THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
Roman Domestic Religion
PP009
House of the Etruscan Columns (I. ii. 3)
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Features:
Niche, Stucco Relief, Wall Painting
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP010
Room function:
Atrium
Description:
Located on the south wall of the atrium was a rectangular niche shrine. Its interior was painted as imitation yellow marble, with a recessed area at the back wall for a statuette to be placed. It sat 1.6m from the ground. On the wall below the niche were two serpents meeting at an altar, which was constructed from stucco on a rectangular panel of red. Above and below the niche ran a stucco cornice. An associated painting of a genius with a cornucopia and patera was recorded nearby; however, it is uncertain exactly where this was as it had disappeared long before Boyce's time. The shrine was heavily damaged during WWII.
References:
Fiorelli 1875, p. 37; Boyce 1937, p. 21 (#3); Bassani 2008, p. 171; Giacobello 2008, p. 132 (#1)
Image reference:
Warscher 1912 (Via Pompeii in Pictures)