Roman Domestic Religion
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
PP252
House of Hercules (VI. vii. 5/6)
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP251
Structural type:
Aediucla, Niche, Wall Painting, Stucco Relief
Room function:
Viridarium/Garden
Description:
In the northeast corner of the garden was a shrine, comprised of a simple aedicula that sat on a masonry podium. In the centre was a vaulted niche. The structure was elaborately decorated, its ceiling ornamented with red and blue painted flowers. Along the interior of the niche ran a moulded stucco cornice around the top corner with a red stripe running below it. On the back wall of the niche was a painted aedicula structure in the fourth style with garlands and a mask above which were the Lares with their rhyta and situlae. On each of the sidewalls was a painted candelabrum. A pair of serpents was painted underneath the niche moving towards an altar with offerings of a pine cone and two eggs.
References:
Boyce 1937, p. 47 (#162); Giacobello 2008, pp. 269-270 (V44)
Image reference:
Warscher ca. 1930s (Via Pompeii in Pictures)