Pompeii.
Household shrines to the domestic gods, VIII.2.1
to VIII.7.22/23/24.
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 VIII.
VIII.2.1 Pompeii.
Sacrarium opening off of south portico, no trace remains.
VIII.2.1 Pompeii.
December 2005. Looking south along east side of peristyle garden.
According to Boyce,
off the south portico of the peristyle opened a sacrarium.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p.74, no.341)
VIII.2.1 Pompeii.
December 2005. Looking east from south portico towards VIII.2.3, VIII.2.14,
VIII.2.16
The area on the left
of the photo would have been the approximate area of the sacrarium.
The south portico is
the limit of the present upper (ground or street level) floor, and all rooms to
the south have collapsed.
VIII.2.1 Pompeii.
December 2005. Looking east at VIII.2.3, VIII.2.14, VIII.2.16.
VIII.2.3 Pompeii.
Small room in north-west corner of peristyle, a lararium.
VIII.2.3 Pompeii.
December 2005. Small room on north-west corner of the peristyle.
According to Boyce,
off the north-west corner of the peristyle opened a small room which Mazois and
Fiorelli called the lararium.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.74, no.342).
VIII.2.16 Pompeii.
Aedicula lararium in small room or sacrarium, on south side of atrium.
VIII.2.16 Pompeii.
December 2018.
Looking
south through doorway to room on south side of atrium, with household shrine.
Photo
courtesy of Aude Durand.
VIII.2.16 Pompeii. December 2018.
Looking towards south wall with household
shrine. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce, in the third small room
on the south of the atrium, against the south wall stand the ruins of an
aedicula (h. with antefixes 1.72).
A masonry podium (1.20 by 0.70) that was
ornamented along the upper edge with a stucco cornice, supports the shrine.
The shrine was built of tufa and coated with
white stucco contemporary with the walls of the room.
This was spread not long before the
catastrophe.
The inside of the aedicula was divided into
two storeys, (h. of the upper 0.52, of the lower 0.79) each supported by two
columns and two antae.
The roof was flat and adorned with terracotta
antefixes.
One of these was preserved and represented a
male face in the centre of a kind of palmette.
Nearby was found a small tufa altar.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1893, p. 48.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.74, no.343).
Giacobello describes this as a “Sacrarium,
open onto atrium (B)”.
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in
ambito domestico. Milano:
LED Edizioni, (p.246, no.A30).
Sacrarium on lower level at rear of house. (No photo).
VIII.2.16 Pompeii. May 2015.
Looking north towards lower floor levels
beneath area of collapsed terrace garden. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
VIII.2.14-16 Pompeii. Detail from plan by
Noack.
See Noack, F. and
Lehmann-Hartleben, K., 1936. Baugeschichtliche Untersuchungen am Stadtrand
von Pompeji. Berlin: De Gruyter, Taf. 20.
According to Boyce, in a kind of cave beneath
the court located behind the large atrium of number 16, on the extreme edge of
the slope was a sacrarium of peculiar nature.
Against the right wall of a narrow passage
(3.0 by 0.85) was built a masonry seat (h.0.45, w.0.28).
In the wall 0.80 above it, a vaulted opening
led into a small cell hewn out of the rock, (h.1.65, w.1.25, the length which
can no longer be determined, could not have exceeded 2.50) with its floor 0.50m
below that of the outer passage.
A second masonry seat was built within the
cell, back to back with that in the outer passage.
The only means of entrance into this inner
chamber appeared to have been over these two seats and through the small
opening above them.
Within the cella stood a rectangular masonry
altar (0.59 by 0.65) and upon the altar lay a small terracotta altar (h.0.08),
a marble ball, and two lamps decorated with reliefs. One of the lamps was
decorated with the relief of Jupiter, the other of a rosette.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.74, no.344)
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e
culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.246, no. A30).
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1890, 290.
According to NdS August 1890, p.290-291 –
“In a corridor underneath the house that had
the entrance signed with No.18, had appeared an altar located in an aedicula
existing in the same underneath area, and on the same altar had been collected
the following items –
Terracotta: a small rustic altar, 0.08m high.
A circular lamp with a fragmented loop and with a well-known relief of Jupiter
with the eagle with outstretched wings, 0.14 diameter. Another lamp, also fragmented, with rosette in the
middle, 0.07 diameter.
White marble: a small ball.”
VIII.2.28 Pompeii.
Aedicula lararium masonry base in north-west corner of atrium.
VIII.2.28 Pompeii.
March 2019. Lararium base in north-west corner of atrium.
Foto
Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
According
to Boyce -
In the north-west corner of the atrium is a
masonry base (1.25 by 0.85, h.1.16), later in date than the stucco of the walls
of the room.
It is coated with stucco and painted in
imitation of coloured marble and upon the top stand three small steps of fine
greyish marble.
The aedicula that was originally on the base
has disappeared.
Above on the north wall, at the time of
excavation, there were still traces of the figures of the Lares, which alone
remained from the lararium painting.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p74, no.345)
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico.
Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.246, no.A31)
According to NdS –
“The base was faced with plaster imitating
coloured marble, on top of which were three small steps recovered with precious
coloured marble.”
See Notizie degli Scavi di
Antichità, 1887, (p.511).
VIII.2.28 Pompeii. September 2011. Base of
Lararium.
VIII.2.28 Pompeii. Three small steps on top
of lararium base.
Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn,
picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.
VIII.2.29 Pompeii.
Masonry podium in north-west corner of atrium. (No photo).
VIII.2.29 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking
north across tablinum to atrium and entrance doorway.
In the north-west corner of the atrium would
have been a masonry lararium, (in the area to the left of the brick pilasters).
According to Boyce, this lararium was later
in date than the stucco of the walls of the room. The walls were in the IVth
Style.
Around the base of the lararium ran a dado of
marble.
In this corner of the atrium the black border
in the mosaic pavement was made to run around the two sides of the podium.
This marked its position.
According to Mau, some other object stood
here before the construction of the lararium.
These would have been either the arca for the money, or a smaller and
more modest lararium, which was then enlarged.
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1883, 135. Bull. Inst,
1885, pp.88, 93.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.74, no. 346)
According to Giacobello, only the podium
survives of the aedicula in the north-west corner of the atrium.
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e
culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano:
LED Edizioni. (p.247, no.A32).
Three arched niches in west wall of kitchen on lower floor, no trace remains.
VIII.2.29 Pompeii. May 2006. Looking north at lower room.
Possibly the kitchen would have been in the forefront of this photo. Now ruined.
According to Boyce, in the west wall of the kitchen which was located on the lower floor were three arched niches.
The only one well-enough preserved to be measured was 1.30m above the floor, 0.30 high x 0.40 wide x 0.20 deep.
These
were called lararia in Notizie degli
Scavi di Antichità, 1883, 347.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.74, no.347)
Sogliano described – near to the entrance to the garden one finds the corridor that led to the kitchen and to two rooms.
In the kitchen there was a latrine, the niche of the Penates, and on the south wall a painted lararium with the Genius, the two Lares, and two serpents below.
According to Giacobello, description from west wall of kitchen – no longer conserved.
The
references being - Fiorelli in Notizie
degli Scavi di Antichità, 1883, p.424-5, Mau in BdI 1884, p.213.
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.196, no.84)
VIII.2.30 Pompeii.
Niche or aedicula in north wall of room on south-west side of tablinum.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005. North wall
with aedicula, of room on south-west side of tablinum, which BdI described as
(p).
According to BdI –
Il lato posteriore di
questo piano vien formato da una serie di sale, (p), (q), e (s), delle quali il
tablino (q) era la piu grande.
Tutte avevano il
pavimento composto di lastre di marmo e di lavagna, delle quali pero non rimane
che una piccola parte in (p) e pochissimi avanzi in (q),
(p) inoltre era distinta
per una nicchia o edicola nella parete N, spogliata quasi totalmente del suo
originario rivestimento di marmo.
Tutte queste camere si
aprono o in tutta la larghezza o con larga porta sopra un’ampia terrazza, ora
crollata, sovrapposta alle localita del piano di sotto, dalla quale doveva
godersi una vista deliziosa per il magnifico panorama delle fertile pianura, delle
montagne opposte e del mare.
(The rear of this floor is formed by a series
of rooms, (p), (q), and (s), of which the tablinum (q) was the largest.
All had the floor composed of marble slabs
and slate (lavagna), of which nothing remains, other than a small part in (p)
and very few remains in (q), (p), however, was also distinguished by a niche or
aedicula in the north wall, almost totally stripped of its original marble
cladding.
All these rooms opened either in full width
or with a large door onto a large terrace, now collapsed, superimposed above
the floor underneath, from which they would have enjoyed a delightful view over
the magnificent panorama of the fertile plains, the mountains opposite and the
sea.)
See Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR),
1884, (p.212).
VIII.2.35 Pompeii.
Arched niche in east wall, near entrance doorway.
VIII.2.35 Pompeii. October 2023. Entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VIII.2.35 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche in east wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
in the east wall of this taberna with thermopolium, is an arched niche (h.0.30, w.0.38, d.0.28, h. above floor 1.05).
Its walls were coated with red stucco.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.75, no.348).
VIII.2.35 Pompeii. December 2018.
Detail of niche in east wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
VIII.2.38-39 Pompeii.
Arched niche in east wall of small room that may have been used as a Sacrarium.
VIII.2.39 Pompeii. September 2019. Doorway to room c on east side of entrance corridor.
Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR
VIII.2.39 Pompeii. May 2006. Lararium niche in small room c, in north-east corner of atrium.
According to Boyce –
The small room entered from the north-east corner of the atrium was originally a cubiculum, but in the later days may have served as a Sacrarium.
In the east wall is an arched niche (h.0.38, w.0.37, d.0.26, h. above floor 1.60), its walls painted red.
On the back wall there is the painting (height of the figures 0.21)
This was painted with a genius in a toga, holding a cornucopia and standing to the left of a round altar.
To the right was a figure in blue and yellow with a diadem and sceptre in the left hand and a patera in the outstretched right hand.
This was possibly Juno.
Below and at the sides of the iche are the marks left by iron nails which had been driven into the wall, evidently to support garlands and taeniae.In the corner of the room to the right of the entrance stood the ruins of a masonry base (0.50 by about 0.38) – perhaps a permanent altar.
A small portable altar of tufa was also found in this room.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 75, no. 349,
pl.19,2).
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz:
von Zabern. (p. 291, L95, T:44,1).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico.
Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.197, no.85,
incl: drawing by Discanno)
VIII.2.39 Pompeii. 19th century drawing by G. Discanno. Lararium niche in small room c, east wall.
DAIR 35.501. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches
Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.
Genius with cornucopia extending his hand towards a round altar.
A woman, with blue chiton and yellow mantle and diadem on her head, holds a sceptre in her left hand and a patera in her right.
This is Juno, the female corresponding to the Genius.
See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici. VIII. (8). Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia
italiana, p. 314-5.
VIII.3.14 Pompeii.
Arched niche in north wall of kitchen.
VIII.3.14 Pompeii. May 2016.
North wall of kitchen area with niche, above which the holes for support beams of the upper floor can be seen. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
VIII.3.14 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of arched niche set into north wall of kitchen. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce, in the north wall was an arched niche.
Its floor was a projecting tile, its walls were coated with white stucco outlined with red stripes.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.75, no.353).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari
in ambito domestico. Milano:
LED Edizioni, (p.198, no.86).
Vaulted niche in south wall of cubiculum.
VIII.3.14 Pompeii. May 2016. South wall of cubiculum. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
VIII.3.14 Pompeii. May 2016. Detail of niche in south wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
According to Boyce –
In the south wall
of the cubiculum is a semicircular vaulted niche (h.1.00, w.0.60, d.0.30, h.
above floor 1.40), its inside walls coated with yellow stucco like the walls of
the room, its floor a marble slab; Fiorelli calls it “una nicchia per
qualche simulacro di deita”.
See Fiorelli, Descr., 326.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 75, no. 352).
Aedicula lararium, north-west corner of garden area.
VIII.3.14, Pompeii. December 2018.
Looking towards north-west corner of garden area, with aedicula niche on west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce,
in the north-west corner of the garden was a niche (h.1.60, w.0.70, d. varies
from 0.40 to 0.55) adorned with an aedicula façade (h.3.25).
There were two
rectangular pilasters supporting a pediment, which was built on the top of a
base (h.1.20).
Before the aedicula
stood an altar.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.
(p.75, no.351).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari
in ambito domestico. Milano:
LED Edizioni, (p.282 no.V72)
VIII.3.14 Pompeii. 1971.
Aedicula niche in north-west corner of garden. 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.
J71f0153
Large aedicula in centre of north wall in garden area.
VIII.3.14 Pompeii. September 2005. Garden.
According to Boyce, in the centre of the
north wall of the garden stands a large aedicula.
Four steps lead up to the top of the broad,
rectangular podium (2.15 by 2.0, h.0.80).
The podium and the steps are covered with
marble slabs.
In the centre of the podium stands a ruinous
base which supported a marble statue of Diana.
Two columns of brick (h.1.90) supported the
front end of the roof over the shrine.
In front of the podium, on each side of the
steps, stands a marble base which originally held a herm.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.75, no.350).
VIII.3.14 Pompeii.
September 2005.
Garden. Aedicula
with remains of marble base for a herm, at the side of the steps.
According to Schulz
in BdI, at the beginning of October 1839, in the garden, an aedicula was found,
which one ascended by four steps.
At the foot of the
aedicula were found two marble herms and a marble candelabrum.
And in the left
corner of the same courtyard was another niche, of elegant architecture, made
from masonry.
In various parts of
this Courtyard were found many fragments of marble and bronze pots, including a
marble head of Jupiter.
See Bullettino dell’Instituto di
Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1841, p. 121.
See Fiorelli G., 1862. Pompeianarum
antiquitatum historia, Vol. 2: 1819 - 1860, Naples, (p.373, 9th October 1839).
VIII.3.16-18 Pompeii.
Secondary kitchen in VIII.3.16, on east side of the other kitchen formed from ala in VIII.3.18.
VIII.3.16 Pompeii. September 2021. Looking south in kitchen, with “niche” latrine, on left. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
Fragmentary lararium painting, in kitchen of VIII.3.18, no trace remains.
(No photo).
VIII.3.18 Pompeii. September 2021.
Looking south-east across atrium towards right ala, being used as a kitchen with hearth. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VIII.3.18 Pompeii. September 2021. Looking south towards kitchen. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
A niche latrine can be seen on the west (right side) of the hearth.
See Hobson, B., 2009. Pompeii, Latrines and Down Pipes. Hadrian Books (p.440 and photo p.444)
According to Boyce, Helbig saw a fragmentary lararium painting with the figure of the Lares, in the kitchen. (Helbig 91).
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.76, no.355).
See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten
Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (no.91).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari
in ambito domestico. Milano:
LED Edizioni, (p.198, no.87).
Large niche or recess in east wall of atrium.
VIII.3.18 Pompeii. December 2018.
Looking east across atrium towards large recess or lararium? (h. uncertain, w.1.20, d.0.55, h. above floor 0.30). Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce, there is a large recess formed from heavy masonry walls (in the centre of the photo).
Fiorelli called it simply a recess to contain a cupboard, but Breton thought it was the lararium.
According to Boyce, it may well have been a lararium.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.75 no. 354).
VIII.3.21 Pompeii.
Arched niche in east wall at end of entrance corridor, and another in north wall of room (4).
VIII.3.21 Pompeii. 1968. Looking east towards wall with niche, from end of entrance corridor.
On the left is the north wall of room (4) with another niche. 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.
J68f1181
Arched niche in north wall of garden area.
VIII.3.21 Pompeii. September 2021. Looking north across
garden area with niche. Photo
courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VIII.3.21 Pompeii. 1968.
Looking towards the north wall of the garden area, with arched niche. 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.
J68f1180
VIII.3.21 Pompeii. Detail of niche and garden from postcard dated 1st August 1939. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.
According to Boyce-
in the north wall of the garden was an arched niche (h.0.55, w.0.50, d.0.25, h. above floor 1.40) adorned with an aedicula façade.
The façade had a modelled stucco cornice running around the curve of the arch instead of a pediment.
It also had a heavy ledge projecting (0.19) from the surface of the wall.
The inside walls of the niche were covered with white stucco and outlined with red stripes.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.76, no.356, & Pl.3,5 photo by Warscher).
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico.
Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.282 no.V73).
VIII.3.31 Pompeii.
Painting, in kitchen, no trace
remains. (No photo).
According to Boyce –
In the kitchen is a lararium painting in two zones on a white ground:
the upper zone (h.0.53, w.1.05) represents the familiar sacrificial scene with the Genius pouring a libation and on each side of him a Lar.
Only the Lar on the left side was uncovered at the time that Helbig made his description; he was clad in yellow tunic and red pallium and carried rhyton and situla.
In the lower zone are the two serpents confronted at an altar.
See Helbig, 1868, p.47.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 76, no.357).
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico.
Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.199, no.88).
See PAH, I, 3, p.213.
VIII.4.4 Pompeii.
Arched niche, east wall in kitchen.
VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018.
Looking east to doorway to room 7, with square basin beneath arched opening, on the south side. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
In the kitchen opening off the east side of the peristyle, in the east wall above a masonry tub, is a small arched niche (h.0.47, w.0.36, d.0.27, h. above floor 1.60) adorned with an aedicula façade.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 76, no.358).
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico.
Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.199, no.89).
VIII.4.5 Pompeii.
Rectangular niche in south wall.
VIII.4.5 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking south to entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
VIII.4.5 Pompeii. December 2018. South wall with niche. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce –
In the south wall is a small rectangular niche (h.0.37, w.0.23, d.0.18, h. above floor 2.0) adorned with an aedicula façade.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.76, no. 359).
VIII.4.10 Pompeii.
Niche in south wall.
VIII.4.10 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking south to rear room.
According to Boyce –
In the south wall of the main room, a window was walled up, and a niche thus formed, to serve, according to Fiorelli, as a lararium.
Fiorelli, Giorn.
Scavi, 1861, 105; Scavi, 4; Descr., 339.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.76).
See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.128).
VIII.4.12 Pompeii.
Niche and painting, west wall of kitchen.
VIII.4.12 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking west into kitchen, room on west of side of tablinum. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce, the room on the right of the tablinum may have been the kitchen.
He says in the west wall, pictured above, there was an arched niche (.0.40, w.0.35, d.0.25, h. above floor 1.15).
Its walls were coated with white stucco which was painted with red and yellow flowers.
On the right side of the niche, the wall is covered with a panel of white plaster bordered in red, on which is the lararium painting in two zones –
(w.0.95, h. of upper 0.75, of lower 0.70).
The lower zone showed a serpent, still visible in 1937, with a red crest and beard, rearing its head above the masonry altar (0.58 by 0.33, h. 0.80).
The altar was standing against the wall below the niche.
In the upper zone, nothing was visible, but earlier reports described the figure of a Lar painted on the left side of the niche.
On the right side of the niche, there were two painted hams and an eel.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.76, no. 361).
See Pappalardo,
U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per
Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.128).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari
in ambito domestico. Milano:
LED Edizioni, (p.200, no.90).
VIII.4.12 Pompeii. December 2018.
Altar and niche against west wall of kitchen. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
VIII.4.15 Pompeii.
Painting, not conserved, on altar base, in north-west corner of atrium (b).
VIII.4.15 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, atrium. Remains of altar base in north-west corner of atrium.
According to Boyce –
Upon a masonry base (1.15 by 0.85, h. 1.25), called una specie di altare con nicchia disopra, built into the north-west corner of the
atrium,
were painted several figures grouped about a tripod, among them the Genius with a patera and opposite him, the popa with an axe.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.76, no. 362.
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari
in ambito domestico. Milano:
LED Edizioni, (p.200, no.91).
Niche in room in north-west corner of atrium.
VIII.4.15 Pompeii. December 2018.
Room 10 in north-west corner of atrium, looking through doorway to south wall with niche.
Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
VIII.4.15 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, niche on south wall of room in north-west corner of atrium.
VIII.4.27 Pompeii.
Arched niche in peristyle.
VIII.4.29 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking north from Via del Tempio d’Iside, across remains of peristyle area, behind wall.
According to Boyce, in this peristyle high up on the north wall was an arched niche (h.0.60, w.0.50, d.0.21, h, above floor 1,90).
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.76, no. 363).
VIII.4.27 Pompeii. Late 19th century postcard by E Ragozino, no. 2877.
Looking north from a room in VIII.4.27 across the garden area towards the peristyle of VIII.4.15.
On the right, the niche in the north wall of VIII.4.27/29 can be seen. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.
VIII.5.1 Pompeii.
Arched niche on east wall.
VIII.5.1 Pompeii. March 2019. Looking east along Via dell’Abbondanza and towards east side of shop-room, with detail of pavement.
Foto Taylor
Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
VIII.5.1 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche in east wall of shop-room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce –
In the east wall is an arched niche (h.0.45, w.0.38, d.0.22, h. above floor 1.60), called by Fiorelli “la nicchia dei Penati”.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.76, no.364)
See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.163).
VIII.5.2 Pompeii.
Alcove in north wall of atrium. Fiorelli called it a “Sacrarium”.
VIII.5.2 Pompeii.
March 2009. Room 1, small alcove with tufa altar, in north-west corner of
atrium.
VIII.5.2 Pompeii.
March 2009. Room 1, altar.
According to Boyce,
in the north wall of the atrium, to the right of the entrance doorway from the
street, is a recess (w.1.50).
A square masonry
altar (0.60 square, h. 0.85) stands more-or-less in the centre of the recess.
On the top of the
altar on its upper surface is a large rectangular depression.
According to
Fiorelli, on the right of the tuscanic atrium was a sacrarium, three cubicula
and an ala.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.76, no.365, Pl.39,2)
See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La
Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.163).
Arched niche in north wall of kitchen (?).
VIII.5.2 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 21, kitchen.
VIII.5.2 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 21, north wall of kitchen with bench or hearth.
According to Boyce, in the north wall of the kitchen (?) was an arched niche.
Size (height 0.40, width 0.63, depth 0.15, height above the floor 1.35).
This does not appear to be visible anymore.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.366, no. 366).
VIII.5.5/2 Pompeii.
Arched niche on west wall in kitchen.
VIII.5.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 30, kitchen. North-west corner, with niche and bench or hearth.
VIII.5.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 30, niche in west wall of kitchen.
VIII.5.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 30, kitchen, detail of niche.
According to Boyce, the niche is in the kitchen which is reached through a narrow passage off the south side of the atrium.
The arched niche (0.40, w.0.35, d.0.17, h. above floor 1.45) is in the west wall above the hearth.
The back wall of the niche was covered with painted plants.
Around the outside of the niche on the wall was a stucco border.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.77, no.368).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari
in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.201, no.92).
VIII.5.4 Pompeii.
“Nicchia dei Penati” reported here, now in ruins.
VIII.5.4 Pompeii. December 2007. South-west corner of shop.
According to Eschebach this is the area of an “open rear room with niche”.
According to Boyce, Fiorelli reported that this shop had a “nicchia dei Penati”, which Boyce said was in ruins (c.1937?).
See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p.380).
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.77, no.367).
VIII.5.9/13-14 Pompeii.
Arched niche in north wall of kitchen.
VIII.5.9 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 21, niche in north wall of kitchen.
VIII.5.9 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 21, niche in north wall.
According to Boyce –
this arched niche (h.0.45, .0.65, d.0.27, h. above floor 0.90), in the north wall near the hearth, was called a lararium in the reports.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.77, no.370).
Boyce gives the references Not. Scavi, 1881, 323; Bull. Inst., 1883, 177.
See Giacobello, F.,
2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.201, no.93).
VIII.5.9 Pompeii.
Painting on west wall.
VIII.5.9 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 5, triclinium. South wall with doorway to north portico and south-west corner, on right.
According to Boyce, in the south-west corner of an undecorated room on the right of the tablinum was a small hearth.
On the west wall was a rough painting (h.0.58, w.0.50) of an aedicula with a small pediment and a door of two leaves thrown open.
Two figures were seated within, indistinguishable in detail because of the fading of the colours and the crudeness of the painting.
He quotes Not. Scavi, 1881,322.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.77, no.369).
VIII.5.9 Pompeii. Room 5, anonymous drawing of painting seen on the west wall.
According to Bragantini in PPM,
“in the small room (g) was found the lararium painting with figures sitting within an aedicula of which we can get a vague idea thanks to this anonymous reproduction, of the painting, that although not signed could certainly be attributed to Geremia Discanno.”
See Carratelli,
G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e
Mosaici: Vol. VIII.. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.571).
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 885.
Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it
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VIII.5.37 Pompeii.
Aedicula lararium and painting against east wall.
VIII.5.37 Pompeii.
December 2023.
Room 1, looking
north-east across atrium, from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Miriam
Colomer.
VIII.5.37 Pompeii.
December 2023.
Looking towards
lararium, from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.
On the front of the
podium was a painted round altar flanked by two serpents.
Two eggs and a pine
cone were painted on the altar.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und
Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.291, L96, Taf 8,3).
According to Boyce,
this aedicula lararium had paintings and statuettes when found.
The tympanum was
white, bordered with a red stripe and painted on it were small gladiatorial
arms.
In the middle a
helmet, to the left greaves, and to the right a shield and above it a dagger.
Mau thought because
of these paintings, the owner of the house may have been a retired gladiator.
On the back wall
within the aedicula was the lararium painting consisting of Genius and two
Lares.
When excavated, six
bronze statuettes were found in this aedicula.
They were of
Aesculapius, Apollo, Mercury, Hercules and the two Lares.
In addition to the
statuettes, a bronze lamp with a crescent moon on its handle was also found.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p.77, no.371, and Pl.31, 1 and 2).
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari
in ambito domestico. Milano:
LED Edizioni, (p.202, no.94)
VIII.5.37 Pompeii. c. 1880-1890. G. Sommer no. 9206.
Lararium showing
Genius, the Lares, statuettes and lamp. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.
VIII.5.37 Pompeii.
Lararium showing Genius and the Lares.
Old undated
photograph. Courtesy of Society of Antiquaries. Fox Collection.
VIII.5.37 Pompeii.
May 2017. Lararium painting. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
VIII.5.39 Pompeii.
Painting beneath window in south wall of kitchen.
VIII.5.39 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 3, south wall of kitchen, with bench and remains of lararium painting.
In the south-east corner, on the left of the photo, would have been the latrine.
See Hobson, B., 2009. Pompeii, Latrines and Down Pipes. Oxford, Hadrian Books: (p.466).
VIII.5.39 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 3, faded lararium painting on south wall of kitchen.
On the south wall of the kitchen was a painting of Fortuna, with the usual attributes, a cornucopia, and a rudder resting on a ball.
The Genius and the Lares appear nowhere, and as a lotus blossom was painted on the forehead of the goddess, she was thought to be a form of Isis.
See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan, p.341-343.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (L97 on page 293 and Taf 46,2).
According to Boyce, on the south wall of the kitchen beneath the window was a painting of Isis-Fortuna.
This was painted on a rough rectangle (h.0.59, w.0.70) of white plaster, bordered in red.
The goddess stands, a wreath of leaves upon her head, the lotus flower on her forehead, her dark hair falling over her shoulders.
She wears a long yellow chiton and blue mantle.
In her left hand, she held a cornucopia.
In her right hand, she held a yellow rudder, the lower end of which rested upon a globe.
To the right and left of her, there were large shrubs with red flowers.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.78, no.372).
VIII.5.39 Pompeii.
Room 3, south wall of kitchen. Drawing by G. Discanno of lararium painting of Isis Fortuna with rudder, globe and cornucopia.
DAIR 83.201. Photo
© Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.
See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, L97 on page 293 and Taf 46,2.
VIII.6.3 Pompeii.
Partially preserved lararium painting on west wall of room, perhaps a kitchen.
VIII.6.3 Pompeii. October 2023.
Room (b), north-west corner, with remains of lararium painting on west wall, with tile to hold offerings built into wall, on left.
Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VIII.6.3 Pompeii. December 2018.
Looking towards west wall in kitchen, with remains of lararium painting. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
According to Boyce, on the west wall of a room which was perhaps a kitchen, was a partially preserved lararium painting.
In the upper zone, the feet of the Genius, to the right of him, a Lar in red and blue tunic, again to the right a long staff, perhaps with sausages attached to it.
Below the figure of the Genius, a tile was embedded in the wall to hold offerings.
Below this, was a serpent (black with a yellow belly, red crest and beard) advancing towards a second serpent (smaller and all black with crest).
This second serpent was coiled around a black omphalos covered with a green net and standing upon a rectangular base.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.78, no.373).
According to Giacobello, the picture on the west wall of kitchen has not been conserved.
The small service area was located in the south-west corner of the house.
See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.204).
VIII.6.3 Pompeii. December 2018.
West wall in kitchen area, detail of painted serpent on lower side of lararium painting. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
VIII.6.5 Pompeii.
Aedicula lararium, south-west corner of garden area (Boyce described this as in VIII.7.4/5).
VIII.6.6 Pompeii.
December 2007. Aedicula in south-west corner.
According to Boyce –
this simple aedicula
(h.2.45 by w.1.13) consisted of a simple podium (h.0.90) and a niche with an
arched opening (h.10.5,w.0.65) built above it.
The interior of the
niche is an unusual pentagonal shape, the floor is paved with red stucco
ornamented with little white stones.
The rest of the
structure was uniform white, except for the tympanum, which was yellow with a
star in white relief in the middle.
Before the shrine
and close to the south wall, stood a small masonry altar, originally coated
with white stucco.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.78, No.374, Pl.33,1).
VIII.6.6 Pompeii.
1931. Aedicula and Niche in south-west corner.
DAIR 31.2452. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom,
Arkiv.
See Boyce G. K.,
1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.78, No.374, Pl.33,1).
Boyce identified
this as located in VIII.7.4/5.
VIII.6.10 Pompeii.
Projecting base with remains of vanished lararium painting above, to the right of entrance doorway.
VIII.6.10 Pompeii. October 2020. Looking south-west across peristyle area. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.
According to Boyce (who numbers it as VIII.7.9) –
In the peristyle against the wall to the right of the entrance doorway from the street, stands a projecting base (h.1.15, w.1.40, d.0.30).
Traces of original covering with slabs of marble are still to be seen and above it are the remains of a vanished lararium painting.
The top of the pilaster was apparently meant to serve as altar for offerings.
Nearby was found a small cylindrical altar of tufa (diam.0.28, h.0.32), which Mau supposes was used instead of the top of the pilaster in the last days of the city.
See Bull. Inst.
1884, 183.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii.
Rome: MAAR 14. (p.78, no. 375).
VIII.7.6 Pompeii.
Arched niche on north wall of garden area, with lararium painting, no traces remain.
VIII.7.6 Pompeii. September 2010. Rear area portico looking north towards niche. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.
According to Boyce (described as VIII.viii.6) –
on the north wall of the garden was an arched niche (h.0.32, w.0.40, d.0.20, h. above floor 1.15) and beside it a fragmentary lararium painting.
The figures of the Lares and the serpents confronted at an altar were still visible.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 78, no.376). (He described it as VIII.viii.6).
See Pappalardo,
U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per
Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.131).
See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-79. Napoli: (p.19, no.63).
“That which I call the peristyle was a room decorated up to the height of 1.75 with black compartments surrounded by red stripes, enclosed between two white lines, and open to the garden area, which flanks a part of the eastern side, while further to the south the rooms extend up to the garden area itself.
The roof, which lowered down towards the garden area, was supported by four brick columns, covered with black plaster in the lower part, the rest being white, and joined at the rear by a low wall.
On the north wall there is the painting of the Lares, and near to it a small niche, in the south-east corner were the first steps of a staircase whose upper part was of wood.”
See Mau in BdI, 1875, (p.164).
VIII.7.10 Pompeii.
Niche in north wall of room at rear of shop-room.
VIII.7.10 Pompeii. December 2018.
Looking towards rear room, with a niche/recess in the north wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
VIII.7.10 Pompeii. December 2018.
Detail of north wall of rear room, with niche. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.
Niche in kitchen, with a lararium painting at its side, no traces remain.
VIII.7.10 Pompeii. September 2010.
Looking east from garden area towards kitchen, and blocked doorway to corridor leading to entrance on Via Stabiana.
At the east end of the ruined kitchen hearth (on the right of the picture, in shadow), one may be able to see a scar in the wall, the remains of a niche. This may be the lararium niche. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.
According to Boyce (described as VIII.viii.10) –
“In the wall of the kitchen there was a niche and beside it was a lararium painting.
It represented a sacrificial scene with the Genius and the tibicen, one on each side of an altar. On either side of them was a Lar.
In the lower zone was a single serpent beside an altar.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus
of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome:
MAAR 14. (p.78, no.377).
See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-79. Napoli: (p.12, no.24, “badly preserved”).
“Next to the hearth there was the usual painting of the Lares, and a niche.”
See Mau in BdI, 1875, (p.167) (p.166-169 -
La quarta casa).
VIII.7.10 Pompeii. August 2005. Looking south-east in kitchen area towards hearth at east end of south wall.
The remains of the lararium niche may be partly visible on the upper right of centre of the photo.
Photo courtesy of Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia.
According to Mau -
“Next to the hearth there was the usual painting of the Lares, and a niche.”
See Mau in BdI, 1875, (p.167) (p.166-169 - La
quarta casa).
VIII.7.10 Pompeii. August 2005. Looking down onto hearth against south wall in kitchen.
The remains of the niche of the lararium may be still partially visible in the wall above the hearth, upper centre of photo.
Photo courtesy of Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia.
Site of kitchen, described by Eschebach as having hearth, well and lararium.
See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p. 389).
VIII.7.24 Pompeii.
Large arched niche painted with figure of Fortuna, in north wall of corridor, no trace remains.
VIII.7.22/23/24 Pompeii. October 2010. Looking north towards end of corridor, at C.
On the left, entrance to underground vaulted room on west side of corridor, room E.
On the right, doorway to room on east side, room D.
Photo and information courtesy of Drew Baker/Gareth Beale/Hembo Pagi.
According to Boyce (described as VIII.viii.24) –
In the north wall of a corridor leading from the underground kitchen to the posticum at VIII.7.22, was a large arched niche.
This was I.0 metre high, 0.85 wide, 0.50 deep and 0.70 above the floor.
The back wall of the niche was painted red, and on it was the figure of Fortuna, clad in a green tunic and yellow mantle.
In her left hand she held a cornucopia, and in her right, a rudder.
To the left of her feet was a large globe.
The side walls of the niche and the area under the feet of the goddess were decorated with green plants.
See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.78, no:378)
Fiorelli describes, VIII.7.22 as a corridor belonging to VIII.7.24, with stairs to upper floor.
Nearby is the kitchen, in which remains the niche of the Penates, with the image of Fortuna with cornucopia and rudder.
See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.134)
According to the plan in Overbeck-Mau, this area would appear to coincide with their room 11, the underground kitchen.
See Overbeck, J. and Mau, A, 1884. Pompeji in seinen Gebäuden,
Alterthümen und Kunstwerke. Leipzig, Engelmann. (p.281, fig 156).
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