THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
Roman Domestic Religion
PP572
House of the Summer Triclinium (II. ix. 5-7)
Cult Space Type:
Shrine
Date:
79 A.D.
Features:
Aediucla, Mosaic, Nymphaeum, Niche
Associated
Cult Spaces:
PP571
Room function:
Viridarium/Garden
Description:
Located to the east of the summer triclinium in the large garden was a cult space, comprised of two nymphaea structures. These nymphaea faced each other, flanking either side of 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 mosaics of green, red, blue, yellow, white, and black as well as shells, and featured marine motifs including fish and dolphins. Shells were used to outline sections of the mosiac. Birds were also present in 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:
Pompeii in Pictures 2007