IX.7.20 Pompeii. Casa degli Archi or House of the Arches

or House of Caprasius Felix and Fortunata or Casa della Fortuna.

Excavated 1879.

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IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005.

According to Della Corte, this elegant dwelling with its singular arched portico on the east side of the portico, was the dwelling of D. Caprasio Felici. 

This was demonstrated in the first place by an amphora of wine that came from the producer A. Atinio Crescente.

This was sent to him with the address repeated twice:  D. C. F.      D. Caprasio Felici      [CIL IV 5650 a and b]

 

Written in the atrium was a salute to him and his consort Fortunata, from an unknown Successus -

Successus Felici salutem et Fortunatae  [CIL IV 5373]

Nothing would have been more natural in the house of a Fortunata, than the cult attributed to Fortuna.

A graffito found near the lararium alluded to the same god - Fortuna    [CIL IV 5371]

See Della Corte, M., 1965.  Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.212)

 

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) these read as –

 

Summ(arum)

AAAA

LXX

A(uli) Atini Crescentis

/

[3]freius A[ti]ni C[re]s[centis]        [CIL IV 5650 a and b]

 

Suc(ces)sus Fel[i]ci salutem

et For(tu)natae       [CIL IV 5373]

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Stone entrance door stop.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. September 2004. Looking across atrium from entrance.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. Looking across atrium from entrance.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking across atrium from entrance.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking east across atrium towards portico.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Columns from north portico.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking east to peristyle garden and portico.

According to Jashemski, the portico was supported at the time of the eruption by fifteen columns.

Two columns stood at the rear of the atrium at the entrance to the portico.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.240)

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Rectangular niche in atrium with stucco aedicula facade.

Within the niche were found a bronze lamp and three bronze statuettes.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p88, No 439, Pl.5,1) 

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Doorway to small room (b) or cupboard on north side of doorway.

On the right of the photo is the doorway to room (a) with stairs to upper floor.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005.

West wall of small room (b) or cupboard, with site of shelving supports.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Stone steps to upper floor in room (a).

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Remains of painted plaster in room (e) with a window, (ala on north side of atrium,)

According to PPP, this room was a triclinium, the north wall had a rectangular window.

The lower area of the wall was painted white sprinkled with black and red.

The middle section was painted white, with panels separated by narrow candelabra partitions.

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1986. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 3. Rome: ICCD. (p.503)

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005.

Doorway to cubiculum on south side of doorway (room c).

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. South-west corner of cubiculum, with window onto Vicolo di Tesmo.

According to PPP, the west wall of this cubiculum (room c) was painted with a central panel of yellow.

The side panels were red with painted medallions. The lower area was uncoloured.

See Bragantini, de Vos, Badoni, 1986. Pitture e Pavimenti di Pompei, Parte 3. Rome: ICCD. (p.503)

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Remains of painted plaster.

 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Remains of painted plaster.

 

 

 

Part 2

 

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