Roman Domestic Religion
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
PP550
IX, ix, 11
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP548, PP549, PP593
Structural type:
Wall Painting, Altar
Room function:
Viridarium/Garden
Description:
On the west wall of the garden, near the southern wall, was a cult painting. In the centre was a altar, painted yellow with a red step before it, with a red serpent coiling around it. On the right stood Bacchus. The deity was poorly preserved but could be see to be holding his thyrsus with his panther beside him. Behind bacchus was the figure of a bull. On the left of the altar was a black animal, perhaps a donkey. On each side of this group were trees with flowers and birds, with make figures similar to the Lares. They differ in appearance, unlike typical Lares, with the one of the left holding a spear with both hands while the right one carried the usual rhyton and situla. Farther to the right was a Bacchante, also holding a thyrsus as well as a tambourine. Beneath the Lares and the Bacchante was Silenus also holding a thyrsus with another Bacchante below him. This Bacchane held a human head, likely refering to Pentheus. Below the painting was a masonry rectangular basin. In the south west corner of the garden stood a small terracotta altar which had signs of burning on its top.
References:
Boyce 1937, p. 92 (#463)
Image reference: