of seven bronze statuettes found on podium built against the east wall of the room which opened off the kitchen 8: 
Centre: Jupiter seated
To the left: Helios with radiant crown
Furthest left: Two figures of differing sizes representing Isis-Fortuna
To the right of Jupiter: Mercury or a young nude faun with pan pipes 
Further right: Genius familiaris wearing a toga
Right hand end: Standing Jupiter or Neptune with arm raised

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440-1, fig.11.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.  (p.100, no.500B).

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. 1903. Room 12.  Podium “y”.

Group of seven bronze statuettes found on podium built against the east wall of the room which opened off the kitchen 8:

Centre: Jupiter seated

To the left: Helios with radiant crown

Furthest left: Two figures of differing sizes representing Isis-Fortuna

To the right of Jupiter: Mercury or a young nude faun with pan pipes

Further right: Genius familiaris wearing a toga

Right hand end: Standing Jupiter or Neptune with arm raised

 

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440-1, fig.11.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.  (p.100, no.500B).

 

The central statue, (0.09 high including the square base) represented Jupiter bearded, nude except for the cloak over his left shoulder and around his legs, seated upon a throne; in his right, he held a patera, the left is raised as if resting upon a high sceptre, now missing.

 

The two statuettes on the extreme left, of differing sizes (0.12 and 0.09 high including the bases) represented Isis-Fortuna, fully clad and having a crescent moon and a disk surmounted by two plumes upon her forehead; in her right she held a rudder, in her left a cornucopia.

 

Of the two statuettes at the opposite end, the smallest represented a Genius familiaris, wearing the toga with a fold drawn up over his head (0.08 high), and holding a patera in his right, and an acerra (small box) with incense in his left. The largest depicted Neptune, bearded, nude except for a mantle over his left shoulder (0.10 high); in his right he held a dolphin (?), the left was raised like that of Jupiter, as if supported upon a sceptre or trident, now missing. Both attributes, perhaps, were made of wood.

 

Of the two statues flanking Jupiter, (0.13m and 0.12m high respectively), the one on the left portrayed nude, a beautiful smiling Helios, with a radiate crown upon his head; he wore a light veil falling from his shoulders and wrapping around his left forearm; of which the left hand was missing (with globe). A lorum (leather strap or thong) would have perhaps been the attribute carried downwards in the right hand.  The other statuette seemed to represent a faun, (0.12 high) naked except for a goat skin between the left shoulder and corresponding elbow, and with syrinx or pan-pipes held lowered in his right hand. Upon his head were two projections on the sides of the forehead, apparently horns, but they were seriously damaged.

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of Alexander Helios, 0.13m high, front view.
A beautiful smiling Helios, he is portrayed nude, with a radiate crown upon his head. 
He wears a light veil falling from his shoulders and wrapping around his left forearm.
The left hand (with globe) was missing. 
A lorum (leather strap or thong) would have perhaps been the attribute carried downwards in the right hand.  
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.2290.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of Alexander Helios, 0.13m high, front view.

A beautiful smiling Helios, he is portrayed nude, with a radiate crown upon his head.

He wears a light veil falling from his shoulders and wrapping around his left forearm.

The left hand (with globe) was missing.

A lorum (leather strap or thong) would have perhaps been the attribute carried downwards in the right hand. 

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.2290.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of Alexander Helios, rear view.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.2290.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of Alexander Helios, rear view.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.2290.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of Isis-Fortuna, 0.09m high including the base, front view.
She is fully clothed and has a crescent moon and a disk surmounted by two plumes upon her forehead.
In her right hand she holds a rudder, in her left hand a cornucopia.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.747.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Villa 028. Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of Isis-Fortuna, 0.09m high including the base, front view.

She is fully clothed and has a crescent moon and a disk surmounted by two plumes upon her forehead.

In her right hand she holds a rudder, in her left hand a cornucopia.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.747.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of Isis-Fortuna, rear view.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.747.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of Isis-Fortuna, rear view.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.747.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
According the The Walters Art Museum, this is a bronze statuette of Mercury, front view.
According to Della Corte, this statuette seemed to represent a faun, (0.12 high) naked except for a goat skin between the left shoulder and corresponding elbow.
He has what may be a syrinx? (pan-pipe) held lowered in his right hand. 
Upon his head were two projections on the sides of the forehead, apparently horns, but they were seriously damaged. 
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 441. According to Stefani, the different. and more plausible interpretation proposed by others is an image of Mercury.
See Stefani G., 2000. In Sylva Mala, Bollettino del Centro Studi Archeologici di Boscoreale, Boscotrecase e Trecase XII, p. 11-16 and note 44.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.748.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of Mercury, 0.12m high, front view.

According to Della Corte, this statuette seemed to represent a faun, naked except for a goat skin between the left shoulder and corresponding elbow.

He had what may be a syrinx? (pan-pipe) held lowered in his right hand.

Upon his head were two projections on the sides of the forehead, apparently horns, but they were seriously damaged.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 441.

According to Stefani, the different. and more plausible interpretation proposed by others is an image of Mercury.

See Stefani G., 2000. In Sylva Mala XII, Bollettino del Centro Studi Archeologici di Boscoreale, Boscotrecase e Trecase, p. 11-16 and note 44.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.748.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of Mercury, rear view.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.748.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of Mercury, rear view.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.748.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of sacrificing priest, 0.08m high, front view.
According to Della Corte,  this represented a Genius familiaris, wearing the toga with a fold drawn up over his head.
He holds a patera in his right, and an acerra (small box) with incense in his left. 
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.752.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of sacrificing priest, 0.08m high, front view.

According to Della Corte, this represented a Genius familiaris, wearing the toga with a fold drawn up over his head.

He holds a patera in his right, and an acerra (small box) with incense in his left.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.752.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of sacrificing priest or genius familiaris, rear view.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.752.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of sacrificing priest or genius familiaris, rear view.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.752.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of seated Jupiter, front view.
According to Della Corte, the statue, (0.09 high including the square base) represented Jupiter.
He is bearded, nude, except for the cloak over his left shoulder and around his legs, and is seated upon a throne;
In his right hand he held a patera, the left is raised as if resting upon a high sceptre, now missing.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.750.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of seated Jupiter, front view.

According to Della Corte, the statue, (0.09 high including the square base) represented Jupiter.

He is bearded, nude, except for the cloak over his left shoulder and around his legs, and is seated upon a throne;

In his right hand, he held a patera, the left is raised as if resting upon a high sceptre, now missing.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.750.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of seated Jupiter, rear view.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.750.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of seated Jupiter, rear view.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.750.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo.Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of standing Jupiter, 0.10m high, front view.
According to Della Corte, the statue depicted Neptune, bearded, nude except for a mantle over his left shoulder. 
In his right was possibly a dolphin, the left was raised like that of Jupiter, as if supported upon a sceptre or trident, now missing. 
Both attributes, perhaps, were made of wood.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440.
According to Stefani, the different. and more plausible interpretation proposed by others is an image of Jupiter.
See Stefani G., 2000. In Sylva Mala, Bollettino del Centro Studi Archeologici di Boscoreale, Boscotrecase e Trecase XII, p. 15 and note 44.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.749.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of standing Jupiter, 0.10m high, front view.

According to Della Corte, the statue depicted Neptune, bearded, nude except for a mantle over his left shoulder.

In his right was possibly a dolphin, the left was raised like that of Jupiter, as if supported upon a sceptre or trident, now missing.

Both attributes, perhaps, were made of wood.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 440.

According to Stefani, the different. and more plausible interpretation proposed by others is an image of Jupiter.

See Stefani G., 2000. In Sylva Mala XII, Bollettino del Centro Studi Archeologici di Boscoreale, Boscotrecase e Trecase, p. 15 and note 44.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.749.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo.Room 12, lararium. 
Bronze statuette of standing Jupiter, rear view.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.749.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Bronze statuette of standing Jupiter, rear view.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.749.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo.Room 12, lararium. 
Larger bronze statuette of Isis-Fortuna, 0.12m high including the base, front view.
She is fully clothed and has a crescent moon and a disk surmounted by two plumes upon her forehead.
In her right hand she holds a rudder, in her left hand a cornucopia.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.751.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Larger bronze statuette of Isis-Fortuna, 0.12m high including the base, front view.

She is fully clothed and has a crescent moon and a disk surmounted by two plumes upon her forehead.

In her right hand she holds a rudder, in her left hand a cornucopia.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.751.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo. Room 12, lararium. 
Larger bronze statuette of Isis-Fortuna, rear view.
Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.751.
http://thewalters.org/
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. Room 12, lararium.

Larger bronze statuette of Isis-Fortuna, rear view.

Photo courtesy of The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Inventory number 54.751.

http://thewalters.org/

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

 

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. 1976. Room 12, lararium. 
Museum label says: 7 bronze statuettes from a lararium, 2 Jupiter, 2 Isis-Fortuna, Castor and Pollux, (?) found at Boscoreale. 54.747-752; 54.2290. Acquired 1900. 
These can be identified as the figures located in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD, USA. 
According to the Walters web site, these small figurines were found together in a "lararium" at Boscoreale, the site of a Roman villa near Pompeii. 
A "Genius" or priest (752) stood before the household deities, Isis-Fortuna (751), Mercury (748), a seated Jupiter (750), Alexander Helios (2290), and a standing Jupiter (749). 
Now in the Walters Art Museum. Inventory numbers 54.752, 54.748, 54.751, 54.750 and 54.749, 54.2290.
See http://art.thewalters.org/detail/3082/alexander-helios/
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.
J76f0572

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo. 1976. Room 12, lararium.

Museum label says: 7 bronze statuettes from a lararium, 2 Jupiter, 2 Isis-Fortuna, Castor and Pollux, (?) found at Boscoreale. 54.747-752; 54.2290. Acquired 1900.

These can be identified as the figures located in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD, USA.

According to the Walters web site, these small figurines were found together in a "lararium" at Boscoreale, the site of a Roman villa near Pompeii.

A "Genius" or priest (752) stood before the household deities, Isis-Fortuna (751), Mercury (748), a seated Jupiter (750), Alexander Helios (2290), and a standing Jupiter (749).

Now in the Walters Art Museum. Inventory numbers 54.752, 54.748, 54.751, 54.750 and 54.749, 54.2290.

See http://art.thewalters.org/detail/3082/alexander-helios/

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.

J76f0572

 

Room 13, large rustic area.

Under the huge area “13”, were grouped the stable with drinking trough, placed in the north-east corner, the barn and woodshed.

The long wall that ran near the central pilasters supporting the roof, served to contain a section of the area of a mezzanine level. 

Four doorways gave access to this large rustic area.

In the north-west corner in the lapilli, fragments of many glass jars were found, perhaps placed here in a wooden cabinet.

 

Stamps and marks.

Impressed on two tiles from the excavation of this villa were stamps/marks which read –

 

Domiti Alexan(dri)       CIL X, 8042, 44, a-f.

Successi, A. T. L.        CIL X, 8042, 99.

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo.
Under the base of a wine amphora, was a stamp/mark in raised letters, enclosed in a rectangle with rounded corners.
This read:

VITAL

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 441.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo.

Under the base of a wine amphora, was a stamp/mark in raised letters, enclosed in a rectangle with rounded corners.

This read:

 

VITAL

 

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1921, p. 441.

 

Boscoreale, Villa rustica in fondo D’Acunzo.
Over 100 finds have been spread across the world and their provenance is often not specifically identified.
This photo shows 47 finds from the villa, which may assist in their correct identification.
See Stefani G., 2000. In Sylva Mala, Bollettino del Centro Studi Archeologici di Boscoreale, Boscotrecase e Trecase XII, p. 15, fig. 12.

Boscoreale, La villa del Fondo Acunzo.

Over 100 finds have been spread across the world and their provenance is often not specifically identified.

This photo shows 47 finds from the villa, which may assist in their correct identification.

See Stefani G., 2000. In Sylva Mala XII, Bollettino del Centro Studi Archeologici di Boscoreale, Boscotrecase e Trecase, p. 15, fig. 12.

 

 

 

 

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Le immagini fotografiche a bassa risoluzione pubblicate su questo web site sono copyright © di Jackie e Bob Dunn E NON POSSONO ESSERE UTILIZZATE, IN ALCUNA CIRCOSTANZA, PER GUADAGNO O RICOMPENSA COMMERCIALMENTE. Su concessione del Ministero della Cultura - Parco Archeologico di Pompei. Si comunica che nessun riproduzione o duplicazione può considerarsi legittimo senza l'autorizzazione scritta del Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

Ultimo aggiornamento - Last updated: 16-Jul-2024 18:34