VI.7.23 Pompeii. Domus A. Herenuleius Communis or House of Apollo.
Domus A. or L. Herennuleius Communis. Excavated in 1830s.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. May 2006. Site of summer triclinium with steps up to cubiculum decorated with mythology of Apollo.
According to E. Winsor Leach, on the north, south and east walls of the cubiculum are a series of paintings identifiable as events in the story of Marsyas.
3 phases of action on the north wall include Athena’s short-lived essay at flute playing and Marsyas performing before some of the Muses.
On the south wall are figures of Apollo and Olympus separated at the 2 ends of the couch. Finally, we see Marsyas bound to a tree.
The figures are framed within niches that seem to isolate their roles as participants in the drama.
See Leach, E. Winsor, 2004. The Social Life of Painting in Ancient Rome and on the Bay of Naples. Cambridge UK: Cambridge UP, p. 121.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. October 2014.
Looking west across the site of the summer triclinium to the window and doorway leading into the cubiculum/bedroom.
Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. October 2014. Looking through doorway towards
west wall.
Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum decorated with mythology of Apollo. West alcove, looking to west wall.
According to E. Winsor Leach, the scene in the rear alcove has long posed a challenge to identification.
Set in a gabled aedicula intricately patterned with shining gold fretwork, the figure of Apollo enthroned beneath the canopy identifies this setting as the palace of the sun.
Less certain are the identity of 2 figures, one male and one female, positioned at either side of the god.
The most commonly accepted proposal has been a contest between the Morning and Evening Stars.
Although nothing is wrong with this idea, Moorman has proposed a plausible and more interesting identification as representing Euripides’ tragedy Phaeton, which takes place in Apollo’s palace.
Several fragments survive from this lost drama, which Wilamovitz reconstructed as centring about a projected marriage between Phaeton and Aphrodite, which Phaeton’s earthly parents, Merops and Clymene, had contrived in exploitation of his semi divine status as Apollo’s son.
Kenneth Reckford has recently given a new interpretation of the story line in which one of the daughters of Helios will have been substituted for Aphrodite as a bride.
The reconstructed plot has Phaeton sent to Apollo’s palace to claim his bride whom nonetheless he rejects, asking instead to drive Apollo’s chariot for his proof of paternity.
The scene on our scaenae frons shows Phaeton confronting his designated bride in Apollo’s throne room.
See Leach, E. Winsor, 2004. The Social Life of Painting in Ancient Rome and on the Bay of Naples. Cambridge UK: Cambridge UP, Fig 80, page 121.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. West alcove, south wall.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. West alcove, south
wall. Male figure in oriental dress.
See Caso L., in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani III, 1989, p.
112.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum.
West alcove, upper south wall. Plasterwork and white upper layer were probably never completed.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. July 2021. Looking towards west wall of west
alcove. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. October 2014. West wall in alcove.
Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. West alcove, west wall.
According to E. Winsor Leach this is a scene with Apollo in the throne room of the palace of the sun.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. July 2021. West alcove, west wall of cubiculum. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. Detail from west alcove, west wall of the cubiculum duplex in the viridarium. Photo courtesy of Davide Peluso.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. 1868.
Drawing by Jean-Louis Pascal, from the west alcove of the west wall of the cubiculum duplex in the viridarium.
Photo courtesy of Davide Peluso.
From
an album by Roberto Rive, dated 1868. Fresco from the west alcove of the west
wall. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.
VI.7.23
Pompeii. July 2021.
Detail
of painted architectural detail from west wall of west alcove, above the head
of Apollo.
Photo
courtesy of Johannes Eber.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. West alcove, west wall.
According to Caso, on the left is a female figure leaning from a balcony. Seated is Hesperus.
According to E. Winsor Leach this may be Phaeton.
See Caso L., in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani III, 1989, p.
112.
VI.7.23 Pompeii.
Pen and ink drawing by N. La Volpe detail of seated figure from west wall of cubiculum.
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 237.
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)
VI.7.23 Pompeii. Drawing by Zahn of a seated figure on west wall of cubiculum.
See Zahn, W., 1842-44. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: II. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 40.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. West alcove, west wall.
According to Caso, this is Apollo-Phoebus or Libero- Bacchus-Sole.
According to E. Winsor Leach this is Apollo in throne room of the palace of the sun.
See Caso L., in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani III, 1989, p.
112.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. Pre-September 1859 drawing by Zahn.
According to Zahn this was of Bacchus on throne.
See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente
und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III.
Berlin: Reimer, taf. 92.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. West alcove, west wall.
According to Caso, this is the seated figure of Aphrodite with a female figure leaning from a balcony to the right.
According to E. Winsor Leach, Aphrodite is the intended bride for Phaeton but in this scene is being rejected by him.
See Caso L., in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani III, 1989, p.
112.
Watercolour by M. Mastracchio, detail from west wall of cubiculum showing seated figure of Aphrodite together with figure on her right.
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 246.
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)
VI.7.23 Pompeii. Pen and ink drawing by N. La Volpe, showing seated figure of Aphrodite.
Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 224.
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)
VI.7.23 Pompeii. Pre-September 1859. Drawing by Zahn of Venus on a throne.
See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 93.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006.
Cubiculum. West alcove, upper north-west corner. Plasterwork and white upper layer probably never completed.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. Lower north wall, west alcove.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. West alcove, mosaic floor and painted faux marble.
VI.7.23
Pompeii. October 2014. North-west corner and north wall.
Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.
VI.7.23
Pompeii. July 2021. Looking towards north wall of cubiculum. Photo courtesy of
Johannes Eber.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. North wall.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. North wall. Athena briefly playing the double flute.
See Caso L., in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani III, 1989, p.
112.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. North wall. Female figure on a balcony.
See Caso L., in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani III, 1989, p.
112.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. October 2014.
Cubiculum. North wall. Female figure on a balcony. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. North wall. Apollo with cithara.
See Caso L., in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani III, 1989, p.
112.
VI.7.23 Pompeii. December 2006. Cubiculum. North wall, east end. Marsyas with nebride (fawn-skin).
According to Caso this is the naked figure of Marsyas.
He is covered only on the shoulders by the nebride (skin of a fawn), the fluttering edges of which are seen behind his back.
In his hand is the tibia (double flute) thrown away by Athena.
See Caso L., in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani III, 1989, p.
121-2.