It is an exciting time for the study of Roman domestic religion, with another three domestic cult spaces uncovered at Pompeii over the last year. With each example being unique from the others, these new finds reflect the diversity of Roman domestic religion and how this was displayed within the Roman home.
Shrine in ‘Tiny Home’ – House of Phaedra (IX. xii. B)
In late October 2024, the Archaeological Park announced the discovery of a ‘tiny home’ – a small home lacking the atrium seen in the typical Roman home. Situated with the central courtyard was an elaborately decorated shrine. The shrine is remarkably preserved, with its contents remaining intact. It sat within a central pillar-like structure on the northern end of the space, measuring 193cm tall and 80cm wide. The central niche was rectangular and had a base that extended out, forming a sort of altar decorated with red flowers. The interior of the niche was fully painted red. The walls around the niche were white, with the niche opening, its base, and the wider painted scene outlined by red borders. Above the niche was a gold and white eagle flying underneath a garland with taeniae (ribbons). The painted garland featured painted nails at its surviving corner, imitating a real-life garland. Below the niche were two brown and yellow crested serpents, facing each other at a gold cylindrical altar. The altar held offerings of a pinecone, an egg, a date, and a fig. Plants with small red and yellow flowers decorated the background, with birds sitting amongst the plants.
Inside the niche, ritual objects and remnants of the last offerings were preserved. This included a miniature herm of Silenus, an incense burner, a lamp, bowls, an iron knife, several marble slabs, and a moulded marble base. Remnants of charred wood and figs were also found.
To read more about this house and its shrine see: E-Journal Scavi di Pompei (26) 2024
The Blue Cult Room of an Unnumbered House (IX. X)
In June 2024, continuing excavations in Region IX Insula X uncovered a cult room (or sacrarium). The rooms' inaccessibility from the wider property and its elaborate decoration led excavators to attribute a cultic function to the space. Located off a large courtyard, the room was rectangular in shape and was open on its northern extent to a small vestibule. The walls of the room were painted in bright colours, the upper portion of the walls being a bright blue its panels outlined by red stripes. The paintings were conducted in the fourth style and featured candelabra, elaborate architectural structures, griffins, sphinxes, hippocamps, and garlands. Niches were present in the south, east, and west walls, and were painted red, each niche framed by different painted aedicula (temple-like) structures. Female figures flanked each niche opening believed to depict the four Seasons.
Numerous items were found within the room, including a large number of amphorae, oyster shells, lamps (one in the form of a shell), and several bronze items.
To read more about this cult room see: E-Journal Scavi di Pompei (15) 2024
Shrine with Statuette Collection in V. vi. 13 (Beside the House of Leda and the Swan)
In December 2023, part of the atrium of the house bordering the House of Leda and the Swan in Region V was excavated. This revealed a collection of 13 terracotta statuettes inside a shallow niche. Found against the west wall of the atrium (room 42), the niche was painted yellow and represented a cabinet door. The opening of the niche was outlined with a dark red stripe, with the yellow panel above matching the interior of the niche, possessing a depiction of a garland with taeniae and a gorgon head hanging from its centre.
The figurines, approximately 15-20cm in height, were painted in polychrome with many of the original details of clothing and facial features still preserved. Initial analysis by the Pompeii Archaeological Park suggests that some of the deities depicted relate to the myth of Cybele and Attis. The identity of the remaining figures is still under investigation. In addition to these figures, an almond, a walnut, the head of a clay rooster, and a glass pinecone were also found in the niche.
To read more about this statuette collection see: E-Journal Scavi di Pompei (09), 2023
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