Pompeii. Household shrines to the domestic gods, I.6.1 to 1.10.18.

 

These pages contain all the references to Lararia, Aedicula, Niches, Sacrarium/Sacellum, and Lararium paintings, found inside properties in Pompeii.

For some of these the actual purpose is unknown.

The individual locations identified on each item may contain further photos and details, you can see these by looking at the pompeiiinpictures pages in question.

 

Back to household shrines list

 

I.6.1 Pompeii.

Rectangular niche in west wall of shop-room.

 

I.6.1 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards entrance and west wall on south side of Via dell’Abbondanza. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.6.1 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards north end of west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.6.1 Pompeii. December 2018. West wall with rectangular niche. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce –

In the west wall is a rectangular niche (h.0.54, w.0.45, d.0.25, h. above floor 0.80).

Its walls were coated with white stucco and decorated with leaves and fruit, painted in red, green and yellow.

He quotes -  Not Savi, 1913, 477.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14.  (p. 25, no.35).

 

I.6.1 Pompeii. December 2018. West wall with detail of rectangular niche. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.6.2/16 Pompeii.

Painting and niche, west wall of north portico of peristyle.

 

I.6.2 Pompeii. October 2023. Painted lararium on west wall near portico. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.25, no.36).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.253, no.V5)

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p.251, no.L4).

 

I.6.4 Pompeii.

Sacellum (?) in south-west corner of atrium.

 

I.6.4 Pompeii. December 2021. Room 16, looking south-west across atrium towards sacellum. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

 

I.6.4 Pompeii. October 2022.

Room 16, looking south into sacellum in south-west corner of atrium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

According to Boyce –

On the right of the tablinum is a recess with vaulted ceiling and a figures frieze running around three walls.

This frieze depicts scenes from the Iliad with figures in white stucco relief upon a ground of blue.

It has been suggested, without very good reason, that this room was the lararium.

He quoted Not. Scavi, 1913, 28.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.25, no.37).

 

I.6.13 Pompeii.

Niche, east wall of garden area. (No photo).

 

I.6.13 Pompeii. December 2004. Tablinum, atrium and east side looking south-east photo taken from rear of I.6.11.

Behind the east wall of the tablinum, on left, would be the cubiculum (5) in NE corner of atrium.

Room 7 with doorway to corridor “e” is on the lower right, the corridor “e” is on the west side of the tablinum.

The remains of a lararium niche are on left of picture, in garden area behind tablinum.

According to Boyce –

“In the east wall of the garden is an arched niche (height 0.40, width 0.60, depth 0.27, height above the floor 1.30).

This was referred to in the report as “un modesto larario”.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 25, no.38)

He quotes reference Not. Scavi, 1929, p.434.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.254, no.V6)

 

I.7.7 Pompeii.

Pseudo-aedicula lararium, west wall of peristyle.

 

I.7.7 Pompeii. October 2019. Detail of lararium with arched niche in north-west corner of peristyle.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Giacobello described this as a pseudo-aedicula lararium on west wall of peristyle.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.254, no.V7)

 

I.7.7 Pompeii. 1961. Lararium niche in west wall in north-west corner. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

J61f0807

According to Boyce, the arched niche was adorned with a stucco aedicula façade and a cornice running around the inside walls.

The area of the wall immediately around the niche was painted as part of the decoration, into which the niche was set in a panel.

There was no lararium painting and no other indication of religious use.

It is called an edicoletta larare in the report and probably was a shrine, as there was no other in the house.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1927, 27.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.25, no.39)

 

I.7.10-12 Pompeii.

Painting and niche, south end of west wall of corridor.

 

I.7.11 Pompeii, March 2024. Looking west towards Lararium. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

 

I.7.11 Pompeii. December 2018. Lararium against west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce, in a very narrow room opening off the north-west corner of the peristyle and west of the triclinium was a lararium.

The arched niche is simply decorated with a dark stripe outlining the niche against the white of the surrounding wall.

On the wall below the niche are two painted serpents, one on each side.

Their heads are on a level with the floor of the niche.

(Boyce then gives a note that these serpents direct their heads to the niche as if to receive the offerings placed in it, rather than to the offerings on the burning altar).

The serpent on the left is larger and has a red crest and beard, the other serpent being smaller, with neither crest or beard.

Between the serpents, under the niche, is a painted flaming altar in the form of a metal brazier.

On top of the brazier are eggs.

Plants are in the background, and stylized candelabra with festoons border the painting on the sides.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1927, 52 with photograph.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26, no.41B).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.293, no. P1)

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p.251, L6).

 

Aedicula, north-west corner of portico.

 

I.7.12 Pompeii. December 2018.

Arched niche, against west wall of north portico. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.254, no.V8).

 

Painting and niche, atrium, east wall.

 

I.7.11 Pompeii. September 2021.

South-east corner of atrium, looking towards south wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

I.7.11 Pompeii. December 2018.

Remains of lararium on east side of atrium belonging to original house I.7.10.

Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.7.11 Pompeii. Lararium on east wall of atrium when first excavated.

According to Boyce, in the zone below the sacrificial scene were two red serpents confronted, one on each side of a circular altar.

The altar was furnished with fruits and flowers.

The serpent on the right had a red crest and beard, the head of the other was damaged.

The background was filled with plants.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1927, 38 with photograph.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26, no.40A)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.136, no.10)

See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L5: p.251, T: 3,1, 24,1)

 

I.7.18 Pompeii.

Painting, north and west wall in kitchen.

 

I.7.18 Pompeii. Lararium painting, north and west wall in kitchen, found above the hearth, on which were also found furnishings, ceramics and weights. 

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.138, no.11)

According to Fröhlich this was painted on a white-ground wall surface. The picture on the north wall shows the sacrificing genius flanked by two lars at the round altar, behind which stand two palm bushes. Garlands hang from the upper edge of the picture.

To the right of the head and arm of the right-hand Laren, the corresponding body parts of an older Laren show through under the current white plaster. Remnants of brown paint on the left of this scene are probably from a coiled snake stretching its head up towards the corner of the room. The faint traces of paint on the plaster stucco on the adjoining west wall suggest that an analogous snake was depicted here. If this is the case, the two snakes may have flanked an altar painted in the corner of the room, cf. L66 (VI 9,6/7).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p. 252, L7, taf. 25.1).

 

I.7.18 Pompeii. Lararium painting, sacrificing Genius wearing a toga and holding a large cornucopia, and Lar holding a rhyton, painted above the hearth, north wall in kitchen. 

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.138, no.11)

According to Fröhlich, to the right of the head and arm of the right-hand Laren, the corresponding body parts of an older Laren show through under the current white plaster.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p. 252, L7, taf. 25.1).

 

I.7.19 Pompeii.

Painting with niche, west wall of north portico.

 

I.7.19 Pompeii. August 2023.

Looking towards west wall of garden area with niche and doorway to corridor. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

 

I.7.19 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche in north wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce, this arched niche had a simple aedicula façade painted in red on the wall around it.

Beside the niche was the faded figure of a boar done in red monochrome and on the wall below it were traces of a still older decoration.

Boyce said in note 4 on page 26, that the figure of the boar and the older decoration had no connection with the lararium.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1929, 370.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26, no.43).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.256, no.V10)

 

Niche, north wall of peristyle, east of steps to garden of I.7.12.

 

I.7.19 Pompeii. December 2018.

North wall in north-east corner with two niches. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce, in the north wall are two arched niches at different levels.

The lower is the larger and has a slab of marble as its floor.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26, no.42).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.255, no.V9)

 

I.7.19 Pompeii. December 2006. North wall of garden area, upper niche on east side of steps to I.7.12.

According to Boyce, the upper niche contained the remains of a wooden box, in which were found two figurines –

A marble statuette of Venus, broken into two pieces and badly preserved.

The nude Venus was standing with her right arm resting on a pilaster, her face turned to the left.

A terracotta figure of a woman reclining upon a couch, in her right hand she held a patera umbilicata.

A serpent glides towards her, its body stretched over the left side of the couch.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1929, 371, with photo of statuette of the reclining figure.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26, no.42) 

 

I.7.19 Pompeii. December 2018.

North wall of garden area, lower niche on east side of steps to I.7.12. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.7.20 Pompeii.

Niche, north wall of kitchen. (No photo).  

Cucina (14) parete nord. Nicchia. Il vano adibito a cucina e collocato al pianterreno, collegato attraverso una rampa al piano seminterrato.

Kitchen (14) north wall. Niche. The kitchen niche is located on the ground floor, connected via a ramp to the basement.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.136, no.9)

 

I.8.1 Pompeii.

Arched niche in west wall of bar-room.

 

I.8.1 Pompeii. December 2018. Entrance on south side of Via dell’Abbondanza. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.8.1 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking towards west wall with niche.

Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

 

I.8.1 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche in west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.8.1 Pompeii. December 2007. Niche in west wall.

According to Boyce-

this niche (h.0.77, w.0.48, d.0.19, h. above floor 1.50) was painted yellow on the inside and surrounded by a border of yellow stucco, which formed a rectangle around the niche. Below it was a half-tile embedded in the wall to hold the offerings.

He quoted Not. Scavi, 1912, 404.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26 no.44).

 

I.8.8 Pompeii.

Painted lararium on south wall of bar-room.

 

I.8.8 Pompeii. April 2022. Looking south across bar-room. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

 

I.8.8 Pompeii. December 2018. Lararium on south wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

The central figure is the Genius of the household next to a three-legged altar. 

On either side of him are the two Lares. On the left side is Mercury with his money bag. 

On the right side is Bacchus with his panther drinking from a cup held in his right hand. 

Underneath are two serpents approaching a round altar. 

See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten.  Mainz: von Zabern. (L8: p.252).

 

I.8.10 Pompeii.

Painting and niche, north wall of east portico of peristyle.

 

I.8.10 Pompeii. March 2009. Area on north-east of peristyle.

Doorway to underground kitchen, and niche on north wall.

According to Jashemski, on both sides of the door leading to the basement room was a Lararium.

The one on the left was already destroyed at the time of its discovery (the excavations started in the years immediately preceding World War II, were suspended in 1941, and were completed around the beginning of the 1950s).

The one on the right was well preserved, with painting of serpents, altar and 2 Lares, now however, less visible.

The niche is decorated with flowers that have the appearance of poppies.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.42).

 

I.8.10 Pompeii. October 2017. Lararium and niche on north wall.

Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

 

I.8.10 Pompeii. Lararium shortly after excavation.

In the middle of the uppermost zone is the niche, where poppies with purple flowers are painted on the back wall.

There were two Lares, one on either side of the niche.

There were two serpents, one rising either side of a round altar. 

The horizontal line, on which the base of a round altar rested, was about halfway up the serpent’s body.

The background of the middle zone is formed by oleander-like plants.

The lowest zone is filled by two perennial plants, probably lilies.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L9: p.253, T25.2).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.140, no.12)

 

I.8.14 Pompeii.

Painting and niche, north-east corner of garden area 7.

 

I.8.14 Pompeii. December 2007.

Courtyard 7, looking across garden area towards north-east corner, and doorway into room 8, on right.

 

I.8.14 Pompeii. 1938.

Lararium painting and niche in north-east corner of courtyard 7, near to the kitchen (10), no longer conserved.

According to Giacobello, this is found in the north-east corner of viridarium 7 of I.8.14. Fröhlich had located this in insula I.8 but could not assign it to a specific house.

Above the niche is the painting showing two large Lares, a smaller togated Genius with a cornucopia and sacrificing on a round altar while on the other side of the altar a tibicen is playing the double flutes.

At the sides of the niche are two birds in shrubs.

Below the niche is a serpent approaching an altar.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.141, no.13).

Fröhlich describes a wall surface painted on a white background with an arched niche. In the uppermost zone, the sacrificing Genius stands on the right and Tibicen on the left at the round altar. The scene is flanked by two Lares, next to which a laurel bush stands on each edge of the picture. A garland is hung on the upper edge. The arched niche is recessed into the narrow, middle zone. On both sides of the niche, a peacock appears between small plants. In the lowest zone, a snake moves between marsh plants to the left towards a round altar. At the top right, a skewer with three pieces of meat is painted. In the right half, the remains of an older snake painting can be seen under the plaster, which may also include the adjacent zone with small plants, set off in color and by a plaster edge, to which a dark base is attached below. On the wall to the left, a pig's head is painted below and a ham above it. It is not known which phase these eating still lifes belong to. In any case, they suggest that the painting was located in a kitchen.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, p. 254, L11, Taf. 26,2.

 

I.8.17 Pompeii.

Niche, south-east corner of atrium.

 

I.8.17 Pompeii. December 2021.

Niche in south-east corner of atrium 3 next to doorway of room 8. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.232, no.A1)

 

I.8.18 Pompeii.

Painting and niche, south wall of kitchen.

 

I.8.18 Pompeii. December 2007. Doorway to kitchen 8 on south side of staircase.

 

I.8.18 Pompeii. 1977. Lararium and niche in room 8.

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p. 918.

 

I.8.18 Pompeii. Old photo of lararium on the south wall in the kitchen.

According to Giacobello, this is the lararium in the kitchen of I.8.18.

She shows a contemporary photograph to confirm this.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.142).

PPM shows a similar contemporary photograph in I.8.18. This old lararium photo however is shown as I.8.17 in PPM.

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p. 918, n. 7; p. 853, n. 13.

According to Fröhlich, in a 1941 archive photograph it was said to be in the atrium of I.8.17 Casa dei Quattro Stili.

He considered the niche remaining in I.8.17 did not have enough room on its left side to fit in the left Lar and serpent.

He attributed it to an unspecified house in insula I.8, because from 1937 to 1941 this was the only place excavations took place.

He describes a white-ground painted wall surface with an arched niche. The niche is located roughly in the centre of the wall and is flanked by two Lares, each with a small plant at their feet. A round altar is painted below the niche, flanked by two diagonally ascending snakes. Oleander-like plants fill the background. A small altar made of terracotta and two primitive-looking tuff busts with angular arm stumps were placed in the niche, probably the imagines maiorum.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L10, p.254, Taf. 25,3).

 

I.9.3 Pompeii.

Niche, west wall of peristyle.

 

I.9.3 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 6, west wall of garden area. 

 

I.9.3 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 6, niche in west wall of garden area.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.256, no.V11)

 

I.10.1 Pompeii.

Painting, north wall, east side of entrance doorway in atrium.

 

I.10.1 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards north wall of atrium, and steps to upper floor. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.10.1 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards north wall of atrium, with remaining lararium painting. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.10.1 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of remaining painted lararium from north wall of atrium. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Olga Elia -

La scala era conservata per tre gradini ed un pianerottolo a 1.15m dal suolo, e quivi sulla parete era dipinto un quadro di Larario (0.55m x 0.40m) in cattivo stato di conservazione. Nella parte conservata dei quadri si riconoscono, al centro, la figura del Genio coperta di toga listata e velata, con il corno dell’Abbondanza nella sinistra; a destra quella del Lare, avente nello mano abbassata una coppa e nella sinistra sollevata un rhyton; ancora a destra, nell’estrema parte del quadro, si osserva. Nella parte superiore pendono i lembi di un grande festone.

(The staircase is preserved for three steps and with a landing at 1.15 m from the ground, and here on the wall was painted a lararium picture (0.55 m x 0.40 m) in a poor state of preservation. In the preserved part of the paintings one recognizes, in the centre, the figure of the Genius covered with a toga, with the Horn of Abundance in the left hand; to the right that of the Lar, having a cup in his lowered hand and a drinking horn raised in his left hand; still on the right, in the extreme part of the picture, there is a large lit torch of conical form. In the upper part hang the flaps of a large garland.)

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1934, (p.265-6)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.144, no.15)

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26, no 45).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten.  Mainz: von Zabern. (p.254-5, L12).

 

Niches, north and south wall of kitchen.

 

I.10.1 Pompeii. December 2018.

Two of the niches in the south wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.10.1 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking south towards two niches on wall of uncovered area, and third niche on south wall of latrine. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26-27, no.46).

According to NdS, all three niches were found with a shelf of rustic plaster below, formed with a fascia and cornice.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1934, p. 268-9, fig 3.

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.145, no.16)

 

Niche in west wall of latrine/kitchen area.

 

I.10.1 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche in west wall of latrine/kitchen area. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

Niche in north wall of latrine/kitchen area.

 

I.10.1 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards hearth in kitchen area, and niche set in north wall of small, uncovered area (5). Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce –

the arched niche (h.0.50, w.0.50, d.0.28, h. above floor 1.35), originally coated with yellow stucco on the inside and outlined in red.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.26-27, no.46).

 

I.10.3 Pompeii.

Niche, in east wall of fauces/entrance corridor.

 

I.10.2 (on left) and I.10.3 Pompeii, (in centre). December 2018. 

Looking south on Vicolo del Menandro towards entrance doorways. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.10.3 Pompeii. December 2018. Detail of niche on east wall of fauces/entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.10.3 Pompeii. 1934. Niche on east wall of fauces.

On the back wall is a painted round altar around which a small snake winds.

The altar is flanked by two pines and two Lares.

Above is a garland and below it in red was an inscription “Felix aeris IV as, Florus X.”.

Below the niche a small snake moves to the left.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1934, p. 272, fig. 5.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.27, no.47).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991, Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L13 p. 255). 

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.230, no.F2)

 

I.10.4 Pompeii.

Aedicula lararium, north-west side of atrium.

 

I.10.4 Pompeii. September 2021.

Looking towards north-west corner of atrium, the lararium and doorway to room 2.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

According to Boyce –

A masonry podium (1.08 square, h.1.35) is built into the corner, and above it rises a little temple, formed by a single column at the one free corner of the podium, supporting a roof of two pediments. ………..

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.27-28, no.48).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.232, no.A2)

 

I.10.4 Pompeii. 1957. Lararium in atrium. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

J57f0489

 

Room 2, small room with niche and altar.

 

I.10.4 Pompeii. June 2012.

Room 2, small room on east side of aedicula lararium in atrium, with niche and recess below stairs to upper floor.

According to Boyce, in a small room with an arched recess beneath the stairs, there was a small masonry altar with two cavities in the top, and a niche in the wall above.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.28, no.50C).

He quoted his reference as MAIURI, Casa del Menandro, 37.

Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

Niche with podium, south-west corner of exedra, in south-west corner of peristyle.

 

I.10.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Area 25, south-west corner of peristyle.

Exedra with built in altar and apsed niche. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.10.4 Pompeii. April 2022.

Alcove 25, looking towards altar to household gods against west wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

According to Boyce –

In the finely decorated exedra opening off the south-west corner of the peristyle is an unusual shrine.

A large rectangular, masonry podium (1.33 by 0.66, h.089) is built into the south-west corner.

In the west wall above it is a shallow arched niche (h.0.62, w.0.86, h. above the podium 0.24), set into the centre of a previously existing panel of the wall decoration. A small, rectangular, altar-like base of tufa (0.21 by 0.17, h.0.25) was built directly before the niche on the top of the podium.

The large podium is painted to represent a veneering with vertical slabs of yellow marble veined with red, placed above a dark dado.

The back wall of the niche is painted in imitation of the same marble.

The small altar-like structure is coated with red stucco.

Within the niche there stood in antiquity five figures of perishable material which left their impressions in the volcanic ash; of these impressions the excavators were able to take plaster casts. ………….

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.28.no. 49B).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.256, no.V12)

 

Painting, west wall of kitchen (PPM room 27).

 

I.10.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 27, kitchen and hearth. Looking towards the north-west corner.

According to Boyce, on the west wall beside the hearth was preserved a corner of a panel of white stucco.

It was bordered in red, and within it was painted the tail of a serpent.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.28, no.51)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.147, no.18)

 

 

I.10.5 Pompeii.

Large arched niche in west wall of stairway to an upper apartment.

 

I.10.5 Pompeii. December 2018. Entrance to steps to upper floor, in centre. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.10.5 Pompeii. April 2017. Looking north towards niche in west wall. Photo courtesy Adrian Hielscher.

 

I.10.5 Pompeii. December 2007. Stairs to upper floor with niche on west wall of stairs.

According to Boyce, the stairs led up to an apartment on the upper floor.

This large arched niche (h.0.65, w.1,77, d.0.15, h. above the third step 1.22) was above the third step of the stairs.

It was coated with successive layers of stucco, of which the last was white.

It was decorated with painted red and yellow flowers and a green festoon.

See Not. Scavi, 1934, 276.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p. 29, no. 54).

 

I.10.6 Pompeii.

Arched niche on west wall of small, second room.

 

I.10.5, Pompeii, (on left), I.10.6 (in centre) and I.10.7 (on right). April 2017.

Looking south to entrance doorways on Vicolo del Menandro. Photo courtesy of Adrian Hielscher.

 

I.10.6 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards west wall of small room. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

 

I.10.6 Pompeii. December 2018. Niche on west wall. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

According to Boyce, this arched niche (h.0.33, w.0.43, d.0.23, h. above floor 1.45) was painted red on the inside.

A thick ledge was indicated in the stucco below it, although the floor does not project.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1934, 276f.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.29, no.55).

 

I.10.7 Pompeii.

Painting, south wall of kitchen.

 

I.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11, south wall. Remains of lararium, with painting of two serpents.

According to Boyce, the west end of the portico was closed off as a kitchen.

On the south wall beside the large hearth was a panel of white stucco (h.0.92, w.1.40).

Within were painted two large coiling serpents, yellow with scales indicated in red.

Both have a crest and beard and a protruding tongue.

Both coil from the left, one above the other, approaching a marble slab adorned with a lion’s head in relief.

This was set into the corner formed by the hearth and the south wall of the room at the level of their heads.

In the background were plants.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1934, 282, and fig.8.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.29, no.56, and Pl.27, 2)

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L16, p.256).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.147, no.20)

 

I.10.7 Pompeii. Old undated photo. Room 11, south-west corner, remains of lararium, with two serpents.

 

Niche with painting, east wall of triclinium.

 

I.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 9, east wall of triclinium.

Remains of wall painting of a sacred landscape cut through by the lararium niche.

According to Peters, the sacred landscape from this wall was decayed beyond recognition (p.90).

 

I.10.7 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 9, east wall of triclinium. Lararium niche set in third style decoration.

Two crested and bearded brown serpents with yellow underbellies are creeping to the left between red flowers and green plants.

On the right is an altar.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (L15: p.256).

According to Boyce, this shallow rectangular niche (h.0.40, w.0.52, d.0.09, h. above floor 1.60) was set into (but not in the centre of) a fine panel of wall decoration, which it disfigured.

According to the footnote by Boyce, Elia had said in Not. Scavi, that these panels were painted shortly after the earthquake of 63 AD.

Both serpents coil from the left towards an altar, as in the other lararium described in the kitchen.

In the background were green plants with red flowers.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1934, 287.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.29, no.57B)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.288, no.C1)

 

I.10.8 Pompeii.

Painting and niche, east wall of garden area.

 

I.10.8 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11, east wall with niche, in garden area.

 

I.10.8 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11, arched niche.

According to Boyce and Giacobello –

in the east wall of the garden was an arched niche (h.0.52, w.0.56, d.0.23, h. above floor 1.12) with a very thick (0.18) projecting floor.

The side walls were yellow, and the rear wall was white, and upon it was a painting.

Of this painting only, a green tree was visible to Boyce in 1937.

On the white surface of the wall to the left of the niche, a Lar was painted in blue garments. He held as situla in his lowered right hand but his left was not preserved.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1934, p. 316.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.29, no.58)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.257, no.V13)

 

I.10.11 Pompeii.

Painting and niche, east wall of kitchen.

 

I.10.11 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 15, niche and Lararium painting on east wall of kitchen. 

According to Boyce –

the arched niche (h.0.35, w.0.53, d.0.22, h. above floor 1.55) was fitted with a heavy stucco cornice ornamented with an egg design in relief.

The interior walls were white and unpainted; a projecting tile formed the floor.

See Not. Scavi, 1934, 335.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.29, no.59 and Pl.10, 2).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern.  (L17, p.256).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico.  Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.148, no.21)

 

I.10.11 Pompeii. 1968.

Room 15, niche and Lararium painting on east wall of kitchen. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

J68f0504

 

I.10.16 (Part of I.10.4) Pompeii.

Niche, west wall of atrium.

 

I.10.16 Pompeii. September 2021. Looking west across atrium from entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

I.10.16 Pompeii. September 2021. Detail of niche in west wall of atrium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

According to Boyce, on this west wall above a small hearth was an arched niche with projecting floor.

Its inside walls were coated with the same rough stucco as the walls of the room.

When Boyce wrote, he said that still standing within the niche were three terracotta lamps.

They each had a single nozzle, two of them were ornamented with reliefs, one of the sun, one of an eagle.

Also found there was a small saucer-like dish.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.28, no.52E).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.146, no.17)

(described as 1.10.4)

 

Niche in south wall of kitchen.

 

I.10.16 Pompeii. March 2009. L-shaped kitchen. Looking west, with niche in south wall.

 

I.10.16 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking south across part of L-shaped kitchen, looking towards south wall with niche.

 

Painted lararium on west wall, no trace remains.

 

I.10.16/4 Pompeii. March 2009. L-shaped kitchen, looking south along west wall at site of lararium? 

The lararium had a painting with garlands, possibly two Lares and a Genius and Camillus group.

According to Boyce –

“Maiuri reports on the west wall of another room off this same small atrium (a room destinato a repositorium ed apotheca), a lararium painting (0.70 by 0.75), coarse in technique and striking for the bright colours used for the garments of the Lares and the ornaments – red, yellow and green”.  He quotes – Maiuri, Casa del Menandro, 206.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.28, no.53).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p. 255, L14).

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico.  Milano: LED Edizioni.  (p. 147, no.19).

(described as 1.10.4, kitchen 45)

 

I.10.18 Pompeii.

Painting, south wall of kitchen.

 

I.10.18 Pompeii. Lararium painting on south wall of the kitchen beside the hearth.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1934, p. 344, and fig.38.

According to Boyce, in the south wall of the kitchen beside the hearth was a fragmentary painting in two zones.

It was on a white background outlined with red stripes.

In the upper zone stood the Genius, with a Lar.

In the lower zone, beneath garlands, was the tail of a black and yellow serpent.

Below the serpent were several kitchen articles, a hog’s head, a ham on a nail, and an eel on a spit.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.29, no.60)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni, (p.150, no.22).

 

I.10.18 Pompeii. Lararium painting on south wall of the kitchen beside the hearth.

Fröhlich described it was “mostly fallen from the wall, and only the body of the left Lar is quite well preserved.”

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (p.257, L18, Taf. 26, 3).

 

 

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