Pompeii. Household shrines to the domestic gods, VII.5.14 to VII.11.14.

 

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 VII.

VII.5.14 Pompeii.

Square niche in east wall, no trace remains. 

 

VII.5.14 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking north towards original entrance on south side of insula.

According to Garcia y Garcia, all of the south-west corner and southern part of the insula were transformed in the time of Maiuri.

Then the area was hit during the first bombing incursion during the early evening (17.00hrs) of 13th September 1943.

All of the old structures have been modified again to provide a restaurant, latrine and sales area.

The modifications included closing and bricking up of the old doorways to VII.5.14, 15, 16 and 17.

Entrances at VII.5.18, 19 and 20 now provide the doorways to the modern restaurant.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p. 101-3)

 

According to Fiorelli, the shop originally had a sales-counter clad largely in marble, and with only one urn of terracotta.

At the rear were the stairs to the upper floor, a dormitory, a kitchen with hearth, near to the kitchen was a small stall.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.96)

 

According to Boyce, in the east wall was a square niche.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 66, no. 284)

 

VII.5.14 Pompeii, on left. Between 1819 and 1832, sketch by W. Gell showing "Thermopolion opposite back front of Temple of Jupiter".

Shown on the right is the marble clad counter and on the left pilaster below the plaque is the inscription:

M(arcum)  Casellium //

aed(ilem)  d(ignum)  r(ei)  p(ublicae)  fac(it)

Fidelis  Fbrli      [CIL IV 540]

See Gell, W. Pompeii unpublished [Dessins de l'édition de 1832 donnant le résultat des fouilles post 1819 (?)] vol II, pl. 72.

Bibliothèque de l'Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art, collections Jacques Doucet, Identifiant numérique Num MS180 (2).

See book in INHA Use Etalab Licence Ouverte

 

VII.5.14 Pompeii, on left. Pre-1819. Looking north towards entrance doorway on Vicolo dei Soprastanti.

In the east wall, the square niche mentioned by Boyce, above, can be seen.

See Gell, W, and Gandy J. P., 1819. Pompeiana. London: Rodwell and Martin, p. 196.

An inscription to Marcellum CIL IV 539 appears to have been found under the painting of the gladiators on the right-hand pilaster shared with VII.5.15.

 

VII.5.15 Pompeii.

Lararium painting in the main room. (No photo).

 

VII.5.15 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking north towards site of doorway to shop.

According to Garcia y Garcia, all of the south-west corner and southern part of the insula were transformed in the time of Maiuri.

Then the area was hit during the first bombing incursion during the early evening (17.00hrs) of 13th September 1943.

All of the old structures that remained have been modified again to provide a restaurant, toilets and sales area.

The modifications included closing and bricking up of the old doorways to VII.5.14, 15, 16 and 17.

Entrances at VII.5.18, 19 and 20 now provide the doorways to the modern restaurant.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.101-3).

 

According to Fiorelli, this was a shop with two rooms, in the first room was the lararium, in the second room was a vast latrine.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.96)

 

According to Boyce, in the main room was a lararium painting on a white background (h.1.74, w.1.80).

Either side of an altar stood the Genius and the tibicen, both of the same size, behind the Genius was a large cock.

On each side of this group stood a Lar of larger stature than the Genius, wearing green and yellow tunics with red pallium.

In the zone below were two serpents moving towards an altar furnished with offerings.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 67, no.285).

 

VII.6.3 Pompeii.

Sacrarium in small room on south side of peristyle.

 

VII.6.3 Pompeii. May 2010. Remains of the large and elegant shrine in the south part of viridarium 18.

The altar on its north side can be seen.

According to Boyce, the sacrarium was found in a small room opening off the south side of the peristyle, only the solid podium remains.

The podium was coated with grey stucco on its sides and paved on top with pounded sherds.

In front of the base stood the remains of a small altar of tufa in the form of a rectangular pillar upon a base; the whole covered with red stucco.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 67, no.286).

Looking towards the south wall, in which a large doorway, previously walled-up in ancient times, had mainly linked to the house at VII.6.38.

 

VII.6.3 Pompeii. Detail from Notizie degli Scavi, 1910, fig.2, p.443, showing sacrarium (2 e) and remains of small tufa altar (2 f).

 

VII.6.3 Pompeii. Statue of Diana found in July 1760 on the base (r) of the Temple Lararium shrine in viridarium 18.

PAH I, 1, 114 records – the marble statue, that shows Diana that came from the Masseria Irace, has been removed.

add.140, 19th July “the marble and painted statuette of Diana, has come from the excavations of the Masseria di Irace”.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 6008.

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.35)

 

Lararium painting on east end of north wall of kitchen.

 

VII.6.3 Pompeii. December 2007. East end of north wall in kitchen g.

Remains of Lararium wall painting, with ruins of masonry structure on its west side.

According to Spano there were three low walls at right angles to the north wall.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1910, p. 444.

 

VII.6.3 Pompeii. December 2007. Remains of Lararium wall painting in kitchen g.

Two upright serpents either side of a round altar with plants in the background.

Above this on the upper part, now lost, was an offering scene.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.288, L87, T: 42,1).

 

VII.6.3 Pompeii. Remains of Lararium wall painting in kitchen g.

Below the roof tile set into the wall as a sacrificial plate, in the middle of the lower picture zone there is a round altar on a high base, flanked by two vertically rising snakes. Large, green bushes form the background. In the upper part of the picture a sacrificial scene was depicted, of which only a few remains have survived: Above the sacrificial plate on the left a brown structure, probably the lower part of the altar, on the right the shoe-clad feet and the bare calves of a figure, probably Camillus, to his left a green leaf. The genius will have to be added between the altar and the servant. Approximately 50 cm to the right of the Camillus is a red situla held on two ribbons, into which a stream of wine hits, the only remnant of the right Laren, which, judging from the situla, must have been much larger than the other figures.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.288, L87, T: 42,1).

 

VII.6.3 Pompeii. December 2007. Remains of Lararium wall painting in kitchen g.

According to Boyce, this was located on the north wall next to the ruins of a masonry structure, probably the hearth.

It was painted on a white background.

In the lower zone, two yellow serpents were confronted at a cylindrical altar with offerings, the background adorned with many plants.

A tile was embedded in the wall above the painted altar to serve as a projecting shelf for offerings in front of the painted figures in the upper zone.

Only faint traces of these figures could be seen at the time of excavation.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.67, no.287).

 

VII.6.7 Pompeii.

West ala, large masonry podium, perhaps base of lararium.

 

VII.6.7 Pompeii. May 2011. Looking south towards site of remains of rooms on the west side of the tablinum and atrium.

This area could be approximately the site of the right ala.

According to Boyce, in the right ala of the atrium stood a large masonry podium, which Fiorelli thought may have been the base of a Lararium.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.  (p.67. no.288).

 

Square niche on south wall of peristyle garden, near south-west corner, no trace remains.

 

VII.6.7 Pompeii. May 2011.

Looking south across site of atrium, through tablinum, to site of peristyle. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

VII.6.7 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Peristyle garden.

Looking south from north-west corner across two U-shaped masonry flower beds formed by low walls (0.26m. high).

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 861.

 

VII.6.7 Pompeii.  About 1910.  Peristyle garden. 

Looking south from north-west corner across two U-shaped masonry flower beds formed by low walls (0.26m. high), originally painted red and filled with soil.

According to Jashemski, the garden at the rear of the tablinum was enclosed on the east, north and west by a portico supported by 7 columns, red below and white above. All lacked capitals at the time of excavation. The rear (south) wall was divided into panels by engaged columns, similar to the columns of the portico. The columns were connected by a low wall, except for a wide entrance to the garden opposite the tablinum: the wall was lower in front of the large room (51) on the east (Jashemski’s plan numbered this room as (b). The panels appear to have been painted with garden paintings. A water channel outlined the garden. There was a cistern opening near the middle column on the north side. Spano found root cavities in the soil of the U-shaped masonry flower beds, but they were not emptied of lapilli, measured or studied. Twenty-eight cavities are indicated on his plan. In the south wall, near the south-east (?) corner of the peristyle was a square niche.

On page 362, no.76, Jashemski wrote – at the time of excavation only the lower part of the rear (south) wall of the garden at the back of the house still had plaster, this was painted to represent a wooden fence (see also Jashemski, vol.1: fig.44 on page 30) which led Spano to believe that there had been a garden painting above. Nothing remains today, for this house was destroyed in 1943.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.184) and (362, no.76).

Her sources included – Spano, Notizie degli Scavi, (1910) pp. 456-457; Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. (p. 67 no. 289)

 

The area was devastated in the 1943 bombing. 

The staircase on the east side is the only part still visible in situ.

At the rear of the staircase can be seen two small rooms, the latrine and the kitchen.

According to Boyce: the square niche (0.57 square, d.0.35, h. above floor 1,0) on the south wall of the peristyle, near the south-west (?) corner, was coated with successive layers of stucco in red, green and yellow.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.  (p.67. no.289).

Photograph courtesy of Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei. (Negative C359)

 

VII.6.24 Pompeii.

Rectangular niche in west wall, no trace remains.

 

VII.6.24 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking west along entrance towards site of west wall.

According to Boyce –

in the west wall of the corner thermopolium at VII.6.23/24, there was a rectangular niche (h.0.55, w.0.40, d.0.20, h. above floor 0.60).

It was called “la nicchia dei Penati” by Fiorelli.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.67, no.290).

 

VII.6.28 Pompeii.

Altar in peristyle, no traces remain.

 

VII.6.28 Pompeii. June 2012. Looking north-west from rear of tablinum towards remains of west wall of peristyle.

According to Jashemski –

The garden at the rear of the house was enclosed on the west, east and south by a peristyle supported by ten slender white columns each with sixteen facets.

The spacing of the columns varied according to the width of the openings of three important rooms facing the portico, so that an unimpeded view of the garden could be had.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.185).

 

VII.6.28 Pompeii. 1931. South-west corner of the peristyle. 

DAIR 31.2878. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

 

VII.6.28 Pompeii. About 1910. South-west corner of the peristyle. 

In the picture can be seen a low wall or threshold of the tablinum, the andron and the doorway to room 7. 

Also visible is a masonry altar.  This area was devastated by bombing in 1943.

Photograph courtesy of Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei.  Negative number C369.

 

According to Boyce, near the south-west corner of the peristyle stood a rectangular masonry altar, coated with stucco.

On the top of it, traces of burning were visible at the time of excavation.

He also said that holes found in the earth near the altar were explained by Spano (Not. Scavi) as being the decomposed roots of a large tree.

Spano thought this may have been an arbour sacra, which may have been honoured by sacrifice upon the altar.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 67, no. 291)

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1910, p. 466f and fig. 9,9a.

 

VII.6.30 Pompeii.

Niche/sacrarium in east wall.

 

VII.6.30 Pompeii. September 2005.

According to PPM, at the end of the entrance corridor, may have been an atrium displuviate (room 133/33) with the niche/sacrarium on its east wall.

Looking north towards east passageway of the garden area and doorway to room to the east of a very large room, room 138/38).

According to the Spano in Notizie degli Scavi, 1910, page 482, room 138/38 was totally plain and rustic and did not offer anything of merit, when excavated.

In NdS, Spano numbered it as 138, according to PPP, it was numbered 38 on their plan.

See Spano in Notizie degli Scavi, 1910, (p.482)

According to PPM, near to the long and narrow fauces/entrance corridor, 32, one would have come to an atrium displuviate, room 33/133), and which showed a lararium niche on its east wall, near to the entrance doorway into room 39.

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1986. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 3. Rome: ICCD. (plan).

On the right of the photo, the destroyed east wall would have contained a niche.

 

Mystery photo – Warsher numbered this as being from VII.6.35. We hope it is from -

VII.6.30 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Looking towards east wall of atrium, room 133/33, with room 139/39 on left.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 560.

According to Boyce, in the east wall of the main room which was entered directly from the fauces was a delicately painted tall, rectangular niche.

He thought this was a Lararium. The white background of the surrounding wall was divided by dark stripes into a series of rectangles.

These rectangles were in imitation of a veneer of slabs of marble or of a wall built of rectangular blocks of stones.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.67, no.292, Pl. 5,3)

According to the Notizie degli Scavi, 1910, page 481, in the east wall, to the right of the entrance doorway into room numbered 139, was a delicately painted niche, which served as a sacrarium.

 

Mystery photo – Warsher numbered this as being from VII.6.35. We hope it is from -

VII.6.30 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Enlargement of east wall of atrium, showing detail of painted sacrarium.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 561a.

 

VII.6.33 Pompeii.

Niche in west wall of shop-room.

 

VII.6.33 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north-west towards shop entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VII.6.33 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards niche in west wall of shop-room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce –

in the west wall of the shop-room was an arched niche with a projecting floor (h.0.35, w.0.35, d.0.22, h. above floor 1.80).

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 67, no.293).

 

VII.6.35 Pompeii.

Aedicula lararium on west wall of shop-room, no trace remains.

 

VII.6.35 Pompeii, on left. June 2012. Looking north towards entrances of VII.6.35 and VII.6.34.

 

VII.6.35 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Lararium in stucco relief on west wall.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1906.

According to Boyce, on the west wall of the shop at VII.6.35 was a lararium entirely done in painted stucco.

Within an aedicula was a cylindrical altar in relief around which was coiled a serpent.

Near the serpent was the graffito – MARS   [CIL IV 1644]

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.294, and Pl.28,3)

 

VII.6.38 Pompeii.

Lararium painting from the kitchen.

 

VII.6.38 Pompeii. May 2010. Lararium painting from the kitchen.

The upper part has an offering scene.  A round altar is in the centre. 

The offering Genius has a small camillus helping on his right. 

On the other side of the altar is the tibicen with a popa assisting with a small pig. 

The scene is flanked on either side by a large lar.  Above the scene are three garlands.

The lower part has two serpents, in plants, approaching a second, round altar, one from either side.

Fröhlich says this was found in Reg. VII or VIII. 

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p. 292, L98, T: 10,2).

Pagano and Prisciandaro show this as being from VII.6.38.

See Pagano, M., and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi.  (p.39).

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number: 8905.

 

VII.6.38 Pompeii. 1957. Lararium painting from the kitchen.

Naples Archaeological Museum inventory number 8905. 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.

J57f0515

 

VII.6.38 Pompeii. Pre-1843. Drawing by Abbate of the Lararium painting in the kitchen.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 8905.

See Raccolta de più interessante Dipinture e di più belle Musaici rinvenuti negli Scavi di Ercolano, di Pompei, e di Stabia. 1843. Napoli.

 

VII.6.38 or II.4.3/6 Pompeii. Lararium painting (h.1.21, w.1.78) described by Boyce as being found in the Villa of Julia Felix.

He quoted the references Helbig 56: PAH I, i, 133: I. ii. 143 (June 6, 1761): Antichità di Ercolano, Pitture iv, 65, and pl.13.

According to Fröhlich - this was found in Reg. VII or VIII. 

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L98, T: 10,2).

Pagano and Prisciandaro show this as being from VII.6.38.

See Pagano, M., and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi.  (p.39).

 

VII.7.2 Pompeii.

Masonry altar in peristyle, no trace remains.

 

VII.7.2 Pompeii. December 2005. Looking north-west across impluvium “g” in atrium towards tablinum “k” and peristyle “x”.

According to Boyce, near the west end of the open court of the peristyle stood a masonry altar.

It was coated with white stucco, decorated with painted red and yellow flowers.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p/68, no.295 and Pl.39,1)

According to Jashemski, the peristyle garden at the rear of the tablinum was enclosed by a portico on the east, and most of the north and south sides.

It was supported on both the north and south sides by three columns and one engaged column.

An altar, decorated with crudely painted flowers, stood in the north-west part of the garden.

16 terracotta lamps were found in the portico.

The windowed tablinum, the oecus on the south, and the exedra on the north, had views into the garden.

The adjoining house, through a wide window in its large triclinium, also had a fine view into this garden.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.186 and fig 218, peristyle with painted altar).

 

VII.7.2 Pompeii, May 2018. Looking north-west across peristyle “x”. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

 

VII.7.2 Pompeii. 1957.

Remains of painted masonry altar with flowers, from north-west of peristyle “x”.

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.

J57f0362

 

VII.7.4 Pompeii.

Arched niche in east wall of shop-room.

 

VII.7.4 Pompeii. October 2020. Looking towards the east wall with the arched niche. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

VII.7.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Arched niche in east wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VII.7.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of arched niche in east wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce –

In the east wall is an arched niche (h.0.40, w.0.42, d.0.13, h. above floor 1.15).

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.296).

 

VII.7.10 Pompeii.

High masonry base against west wall of tablinum, no trace remains. 

 

VII.7.10 Pompeii. September 2004. Looking north across atrium, from entrance fauces.

According to Boyce –

against the west wall of the tablinum, near the entrance from the atrium, stood a high masonry base (0.46 square, h. about 0.85)

upon which may have rested the lararium.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.297).

 

VII.7.11 Pompeii.

Niche in east wall of shop-room.

 

VII.7.12 Pompeii on left, and VII.7.11 on right. December 2018. Looking north-east from Via Marina. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VII.7.11 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche set into east wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VII.7.11 Pompeii. May 2003. Looking across counter towards east wall with niche. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Boyce –

In the east wall is an arched niche (h.0.42, w.0.52, d.0.17, h. above floor 1.37), its inside walls coated with yellow stucco.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.298)

 

VII.7.16 Pompeii.

North wall with rectangular niche with graffito on rear wall.

 

VII.7.16 Pompeii. September 2005. North side of peristyle garden, from entrance.

According to Boyce, in the north wall of the central peristyle-like room was a rectangular niche (h. uncertain, w.0.36, d.0.22, h. above floor 1.18),

on the back wall of which was a graffito, interpreted by Fiorelli as  -

PROPI(tios)

See CIL IV 4786.

See Fiorelli, Descrizione, 247

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.299).

 

VII.7.19 Pompeii.

Large central room, south wall and west wall, two niches. (No photo).

 

According to Garcia y Garcia, due to the bombardment in 1943, a part of the atrium and two nearby rooms were destroyed.

The destruction caused the loss of plaster and fourth style decoration.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.116).

 

VII.7.19 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking south from entrance directly into atrium.

According to Eschebach, in the middle of the south wall would have been a lararium.

On the left, east side, can be seen doorways to an oecus with stairs to upper floor, and a triclinium fenestratum.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p.302)

According to Boyce –

in the centre of the south wall of the large central room was a rectangular niche (h.0.48, w.0.45, d.0.22, h. above floor 1.65);

in the west wall, near the floor, was an arched niche (h.0.92, w.0.55, d.0.20, h. above floor 0.55).

The latter was called the lararium by Fiorelli, although the former was more like the usual shrine.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.300).

 

VII.7.19 Pompeii. September 2005.

West side of atrium, with arched niche (h.0.92, w.0.55, d.0.20, h. above floor 0.55), on south side of kitchen doorway.

According to Eschebach, on the right were three doorways. In the centre would have been the doorway to the kitchen, between those of cubicula.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p.302)

 

VII.7.23/17 Pompeii.

Lararium painting on west wall of peristyle, with altar, no trace remains. (No photo).

 

According to Garcia y Garcia, this house was hit by a bomb on 13th September 1943.

It caused the ruin of three rooms on the east of the peristyle, and the south perimeter wall fell down.

See Garcia y Garcia, L., 2006. Danni di guerra a Pompei. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider. (p.116).

 

VII.7.23 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking west from entrance across atrium towards entrance to garden area.

According to Jashemski, the peristyle garden at the rear of the atrium was enclosed on the north and west by a portico.

It was supported by five masonry columns, connected by a low masonry wall in which was a terracotta puteal that gave access to the cistern below.

There was a gutter along the north and west edges of the garden.

On the west wall of the portico was a lararium painting, and on the floor in front of the painting was a small masonry altar.

Along the south wall of the garden was a garden bench.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.188)

According to Boyce, on the west wall of the peristyle was a lararium painting of a single large serpent coiling from the right towards a yellow altar.

The altar was furnished with offerings and stood on a base in the midst of plants.

On the floor of the portico, in front, stood a small masonry altar coated with stucco, and having a concave upper surface.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.301).

 

VII.9.22 Pompeii.

Rectangular niche in west wall.

 

Via degli Augustali Pompeii, south side. December 2018. Looking towards VII.9.22, in centre. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VII.9.22 Pompeii. December 2007. West wall, with niche, and podium in south-west corner.

 

VII.9.22 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards niche in west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce, in the west wall is a rectangular niche (h.0.45, w.0.48, d.0.25, h. above floor 1,65), called by Fiorelli “un larario”.

See Fiorelli, G., 1875. Descrizione di Pompei. Napoli, p. 266.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.302)

 

VII.9.22 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of niche in west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VII.9.33 Pompeii.

Lararium painting on west wall of kitchen area.

 

VII.9.33 Pompeii. December 2005. Looking towards west wall.

 

VII.9.33 Pompeii. Lararium painting on west wall.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

 

VII.9.33 Pompeii. 1959.

Lararium painting of Mars and Venus with a blazing altar in front of each of them, on west wall with masonry basin below.

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.

J59f0402

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.189).

 

VII.9.33 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39.

Lararium painting of Mars and Venus standing side by side, from west wall.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 565.

 

VII.9.33 Pompeii. 1931. Lararium painting of Mars and Venus standing side by side, from west wall.

DAIR 31.2470. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

According to Boyce, on the west wall of the kitchen, near the hearth and above a masonry basin, is a lararium painting.

It is framed by a painted aedicula (h.1.45, w.1.30), done in bright colours in the lower right hand section of a wall decorated with large rocky landscape.

The painting shows the figures of Mars and Venus standing side by side.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.68, no.303 and Pl.25,2).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.288, L88, taf.43,1).

 

VII.9.42 Pompeii.

Arched niche in west wall of secondary entrance to Macellum (VII.9.7/8), with painted serpents.

 

VII.9.42 Pompeii. September 2005. Entrance, with street altar and steps.

 

VII.9.42 Pompeii. December 2018. Altar in west wall in south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VII.9.42 Pompeii. December 2018.

Detail of niche in south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce, the arched niche (h.0.90, w.0.57. d.0.30, h. above floor 1.65) having for its floor a heavy stone slab (0.17 thick) which projects 0.15 from the surface of the wall. On each side of the niche is a red panel within which is painted a green serpent, raising its head to the level of the floor of the niche.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.96, no.473).

 

VII.9.42 Pompeii. 1829. Painting by Mazois of west wall with arched niche and serpents.

See Mazois, F., 1829. Les Ruines de Pompei : Troisième Partie. Paris : Didot Frères, pl. XLV.

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol. VII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p. 333.

 

VII.9.42 Pompeii. Between 1823 and 1828, painting by F Duban of west wall with arched niche and serpents.

The pencil drawings above it, may or may not be from the Macellum, VII.9.7/8.

See Duban F. Album de dessins d'architecture effectués par Félix Duban pendant son pensionnat à la Villa Medicis, entre 1823 et 1828 : Tome 2, Pompéi, pl. 41.

INHA Identifiant numérique NUM PC 40425 (2)

https://bibliotheque-numerique.inha.fr/idurl/1/7157  « Licence Ouverte / Open Licence » Etalab

 

VII.9.47 Pompeii.

Domestic shrine in north wall of atrium, described as un sacrario.

 

VII.9.47 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39.

Looking north-west across impluvium in room 1, atrium, towards recess in north wall of atrium to the right of entrance doorway.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1458.

See also Warscher, T. 1942. Catalogo illustrato degli affreschi del Museo Nazionale di Napoli. Sala LXXX. Vol.2. Rome, Swedish Institute.

 

VII.9.47 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, small room with sacellum.

According to Boyce –

In a recess in the north wall of the atrium, to the right of the entrance, was a domestic shrine – described by Fiorelli as “un sacrario”.

See Fiorelli, Descr., 270.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.69, no.304).

 

VII.9.47 Pompeii. December 2005. Room 10, sacellum.

According to PPM, a masonry altar was built in a recess against the east wall supported by two massive pillars which were painted in black:

the middle zone of the wall painted above, was in yellow.

See Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici, Vol. VII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.364).

 

VII.9.47 Pompeii. March 2009.

Room 10, east wall with two massive pilasters of sacellum., which had been painted in black.

 

VII.9.47 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, wall above sacellum, which had been painted in yellow.

 

VII.9.47 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, detail of massive pilasters beneath sacellum.

 

VII.9.49 Pompeii.

Niche in south wall.

 

VII.9.49 Pompeii. May 2003. Looking south through entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Boyce –

in the south wall of this taberna with thermopolium is an arched niche (h.0.45, w.0.35, d.0.25, h. above floor 1,10.

It was called by Fiorelli, “la nicchia dei Penati”.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.69, no.305).

 

VII.10.2/15 Pompeii.

Rectangular niche in north wall of shop-room.

 

VII.10.2 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance doorway on Vicolo d’Eumachia, looking north.

According to Eschebach on the left of the entrance would have been the shop podium or counter, with shelves or steps above it.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau. (p.319)

According to Boyce –

in the north wall is a large rectangular niche (h.0.83, w.0.78, d.0.25, h. above floor 1.0) with a narrow shelf-like projection beside it on the left.

Fiorelli called it “un larario”.

Fiorelli, Descrizione, 273.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.69, no.306).

 

VII.10.2 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. North wall with niche.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1561.

 

VII.10.3/14 Pompeii.

Lararium painting on wall in kitchen. (No photo).

 

VII.10.3 Pompeii. December 2005. Corridor 18, looking south into room 19, the kitchen.

Directly ahead, in the south-west corner of the kitchen, was a small separate latrine.

According to Boyce, in the kitchen was a lararium painting upon a white background, depicting Fortuna.

In her left hand she held a rudder, her right hand extended above a globe which lay at her feet.

The painting was incomplete, for on the right side the stucco showed that at least one more figure was to have been added.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.69, no.308)

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (74)

 

According to Amoroso, from these service rooms, it was possible to exit the house in the direction of the Vicolo degli Scheletri, without entering the main house. The east wall of the kitchen was enriched with the remains of the lararium, the figure of a divinity could be seen, but today is not visible.

See Studi della Soprintendenza archeologica di Pompei, 22: L’insula VII, 10 di Pompei, by Angelo Amoroso, (p.77)

 

VII.10.3 Pompeii. December 2005. Room 19, west wall in south-west corner.

Room 19 with remains of wall painting on “west” wall of latrine area in kitchen. According to Boyce, this was the lararium.

 

VII.10.3/14 Pompeii.

Lararium painting, with masonry altar in large garden with separate entrance at VII.10.14.

(No trace remains, and the altar is lost, according to PPM).

 

VII.10.14 Pompeii. December 2018. South wall with painted plaster. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

VII.10.14 Pompeii. December 2018. Painted decoration on south wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Jashemski, this was a badly preserved painting with plants and birds that were still faintly visible in l993.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p. 191)

Boyce reported there was a garden painting on the north (?) wall, and in front of it was a masonry altar with a step on the front of it.

Boyce said the wall was painted with trees, plants and birds.

The altar (0.60 by 0.36, h.0.80) was coated with white stucco and decorated with the following painted objects.

On the front side, a shallow dish with fruits and a pine cone.

On the left side, two trees with an altar between them, with the attributes of Diana around it, a crown, a bow, a quiver, two hunting spears, two dogs and a torch.

On the right side, a rural shrine scene consisting of a column and capital, and on the top of the capital a basket containing two rhyta, a jar, a phallus-like object covered with a red cloth; across the field was painted a thyrsus.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 69, no.307).

According to Amoroso, this is the lararium painting [on the south wall].

See Studi della Soprintendenza archeologica di Pompei, 22: l'Insula VII, 10 di Pompei, by Angelo Amoroso. ((p.111, fig. 40a).

According to PPM, the lararium painting was on the south wall of the viridarium (s).

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici. VII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.416, no. 64).

 

VII.10.14 Pompeii. December 2007. Lararium. Painted plaster on south wall.

 

VII.10.12 Pompeii.

Lararium painting on east wall of atrium. (No photo).

 

VII.10.12 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway to triclinium in east wall in south-east corner of atrium.

According to Boyce, on the east wall of the atrium entered at number 12 was a lararium painting on a white background.

The Genius (h.0.73), wreathed and wearing a toga with a fold drawn over his head, held a cornucopia in his left hand.

With his right hand, he poured a libation from a patera onto a blazing altar around which a serpent was coiled.

His head was excellently preserved and exhibited the features of the Roman portrait type of the early Empire.

In the wall above the painting was a niche.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, (31).

See Fiorelli, G., 1875. Descrizione di Pompei. Napoli, p. 276.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.69, no.309, numbered as VII.x.9-12).

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii.

Niche lararium against west wall.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, west wall.

According to Boyce –

Against the west wall of the large open area in the south-west corner, stands a lararium.

Above a rectangular podium (0.95 by 0.60, h.105) a projecting arch was built against the back wall, thus forming a niche (h.1.02, w.0.70, d.0.32).

The front part of the upper surface of the podium served as an altar for sacrifices before the figures painted on the walls of the niche, on the front side of the podium was a step.

On the rear wall of the niche are painted Jupiter and the Genius, each pouring a libation upon the blazing cylindrical altar between them.

Jupiter stands on the right, on the left is the Genius.

To the right and left on the wall outside the niche were the poorly preserved figures of the Lares.

The side walls and the vaulted ceiling of the niche were decorated with leafy boughs.

The exterior of the structure was coated with stucco painted in several different colours.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.69, no.310 with Pl.14,1)

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.288, L89, taf.42,4).

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, lararium and altar on west wall.

On either side were the painted Lares, smaller than the figures in the niche. Now vanished.

According to Boyce, Helbig placed the Lares on the projecting walls of the arch.

Fiorelli put them on the wall of the room outside the niche.

Their figures have entirely disappeared but the side walls of the niche, decorated with foliage, show that they could not have been painted there.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (67)

See Fiorelli, Scavi, p.26, p.108, No.41

See Fiorelli, Descrizione, 280.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.110, where the Lares are described as “Nymphs”.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, Lararium painting of Genius and Jupiter.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L.89, T :42.4)

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii but shown as VII.9.14 on photo. Pre-1937-39.

Garden “C”, looking towards west wall with Lararium.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 570.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, painting of Genius on lararium.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, detail of Genius on lararium.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, painting of Jupiter on lararium.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, detail of Jupiter on lararium.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, detail of altar on lararium.

Jupiter and the Genius both hold a patera in their hand.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, lararium, base of niche and remains of altar.

 

Garden “C”, two small niches on west wall at the north end.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, two small niches on west wall at the north end.

According to Boyce, in the same wall to the right of the lararium were set two smaller arched niches.

He could not prove whether one or both of these niches had served as a shrine.

He thought it was possible that they may have originally been built as lararia and then later been replaced by the large one, described above.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.70, no.311)

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, upper niche.

According to Boyce, the inside walls of the higher niche still showed the coating with orange-coloured stucco.

 

VII.11.14 Pompeii. March 2009. Garden “C”, lower niche.

 

 

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