Roman Domestic Religion
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
PP347
House of Popidius Priscus (VII. ii. 20)
Cult Space Type:
Cult Room
Date:
79 A.D.
Associated
Cult Spaces:
-
Structural type:
Sacrarium
Room function:
Sacrarium/Cult Room
Description:
On the east side of the property, in an underground room under the peristyle, was a cult room. The room was small, with a vaulted ceiling. Its walls were coated in stucco and heavily decorated with paintings. In the north wall were two arched niches. On the back wall of these were paintings of the gods, with a painting of the Genius holding a cornucopia and pouring a libation over a flaming altar and a painting of the Lares with their rhyta and situlae. Above their heads was an eagle flying. Above the figures in both niches were garlands with flowers below. The side walls of the left niche were painted in imitation marble and those of the right decorated with depictions of flowers and plants. The rest of the room was also decorated, with two large serpents painted on the west wall, meeting at a small altar painted in imitation marble among a field of plants. On the north wall above the niches was the depiction of a peacock. This was separated from the niches below by a thick red stripe. Below this line were more garlands, one for each niche from which hung thick taeniae. Below the niches were painted green and red plants. On the east wall and the vaulted ceiling were numerous plants and flowers with various ornamentation including the head of Medusa. On the floor in front of the niches stood a cylindrical altar upon which offerings of a pine cone and four pine nuts could be seen at the time of excavation. In each altar were found two lamps and a terracotta altar was found in the left niche. Five other lamps were also found in the room, suspended from nails driven into the walls. In the hallway leading to the room were further paintings, with a garland with a bird perched on it located on the right side of the doorway and a candelabrum on the left side. The entire entrance to the room was outlined with a thick red stripe.
References:
Boyce 1937, pp. 62-63; Bassani 2008, pp. 184-185 (Scheda 9); Giacobello 2008, p. 189-190 (#73)
Image reference:
Pompeii in Pictures 2007