THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
Roman Domestic Religion
HC016
V. 5 (House of the Wooden Furniture)
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Features:
Aedicula; Niche; Stucco Relief
Associated
Cult Spaces:
HC015
Room Function:
Garden
Description:
Located against the south wall of the garden was an aedicula shrine. It consisted of a stuccoed rubble curved masonry podium with two stuccoed Doric columns on top, flanking the structure, with a simple pediment above. A dentate moulded architrave sat in between the pediment and the columns. An apsidal niche was cut into the back wall of the space and was flanked by two engaged and stuccoed Corinthian columns. The interior of the niche had a stucco scallop shell covering its ceiling, with a simple moulded stucco cornice running around its top and bottom edges. The interior of the niche was coated in stucco and painted red, matching the red columns. Remnants of stucco garlands could be seen on the back wall of the niche.
References:
Maiuri 1958, pp. 255-261; Orr 1972, p. 196 (#16); Wallace Hadrill 1994, p. 202.
Image reference:
Monteix 2003