Roman Domestic Religion
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
PP572
II, ix, 5-7 (House of the Summer Triclinium)
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP571
Structural type:
Aediucla, Nymphaeum, Niche
Room function:
Viridarium/Garden
Description:
Located to the east of the summer triclinium in the large garden was a cult space. This comprised of two nymphaea structures. These nymphaea faced each other, flanking either side of the the masonry triclinium. They consisted of large rectangular masonry structures, with large apsed niches on their interior faces. They both had the typical aedicula structure. The nymphaea were heavily decorated in mosiac of green, red, blue, yellow, white, and black as well as shell, and featured marine motifs including fish and dolphins. Shells were used to outline sections of the mosiac. Birds were also present within the decoration. Both nymphaea featured a smaller central niche from which water flowed into the rectangular basin below. The exterior of the structures were painted with garden murals.
References:
Creola 2014, pp. 15, 51; Photographs from Pompeii in Pictures, 2018
Image reference: