Roman Domestic Religion
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
PP047
House of the Ephebus (I. vii. 10-12)
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP046, PP048, PP049
Structural type:
Niche, Wall Painting
Room function:
Atrium
Description:
In the atrium on the east wall was a shrine comprised of a cult painting and an arched niche, sitting 1.60m above the ground. The painted scene was immediately below the niche on a white background. It depicted a sacrificial scene flanked by the Lares, each carrying a rhyton and situla. Between them stood a circular altar with a quadrangular base with the tibicen and the camillus to the left. A pine cone and egg furnished the altar. On the right of the altar was the Genius, painted larger than all the other figures. The Genius held a cornucopia and poured a libation from a patera. In the second register, two crested serpents were depicted, one on each side of a circular altar on which sat fruits and flowers. The background of the scene was filled with plants. The top of the painted scene was decorated with painted garlands which were red, yellow, and green.
References:
Not. Scavi 1927, pp. 36-39; Boyce 1937, p. 26 (#40); Giacobello 2008, pp.136-137.
Image reference:
Not. Scavi 1927 (Via Pompeii in Pictures)