Roman Domestic Religion
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
PP108
House of the Sarno Lararium (I. xiv. 7)
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP109, PP110, PP565
Structural type:
Aediucla, Niche, Wall Painting
Room function:
Viridarium/Garden
Description:
Against the south wall of the garden stood a shrine. It comprised a sort of aedicula painted entirely red which was situated within a basin. On the front was a niche in the shape of a house. Inside was a painting of a Genius, with a patera and a cornucopia, sacrificing on an altar. The figure stood among plants. On the interior walls of the niche were small white flowers. Under the niche was a depiction of the river god Sarnus lying near a building on a reed bank, holding a cane and an amphora from which water flowed. To the right of
Sarnus was a scene of commercial activity depicting goods (believed to be onions by Jashemski) being loaded onto a boat. Two mules were shown carrying produce. The arch of the structure was decorated with sea monsters. The external sides were decorated with plants and birds. During excavation, a pair of bronze Lares statuettes were found in the niche along with a lamp and a cup.
References:
Orr 1972, pp. 164-165 (#42); Jashemski 1979, p. 116-117; Giacobello 2008, pp. 159-160 (#30)
Image reference:
Jashemski 1966 (Via Pompeii in Pictures)