VI.16.15 Pompeii. Casa dell’Ara Massima or House of Pinarius or Casa di Narcisso.

Excavated 1903.

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Via del Vesuvio, Pompeii, looking south. December 2006.           VI.16.15 on the right.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2005. Entrance doorway.

According to NdS, the fauces or entrance corridor had a travertine threshold.

See Notizie degli Scavi, 1908, (p.63-84)

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance fauces A, looking west to atrium B.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking north across impluvium in atrium B.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Doorways to rooms C, D, and E on west side of atrium B. 

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking south-west across impluvium in atrium B.

The doorways of rooms G and C are in the corner, with room F to the left and room D to the right.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006.

North wall of atrium with lararium between doorways to room I (left) and rooms K to M (right).

According to Boyce, the space between the two doorways on the north side of the atrium was painted with white stucco, bordered with red stripes.

This formed the large panel for the lararium painting.

A square niche was in the upper right hand corner, on the rear wall of which was painted the figure of the Genius.

Hanging down on each side of him was a garland, on the side walls were painted red flowers with green leaves.

Of the two Lares originally painted on the white background of the wall, on of each side of the niche, only the lower part of the one on the left remained.

Below the figure of the Lar was painted a tall cylindrical altar, furnished with two eggs, a pine cone and fruit.

On each side was a huge yellow serpent, each coiled serpent about two metres in length.

The one on the left had a red crest and beard. The one on the right had neither.

In the background were rather large plants bearing fruit.

Over the surface of this picture had been spread a thin wash.

It would appear that the lararium belonged to an earlier decoration of the house, and was to be replaced by a new one to be painted on the thin wash.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, p. 67.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.58, no.224, Pl.16,1)

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L75, picture. 39,2)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico.  Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.185)

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Lararium on north wall of atrium B.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Lararium in atrium with two serpents flanking a round altar.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Lararium in atrium.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006.

Niche of lararium on north wall of atrium, with remains of painting.

According to Boyce, on the rear wall was painted the figure of the Genius.

Hanging down on each side of him was a garland, on the side walls were painted red flowers with green leaves.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Room I on north side of atrium. 

According to NdS, this room had a lava threshold, floor of cocciopesto, and walls faced with rough white plaster.

The lower dado was partly masonry and partly painted red.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, (p.83).

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Room I on north side of atrium. Red plaster on lower east wall.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Tablinum D, with wall painting of Narcissus.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2005. Small tablinum D with wall painting of Narcissus.

 

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 1908. Tablinum D, with wall painting of Narcissus.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, p. 66, fig. 2.

 

 

 

 

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