THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
Roman Domestic Religion
PP139
Caupona of Hermes (II. i. 1 and 13)
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Features:
Niche
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP142
Room function:
Commercial space (Hospitality)
Description:
Located in the southeast corner of the front shop room was a niche that sat 1.50m above the floor. Based on exavation images, the niche was arched and possessed a projecting base with a moulded cornice running underneath that connected with the adjoining southern wall. According to Boyce, the opening of the niche was bordered by a blue line. A table stood before the niche, decorated with metopes. In the centre of each metope was a bucranium with paterae and dolphins. The wall around the niche showed the same pattern of metopes, on a red background. On the ground below the niche, excavators found a statuette of Venus, which was of crude workmanship and appeared to have originally been gilded. The shrine is no longer preserved.
References:
Boyce 1937, p. 30 (#61); Ruddell 1964, p. 80
Image reference:
Pompeii Sites ca. 1917 ("[C00001074] - Pompei, II, 1, 1 Caupona di Ermes - Lavori di scavo" Accessed 31/08/24 at https://open.pompeiisites.org/)