Roman Domestic Religion
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
PP163
House of D. Octavius Quartio (II. ii. 1-2)
Cult Space Type:
Cult Room
Date:
79 A.D.
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP140, PP162
Structural type:
Sacrarium
Room function:
Sacrarium/Cult Room
Description:
Located on the southwestern side of the building was a cult room with a rectangular plan. In front of the entrance into the room were four Doric columns, which constituted a sort of vestibule into the room. There was a window on the southern wall overlooking the garden, and a rectangular niche on the western wall. The niche sat 1.05m above the floor. The fourth style paintings on the walls were inspired by seasonal and Dionysian-Isiac themes, including the paintings of the personification of Summer, a medallion depicting a Maenad and Silenus, the personification of Autumn, and a figure of a woman drinking from a glass cup. Notably, a section on the southern wall depicted a priest of Isis with a shaved head, holding a sistrum, patera, and situla. Underneath, the name ‘Amplus alumnus Tiburs’ was written. The paintings also included many depictions of various birds, figures, and structures. On the exterior wall, there were paintings depicting Diana and Actaeon.
References:
Bassani 2008, pp. 224-225 (#224)
Image reference:
Jashemski 1961 (Via Pompeii in Pictures)