Herculaneum Household Shrines

Santuari domestici di Ercolano

Hausheiligtümer in Herculaneum

 

This page contains the many domestic household shrines in Herculaneum, but also contains other niches and recesses, where the purpose or use is unknown. Further photos and detail can be found on the full web page for each house.

Questa pagina contiene i numerosi santuari domestici di Ercolano, ma anche altre nicchie e recessi di cui non si conosce lo scopo o l'uso. Ulteriori foto e dettagli sono disponibili sulla pagina web completa di ogni casa.

Diese Seite enthält die vielen Hausheiligtümer in Herculaneum, aber auch andere Nischen und Vertiefungen, deren Zweck oder Verwendung unbekannt ist. Weitere Fotos und Details finden Sie auf der vollständigen Webseite für jedes Haus.

Cardo IV, Herculaneum.

Street shrine on west side of junction with Decumanus Maximus.

 

Not a domestic shrine, but the only street shrine, so far discovered at Herculaneum, so well worth including here.

 

Cardo IV, Herculaneum. October 2012. North-east corner of Ins. VI.

Looking towards west wall, with street altar and remains of two painted serpents. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Herculaneum VI. East facade at the north end.

Dimensions: Altar: H 1.22 m; W 1.23 m; D 0.45 m. Right fragment: W 0.90 m. Left fragment: W 0.96 m.

To: Two moderately to heavily faded fragments.

White-ground wall surface, in front of it a brick altar in the middle. The white plastered altar is flanked by two yellow-brown snakes painted on the wall to the left and right, which wind up between plants and probably have lowered their heads (now destroyed) over the altar.

Dating: Late Third or Fourth Style.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, F73, p. 340.

 

Ins. VI. May 2010. Painted Serpent on south side of street altar.

 

Cardo IV, north-east corner. May 2006. Street altar, and remains of painted serpents.

 

Ins. VI. May 2010. Painted Serpent on north side of street altar.

 

II.2 Herculaneum.

Location unknown, lararium painting.

A large serpent, the genius of the place, twisted around a tree and an altar to the devout who worshipped it.  (No photo).

 

Genius mentioned (20/11/1828, Bonucci)  (St.Erc.488).

According to Pagano and Prisciandaro, on 20th November 1828 –

“Various other paintings have been discovered in various sites of this mansion and they represent Polyphemus on Etna in the midst of his flock and Galatea on a dolphin in the sea of Sicily (Table 12, no.10). A large serpent, the genius of the place, twisted around a tree and an altar to the devout who worshipped it: and finally, a beautiful resting bacchante and a cupid. Bonnucci.”  Ref: StErc 488.

(20 nov1828 – “Vari altri quadri si sono discoverti in vari siti di questa magione e rappresentano Polifemo sull’Etna in mezzo al suo gregge e Galatea su di un delfino nel mar di Sicilia (Tavola 12, numero 10).  Un gran serpente il genio del luogo, attortigliato ad un albero ed un’ara a de’ devote che l’adorano: e finalmente una bella baccante che sogguarda e riposa, ed un amore che sembra voler indicare che alcuno e per giungere e che qualche scena misteriosa vada ben tosto a compirsi. Bonnucci”.)

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli. Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.225)

 

Shrine on lower floor.  (No photo).

According to Maiuri -

“Accanto a questa stanza di riposo e di belvedere s’apre quasi misteriosamente un sacello domestico (n.27, fig.300-301) (Note no. 175).  Vi si accede incomodamente dal sottoscala a traverso una porticina assai angusta (m.0.54 per 1.55). L’ambiente rettangolare (larghezza m.1.58, lunghezza m.2.90; altezza, m.2.15), illuminato da un occhio circolare di luce praticato a traverso lo spessore della volta (diam. m.0.70) presenta le strutture originarie in tardo reticolato insieme con larghi residui di spesso e fine stucco bianco. Sul muro di fondo era addossato un alto podio di fabbrica di stucco bianco (altezza m.0.90, larghezza m.0.70, profondità m. 0.41) con il ripiano superiore sollevato di un gradino (m.0,125) su cui erano poste una o più statuette del culto domestico. (Note no. 176). Innanzi al podio era un basso altare di laterizi e di tufo (altezza m.0.60; larghezza m.0.53) intonacato anch’esso di stucco bianco.

Purtroppo ad illuminare l’aspetto cosi suggestivo di questo sacello, prodotto dall’angustia dello spazio e dalla fioca luce che vi penetra dall’alto, non ci soccorrono che pochi e incerti dati della scoperta. (Note no. 177). Sembra comunque che non si possa staccare questo sacello dai culti domestici che venivano professati nella casa ercolanese, anche se la sua inconsueta e quasi nascosta ubicazione, accanto ad una stanza di siesta e di belvedere, attesta un senso di religiosità che non si coglie generalmente nei comuni sacelli esposti ostentatamente negli atri e nei peristili.”

 

(Next to this room of rest and the view, there is almost mysteriously, a domestic chapel (n.27, fig.300-301) (no.175). It is easily accessed from the basement through a narrow door (0.54 by 1.55m). The rectangular room (width 1.58m; length 2.90m; height 2.15m), illuminated by a circular eye of light made through the thickness of the vault (diam. 0.70m) has the original structures in tardo reticolato together with large residues of thick and fine white stucco.

On the back wall there was a high masonry podium of white stucco (height 0.90m; width 0.70m; depth 0.41m) with the upper shelf raised by a step (0.125m) on which were placed one or more statuettes of domestic worship (no.176). In front of the podium was a low altar of bricks and tuff (height 0.60m; width 0.53m) also plastered with white stucco.

Unfortunately, to illuminate the evocative aspect of this chapel, produced by the narrowness of the space and the dim light that penetrates it from above, we are helped only by a few and uncertain data of the discovery (no.177). It seems, however, that this chapel cannot be detached from the domestic cults that were professed in the Herculaneum house, even if its unusual and almost hidden location, next to a siesta room and belvedere, attests to a sense of religiosity that is not generally grasped in the common shrines ostentatiously displayed in the atriums and peristyles.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.369).

 

III.3 Herculaneum. Casa dello Scheletro.

Niche in north wall of small room on north side of tablinum.

 

III.3 Herculaneum. May 2010. North wall of small room.

According to Maiuri –

“Tornando nell’atrio:

Vano “d” – Era l’antico corridoio che dall’atrio, a fianco del tablino, conduceva all’oecus retrostante n.10. trasformato, con la costruzione di un muro interno ricurvo, l’oecus rettangolare in oecus absidato, questo breve corridoio venne chiuso al fondo con un muro a reticolato, rivestito di semplice intonaco e trasformato in cella penaria per le masserizie e le provviste della casa. A destra, in alto, si scorge una nicchietta incavata nel muro per uso forse di larario; a sinistra, a traverso la parete divisoria con il tablino, si apri una finestruola di aerazione.”

(Returning to the atrium:

Room “d” – It was the ancient corridor that led from the atrium, next to the tablinum, to the oecus behind (Maiuri’s room 10). Transformed with the construction of a curved internal wall, the rectangular oecus into an apsidal oecus, this short corridor was closed at the rear with a reticulated wall, covered with simple plaster and transformed into a “cella penaria” (cupboard/storeroom) for household goods and supplies for the house.  On the right (our left), at the top, you can see a small niche carved into the wall perhaps for use as a Lararium; on the left (our right), through the partition wall joined with the tablinum, a ventilation window opened.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p. 270).

 

Niche in south wall.

 

III.3 Herculaneum. May 2010. Room 20, looking towards south wall with niche.

According to Maiuri -

“L’ambiente che segue di passaggio e di disimpegno, era illuminato dal cortiletto scoperto (m) che veniva ad avere funzione di atriolo del piccolo quartiere meridionale. Il cortiletto scoperto ha un pozzo di cisterna per la raccolta delle pluviali e due vaschette; in fondo alla parete di sud si apre la nicchietta di un Larario.”

(The room that follows was lit by the small open courtyard (m) that served as an atrium of the small southern quarter. The uncovered courtyard has a cistern well for the collection of rainwater and two basins; at the rear in the south wall, there is a niche of the Lararium.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.274).

 

Brick base of lararium against south wall of nymphaeum.

 

III.3 Herculaneum. May 2010. Looking towards north wall towards remains of “castellum aquae” on right side of nymphaeum.

 

III.3 Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking east to nymphaeum.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

According to Maiuri –

“Il Ninfeo occupa l’area di un cortiletto aperto con il piano sopraelevato di un giardino sul piano del vestibolo: due colonnine di laterizio ne costituivano un piccolo propylon d’ingresso.

Dal lato sinistro era l’avanzo di un castello acquario che serviva per l’alimentazione delle vasche e delle fistule che formavano il saliente delle fontaine; a destra un più grosso podio in muratura a filari di tufo sembra dovesse essere il basamento di un Larario in forma di sacello.”

(The Nymphaeum occupies the area of an open courtyard with the raised floor of the garden on the level of the vestibule: two brick columns constituted a small entrance propylon.

On the left side is the remains of a “castellum aquae” that was used to feed the tanks and pipes that formed the relevant parts of the fountains: on the right, a larger masonry podium with rows of tuff seems to have been the base of a Lararium in the form of a sacellum.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.268).

 

III.3 Herculaneum. May 2010. Doorway in south wall of small corridor, leading to atrium.

According to Maiuri –

“….on the right, (of the nymphaeum) a larger masonry podium with rows of tuff seems to have been the base of a Lararium in the form of a sacellum.”

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.268).

 

III.3 Herculaneum. May 2010. Looking south towards base of podium.

 

Aedicula.

 

III.3 Herculaneum. August 2021. Small aedicula against south wall. Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

According to Maiuri –

“Sul fondo della parete spicca un tempietto-sacello elevato su alto podio, interamente rivestito di mosaico a paste vitree e con gli orli formati di conchiglie fissate sul l’intonaco da un forte mastice rosso-vivo; …… “ (p.272)

“…….ed a questo ultimo periodo si deve attribuire la costruzione del grazioso sacello in opera musiva e la trasformazione e la sopraelevazione che si fece della bocca del pozzo.” (p.274)

(At the base of the wall stands a small temple-shrine raised on a high podium, entirely covered with mosaic with glass pastes and with the edges formed of shells fixed to the plaster by a strong red mastic;…..(p.272)

“… and to this last period, we must attribute the construction of the graceful chapel in mosaic work and the transformation and elevation that was made to the mouth of the well. (p.274).

in the form of a sacellum.”

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.272 and 274).

 

III.3 Herculaneum. 1957.

Looking east towards small aedicula nymphaeum with grating above it. 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.

J57f0439

Maiuri interpreted the masonry pilaster in front of the nymphaeum as a place to put the offerings.

In this photo, a bronze container has been posed on it.

See Camardo, D, and Notomista, M, eds. (2017). Ercolano: 1927-1961: L’impresa archeologico di Amedeo Maiuri e l’esperimento della citta museo. Rome, L’Erma di Bretschneider, (p.185, Scheda 4).

 

III.10 Herculaneum. Bottega del Lanarius.

Arched niche on south wall.

 

III.10 Herculaneum, 1961.

Looking south towards wooden screw press (torcular or pressorium), with lararium niche at rear.

The staircase would have led to the upper floor small dwelling, consisting of two rooms. 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.

J61f0606

According to Maiuri –

“Sulla Parete di sud, a fianco della scalette, era la nicchietta arcuata di un rustico larario.”

(On the south wall, next to the stairs, was the arched niche of a rustic Lararium.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p. 220).

 

III.11 Herculaneum. Casa del Tramezzo di Legno or House of the Wooden Screen.

Niche in west wall of upper room above room 3.

 

III.11 Herculaneum. May 2010.

Room 3, looking towards the upper south-west corner, with remains of holes for support beams for flooring. 

 

III.11 Herculaneum. May 2010. Room 3, arched niche in west wall of upper floor. 

 

III.13 Herculaneum. Room 5 in upper floor (front) apartment.

Roof and front of carbonised wooden shrine.

 

III.13, Herculaneum. June 2005.

Cubiculum 5, looking towards south-west corner of cubiculum, with the carbonised wooden bed.

In the glass showcase would have been the front of a carbonised wooden shrine. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Maiuri –

“Sotto uno dei letti si trovò il frontoncino del larario in legno che vedesi ora collocato sulla parete sinistra. In questo stesso ambiente si rinvenne anche una rozza scultura in legno, un ritratto femminile appartenente al larario e a quelle imagines di patroni dei quali, anche nelle più umile case, si avevo un culto domestico; ma di questa e di altre poche e rare sculture in legno ercolanesi, sarà trattato a parte (vol. II).”

(Under one of the beds was the wooden pediment of the lararium which can now be seen placed on the left wall. In this same room was also found a crude wooden sculpture, a female portrait belonging to the lararium and to those “imagines” of patrons of whom, even in the most humble houses, there was a domestic cult; but of this and of the other few and rare Herculaneum wood carvings, it will be treated separately (vol.II). (Note – never completed or published).

See Maiuri A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958) Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.419).

 

III.13, Herculaneum. September 2016.

Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill provenanced the larger wooden portrait of a female head, as coming from a room in this house

Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

According to Maiuri, the head, roughly carved in wood, belonging to the domestic lararium.

See Maiuri, Amedeo, (1977). Herculaneum. 7th English ed, of Guidebooks to the Museums Galleries and Monuments of Italy, No.53 (p.32).

 

III.14 Herculaneum. Casa a Graticcio or House of the Wattle Work.

Cupboard/Lararium in Room 2, upper floor (rear apartment).

 

III.14 Herculaneum. April 2005. Room 2, looking towards south wall and south-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

Found in this room were two carbonised beds placed at an angle in the corner of the room.

Also found was a cupboard/lararium in which were found bronze statuettes of the domestic cult; two Lares, Jupiter, Minerva, Asclepius, Isis, Fortuna, Harpocrates and a Bacchante.

 

III.17 Herculaneum. Casa dell’ Ara Laterizia or House of the Brick Altar.

Large masonry lararium, no trace of any painting remains. (No photo).

 

III.17, Herculaneum. Large brick altar, possibly in a sacellum.

According to Maiuri –

“Infine, al fondo al cortile, addossata al muro della parete, in un’area coperta probabilmente da tettoia, ad un livello alquanto più basso di quello del cortile, come un vero e proprio sacello, trovasi una grande e bell’ara laterizia di notevoli dimensioni e di esecuzione assai piu accurata di quanto non ci si attendesse dal resto della casa (fig. 361). Al disopra dell’ara era sulla parete un pannello a stucco riquadrato da una bassa e larga cornice a rilievo: accanto all’ara, si raccolse un’aruletta di travertino. Della pittura murale che doveva fiancheggiare l’ara e riempire il campo del pannello, nessuna purtroppo benché minima traccia.” (Note no. 217).

(Finally at the end of the courtyard, leaning against a wall, in an area probably covered by a canopy/roof, at a somewhat lower level than that of the courtyard, like a real chapel, there is a large and beautiful brick altar of considerable size and of much more accurate execution than expected from the rest of the house (fig.361). Above the altar there was a stucco panel on the wall, framed by a low and wide frame in relief: next to the altar, a travertine small altar was found. Of the mural painting that was supposed to flank the altar and fill the field of the panel, unfortunately there is no trace.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.422, fig.361).

 

Opening onto the courtyard were a bedroom, the triclinium, a stair-room with latrine below them, and at the back on a lower level but in an area possibly covered by a roof, was the large masonry domestic lararium, which has given the modern name to this house. Above the altar, on the wall, was a panel of stucco with a cornice in relief, but no trace of any picture remains.

See Pesando, F. and Guidobaldi, M.P. (2006). Pompei, Oplontis, Ercolano, Stabiae. Editori Laterza, (p.328)

 

The impressive brick altar built against the rear wall, according to Maiuri, was probably in an area roofed to form a Sacellum.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.260).

 

III.19 Herculaneum. Casa dell’Albergo.

Niche lararium in porter’s room.

 

III.19/18/1 Herculaneum, May 2024.

Looking south towards our room 7, or room (a), “porter’s room” in south-east corner of atrium.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

According to Maiuri –

“A sinistra, il piccolo vano (a), tutto aperto sul vestibolo, doveva servire da cella ostiaria (vi si nota sulla parete di fondo la nicchietta di un larario a poco altezza dal pavimento e, sulla parete di lato l’incassatura per il letto)”.

(On the left, the small room (a), all open onto the vestibule, which must have served as “cella ostiaria” (the room of the porter).

On the rear wall you can see the niche of a lararium, a little height from the floor and, on the side wall, the recess for the bed).

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.325).

 

III.19/18/1 Herculaneum, May 2024.

Room 7, or room (a), east wall with lararium niche, according to Maiuri, “a little height from the floor”. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

IV.4 Herculaneum. Casa dell’ Alcova or House of the Alcove.

Square recess in east wall of room 4.

 

IV.4, Herculaneum, October 2014.

Room 4, square recess in east wall of cubiculum with doorway to small courtyard 3.

Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

IV.6 Herculaneum. Casa della Fullonica.

Niche in north-east corner of atrium.

 

IV.6, Herculaneum, May 2003.

Atrium, north-east corner, with doorway to small storeroom/cupboard. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Square niche in north wall of oecus/exedra.

 

IV.6, Herculaneum, May 2003. Room 11, north wall of oecus/exedra. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

IV.8 Herculaneum. Casa del Papiro dipinto or House with the painted papyrus roll.

Latrine, traces of painted serpent (No photo, no trace remains?).

 

IV.8 Herculaneum, October 2015.

Looking west into latrine, which would have been under the stairs, entered at IV.9. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

According to Maiuri, on the north wall (on the right) of the latrine, traces were still recogniseable of a painted serpent.

 

Square niche in north wall.

 

IV.8 Herculaneum, May 2010. Room 4, looking towards north wall.

 

IV.8 Herculaneum, May 2010. Room 4, detail of niche in north wall.

 

IV.10 Herculaneum. Shop.

Arched niche on east side of entrance doorway.

 

IV.10, Herculaneum, July 2015.

Looking towards entrance doorway, on south side of Decumanus Inferiore. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

IV.10 Herculaneum. March 2014. East wall of shop-room, with niche.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

 

IV.10, Herculaneum, September 2021.

Detail of niche in east wall of shop-room. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

Altar, arched niche and rectangular niche in rear room with cistern-mouth.

 

IV.10, Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking south in small room with cistern-mouth.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

According to Maiuri –

“Entro l’angusto stambugio “b” v’era la bocca di una cisterna con un puteale di travertino e, accanto, il rozzo podio di un’ara.

Sulla parete, a lato della porta, sono incavate due nicchiette, absidata e rettangolare, l’una forse per statuette di Lari, l’altra per collocarvi una lucerna.”

(Within the narrow room “b” there was the mouth of the cistern with a travertine puteal and, beside it, the rough podium of an altar.

On the wall at the side of the door, there are two niches, apsed and rectangular, one perhaps for the statuettes of the Lares, the other for placing a lamp.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.432-3).

 

IV.10, Herculaneum. May 2024.

Looking east towards altar in rear room, with possible arched niche above. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

IV.11 Herculaneum. Small dwelling.

Rectangular niche in access corridor.

 

IV.11, Herculaneum, September 2021.

Looking south along access corridor towards niche. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

IV.11, Herculaneum, September 2015.

Lararium/recess on south wall of access corridor from doorway at IV.11.

According to Maiuri –

“Dalla fauce, che ha nella parete di contro alla porta una nichietta certamente di Larario (e).”

(From the entrance corridor, which has in the wall opposite the door, a Lararium niche e, ….)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.433).

 

IV.14 Herculaneum. Taberna vasaria.

Recess at south end of west wall.

 

IV.14, Herculaneum, May 2006. Looking towards west wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

IV.14, Herculaneum, May 2006. Looking towards recess in west wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

IV.15/16 Herculaneum. Grande Taberna or bar.

Arched niche in west wall of room used by customers.

 

IV.15/16 Herculaneum, October 2012.

Looking towards west wall, with niche, of second room (7) for the use of customers. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

IV.15/16 Herculaneum, January 2002. Room 7, detail of west wall at northern end. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

IV.19 Herculaneum. Casa della Stoffa or House of the Cloth.

Podium, possibly for a family shrine, on left-hand side of entrance doorway.

 

IV.19 Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking towards south-west corner of shop-room.

On the left side of the photo would be the area of the podium of a family shrine, as described by Maiuri, below.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

According to Maiuri –

“L’androne rustico d’ingresso, più che ad uso di bottega doveva servire da stanza di lavoro e di vendita; il podio che era addossato ad uno dei pilastri d’ingresso, più che podio di focolare, sembra dovesse essere il podio di un sacello familiare: …….”

(The rustic entrance hall, rather than being used as a workshop, was to serve as a work and sales room; the podium that leaned against one of the entrance pillars, more than a podium for a hearth, seems to have been the podium of a family shrine: ……..)

See Maiuri A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958) Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.425).

 

Herculaneum IV.19. Plan of Casa della Stoffa or House of the Cloth.

The podium of a family shrine mentioned by Maiuri is shown as the square behind the left hand entrance door pillar.

 

IV.19 Herculaneum. October 2012. Doorway of shop-room.

Behind the door pillar on the lower left of the photo would appear to be the podium of a family shrine, as described by Maiuri.

Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

IV.21 Herculaneum. Casa del Cervi.

Podium of Lararium against west wall of room 3. (No photo).

 

IV, 21, Herculaneum. May 2004. Room 3, looking west across upper floor.

The second doorway on the lower floor, in the south wall, leads into the atrium, room 24.

Above it, on the upper floor, is a doorway leading onto the balcony around the atrium.

Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Maiuri –

“Il no.3 era una stanza rettangolare rischiarita da un finestruola quadrata del lato della strada: conserva qualche povero avanzo di decorazione nella parte inferiore delle murature e, addossato alla parete di ovest, era da riconoscere, nel residuo di un basso podio, il podio di un Larario (altro Larario non si scorge in tutta l’abitazione); da quest’ambiente si accedeva, come si era detto, alla stanza interna no.2, che, per essere aerata da due strette feritoie, non poteva essere altro che un’apotheca.”

(Room no.3 was a rectangular room brightened by a square window on the side of the street: it preserves some poor remains of decoration on the lower part of the walls and, leaning against the west wall, one could recognise, the remains of a low podium, the podium of a Lararium (no other Lararium can be seen in this whole house); from this room there was access, as we have said, to the inner room no.2, which, being ventilated by two narrow slits, could not be other than a cupboard/storeroom.)

See Maiuri A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958) Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.306).

 

V.5 Herculaneum. Casa del Mobilio carbonizzato.

Aedicula shrine in small garden.

 

V.5 Herculaneum. 1964.

Looking east through tablinum to small courtyard garden with aedicula shrine. 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.

J64f1182

 

V.5 Herculaneum. 1964. Garden room 9. Looking towards east wall with aedicula shrine.  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.

J64f1181

According to Jashemski, the little courtyard at the rear of the house had an elaborate aedicula shrine visible from the entrance corridor.

There were the remains of an animal painting on the east wall.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.267-8).

 

V.5 Herculaneum. May 2003. Garden room 9.

Shrine against east wall of courtyard/garden area. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Maiuri –

“Ma centro architettonico del cortile e centro religioso della casa era il tempietto-larario finemente stuccato e dipinto, il più bel larario trovata finora ad Ercolano (fig. 208) dove, anche nelle case signorili, il larario in legno ricorre più frequentemente di quello in fabbrica. Sul podio, che si scorge entro la nicchia absidata, erano collocate le statuette di culto che peraltro non vennero ricuperate.”

(But the architectural centre of the courtyard and the religious centre of the house was the finely stuccoed and painted temple-lararium, the most beautiful found so far in Herculaneum (fig. 208) where, even in luxury homes, the wooden lararium recurs more frequently than a masonry one. On the podium, which can be seen inside the apse niche, were placed the cult statuettes which, however, were not recovered.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.261).

 

V.5 Herculaneum, May 2018. Looking from window of tablinum towards garden and shrine. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

 

V.5 Herculaneum, May 2018. Detail of aedicula shrine in small garden area. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

 

Apsed niche used to display the images of the deities worshipped by the family, in room 5 on south side of tablinum, with window onto garden.

 

V.5 Herculaneum. May 2003. Room 5, apsed niche with shell-shaped dome.

On the right side, part of the painting of Pan and the nymph or Hermaphroditus can be seen. 

Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

V.5 Herculaneum, wall painting of satyr discovering Hermaphroditus.

Photo with kind permission of Prof. Andrew Wallace-Hadrill.

See Wallace-Hadrill, A. (2011). Herculaneum, Past and Future. London, Frances Lincoln Ltd., (p.294)

 

V.7 Herculaneum. Casa di Nettuno e Anfitrite.

North-west corner of atrium, with remains of lararium.

 

V.7 Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking towards north-west corner of atrium, with remains of lararium.

 

V.7 Herculaneum, March 2014. Looking west towards remains of lararium.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

 

V.7 Herculaneum. May 2005. Looking down onto lararium in north-west corner of atrium. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Maiuri –

“E accanto alla cella ostiaria nell’angolo dell’atrio, come più frequentemente a Pompei, troviamo invece per la prima volta a Ercolano il misero avanzo del podio di un Larario. Costruito e addossato posteriormente alla decorazione murale, forse dall’ultimo proprietario dell’abitazione, sarebbe stato, se fosse stato risparmiato dalla spoliazione e demolizione dei cavamonti dei cunicoli, il più singolare e più prezioso Larario che si potesse avere di Pompei e di Ercolano. Poiché non solo era rivestito di marmi, come il singolarissimo Larario di Lucio Cecilio Giocondo a Pompei, ma dal ricupero che si era fatto, fra le sue malconce rovine, di due monocromi marmorei, uno dei quali reca la firma di quello stesso artista Athenaios che appare sull’altro famoso monocromo ercolanese delle Giuocatrici di astragali, si era indotti a supporre che il Larario fosse ornato di pinakes marmorei dipinti nella preziosa tecnica dei monocromi ercolanesi. (Vol. II, le Opere d’arte). 

(And next to the “cella ostiaria” (porter’s room) in the corner of the atrium, as more frequently in Pompeii, we find for the first time in Herculaneum the miserable remains of the podium of the Lararium. Built and leaning against the wall decoration, perhaps by the last owner of the house, it would have been, if it had been spared from the spoliation and demolition of the searchers in the Bourbon tunnels, the most singular and most precious Lararium that could be had in both Pompeii and Herculaneum. Since it was not only covered with marble, like the very singular Lararium of Lucius Caecilius Giocondo in Pompeii, but from the recovery that had been made, among its battered ruins, of two marble monochromes, one of which bears the signature of the same artist “Athenaios”, which appears on the other famous Herculaneum monochrome of the Astragali Players, it was led to suppose that the Lararium was adorned with marble “pinakes” painted in the precious technique of Herculaneum monochromes. (Vol. II, The Works of Art)

See Maiuri A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958) Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.394-5).

 

V.7 Herculaneum. Lararium in atrium. Scene painted on marble.

According to Grasso, the lararium near to the cella ostiaria of the atrium had a fine marble decoration of which were recovered only two monochromes on marble.

In this slab, however very damaged by the heat, one can see on the left a female figure…….. Near to which was a male figure………

The pose of the female figure makes one think of Phaedra, …….. or else Dido beside Ascanius, or Helen at the side of one of the Dioscuri.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 150210.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 119, 14b.

 

On the second panel, also painted on marble, were some female figures dancing near an altar, behind which was a pillar surmounted by a bearded male figure in the act of shaking a rod.

Next to the pillar was Eros (next to which was written the name) with the bow.

To the left the panel was very ruined and only the feet of two figures could be made out.

At the bottom left the picture was signed by the artist, “Alexandros Athenaios egrapsen”, Alexander of Athens composed this.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 150211.

See Sampaolo V. and Bragantini I., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Electa: Verona, p. 119, 14a.

 

Niche on north wall of internal courtyard, on west side of nymphaeum.

 

V.7 Herculaneum. 1961. North wall of internal courtyard with nymphaeum, with niche (on left). 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.

J61f0585

 

V.7 Herculaneum, June 2002. Looking towards recess/niche at west end of north wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

V.8 Herculaneum. Casa del Bel Cortile.

Arched recess under stairs to upper floor.

 

V.8 Herculaneum, 1957. Area 4, looking towards east side of courtyard from tablinum. 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.

J57f0450

 

V.8 Herculaneum, 1957.

Area 4, arched recess under the masonry stairs. 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.

J57f0449

 

V.8 Herculaneum, May 2018. Area 4, arched recess under stairs. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

According to Maiuri –

“Con la sua scala in muratura alleggerita dalla nicchia arcuata del rampante entro cui è ricavata la bocca del pozzo……”

L’arcata del pozzo nel sottoscala appare dipinta e decorata come un sacello; cespi fronzuti e fioriti di oleandri ai lati e tralci di pampini di vite riempiono le pareti della nicchia con la stessa fresca naturalezza di colore della parete di un viridario.”

("With its masonry staircase relieved by the tilted arched niche within which the well mouth is cut......"

The archway of the well under the stairs appears painted and decorated like a sacellum; leafy, flowering bushes of oleander on either side and vine shoots fill the walls of the niche with the same freshness of colour as the wall of a viridarium.")

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.387).

 

V.8 Herculaneum. May 2006. Area 4, detail of painted arched recess under the stairs. 

According to Maiuri, in the courtyard there is a flight of masonry stairs and a gallery with a parapet soberly painted.

Under the staircase, on the ground wall there is a painting of a leafy vine-branch, giving the impression of a garden trellis in the open air.

See Maiuri, Amedeo, (1977). Herculaneum. 7th English ed, of Guide books to the Museums Galleries and Monuments of Italy, No.53 (p.45).

 

V.10 Herculaneum. Shop.

Recess in west wall of shop-room.

 

V.10 Herculaneum, March 2014.

Looking south across counter in shop-room towards a rear room with side entrance doorway at V.9, on right.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

 

V.10 Herculaneum, May 2010. Niche in west wall of shop-room.

 

V.13 Herculaneum. Shop.

Three recesses in south wall of shop-room.

 

V.13 Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking towards south wall.

 

V.13 Herculaneum. May 2010. Looking towards south wall.

 

V.14 Herculaneum. Apartment above Casa del Bicentenario.

Painted Lararium and niche on south wall of upper apartment.

 

V.14 Herculaneum. May 2006. Upper floor apartment with lararium on rear wall between two cubicula.

 

V.14 Herculaneum. December 2004. Upper floor apartment with lararium on rear wall between two cubicula.

According to Maiuri –

“Decorosa e ben conservata era l’abitazione del fronte stradale con le pareti ben decorate, la pittura di un Larario e con due belle sculture, un bustino di Venere ed un ritratto di giovane principe della famiglia claudia associato forse nel culto dei Lari domestici, si da far pensare ches essa, a preferenza del quartiere terraneo dell’atrio, fosse, negli ultimi tempi, l’alloggio del vero proprietario della casa.  …..”

(Decorous and well preserved was the dwelling on the street front with well-decorated walls, the painting of a Lararium and with two beautiful sculptures, a bust of Venus and a portrait of a young prince of the Claudian family associated perhaps in the cult of the domestic Lares, so as to suggest that, in preference to the ground-floor quarter of the atrium, this was, in recent times, the lodging of the real owner of the house. …….)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.235)

 

V.14 Herculaneum. September 2003. Lararium on south wall of upper room above V.14/15. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

V.14 Herculaneum. September 2003.

Detail of lararium on south wall of room L, also known as room 9. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

V.14 Herculaneum. Upper floor apartment above V.14/15. Lararium on rear wall between two cubicula.

White-ground wall surface, framed in red above and below, to the right of the picture is a niche.
In the upper part of the picture two Lares are either side of a round altar.

At the upper edge is a painted garland, whose ends hang down in front of the heads of the Lares.
In the lower picture zone, two ascending serpents flank a round altar, which stands on a separate ledge and is surrounded by green and brown bushes.

The altar has three animal feet and is framed by two cornucopias.

On a second line at the lower edge of the picture are more green bushes.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p.301, L116, Taf. 49,1).

 

V.14 Herculaneum. September 2003. Detail of lararium on south wall of apartment. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

V.14 Herculaneum. May 2004. Detail of lower part of lararium on south wall of apartment. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

V.15 Herculaneum. Casa del Bicentenario.

Niches in kitchen, east and south wall.

 

V.15 Herculaneum. October 2022.

Looking south across east portico towards kitchen area, with niche visible in east wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

V.15 Herculaneum. May 2024. Kitchen area with niche in east wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

V.15 Herculaneum. May 2024.

Looking south along east portico towards south wall of kitchen with niche. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

V.15 Herculaneum. May 2003.

Kitchen, in south-east corner of garden area. There is a niche on both the east and south walls.  Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

V.16 Herculaneum. Room with stairs to upper apartment.

Niche in upper floor room.

 

V.16 Herculaneum. September 2003.

Detail of a niche 25 in upper floor room, no.5. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

V.17/18 Herculaneum. Shop with rear room, linked to V.18.

Square recess in east wall on upper floor.

 

V.17/18 Herculaneum. May 2004. Room 18, looking towards east wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

On the left, in the north-east corner, beneath the square recess, part of a carbonised wooden lararium was found.

See Camardo, D, and Notomista, M, eds. (2017). Ercolano: 1927-1961. L’impresa archeologico di Amedeo Maiuri e l’esperimento della citta museo. Rome, L’Erma di Bretschneider, (p.232, Scheda 25, fig.4).

On the left is the north wall of rear room 18, where the painting of the Cupids was found and detached.

 

V.24 Herculaneum. Casa della Colonna laterizia.

Painted lararium and arched niche on west wall of atrium.

 

V.24 Herculaneum. May 2010. Looking west along entrance corridor, with two small rooms on south side.

 

V.24 Herculaneum. August 2013. West wall of atrium, with vaulted niche and painted lararium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

 

V.24 Herculaneum. May 2003.

Looking towards west wall with vaulted niche and painted lararium. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p.302, L117).

 

V.24 Herculaneum. May 2005. Looking south across rear two rooms in north-west corner of V.24.

The atrium, with the vaulted lararium shrine, is across the centre of the photo, with Lararium, on right.

The ruined podium for an altar, according to Maiuri, centre left. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Maiuri –

“Sulla parete di fondo, verso ponente, campeggia entro un grande riquadro (m.1.90 x 2.10m) una rozza pittura di Larario (a ): sul lato opposto era l’avanzo di un rozzo podio in muratura (c ), più adatto per podio di ara che di focolare.”

(On the rear wall, to the west, stands out within a large square (1.90m x 2.10m) a rough Lararium painting (a): on the opposite side (of the room) were the remains of a rough brick podium, more suitable for an altar podium than of a hearth.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.444).

 

V.28 Herculaneum. Taberna, shop/workshop or tavern.

Niche in north wall of rear corridor.

 

V.28 Herculaneum. May 2003. Niche in north wall of rear corridor. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Maiuri –

“...in alto sulla parete era la rustica nicchia di un Larario dealbato a calce; nell’ambiente che sembra rispondere al carattere d’una piccola officina di lavoro, si raccolsero poche anfore.”

(....high up on the wall was the rustic niche of a lime-walled Lararium; in the room that seemed to correspond to the character of a small workshp, a few amphorae were found.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.445).

 

V.31 Herculaneum. Casa del Sacello di legno.

Wooden lararium with contents, found in room 2.

 

V.31 Herculaneum, October 2012. Looking west to entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Room 2, cubiculum on right of entrance corridor in which was found a wooden cupboard-lararium in the form of a temple with Corinthian capitals above, and a cupboard closed by doors with two shutters, inside containing terracotta lamps, glass jars, and other household items, a bronze statue of Hercules, an unrecognisable female deity, and a bronze seal bearing the inscription of L. Autroni Euthymi (Lucius Autronius Euthymius) which may give back to us the name of the last owner or tenant of the house.

 

V.31 Herculaneum, August 2023.

Wooden cupboard, with its upper part in the form of a tiny temple.

This was found in Room 2 in 1934, the room on the right of the entrance corridor.

On display in exhibition entitled – “Materia. Il legno che non bruciò ad Ercolano”. 

Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

 

V.31 Herculaneum, August 2023.

Wooden cupboard, with its upper part in the form of a tiny temple. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

On display in exhibition entitled – “Materia. Il legno che non bruciò ad Ercolano”. 

 

V.31 Herculaneum, August 2023.

Wooden cupboard containing the seal of Lucius Autronius Euthymius. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

On display in exhibition entitled – “Materia. Il legno che non bruciò ad Ercolano”. 

 

V.31 Herculaneum, September 2016. Wooden cupboard, with its upper part in the form of a tiny temple.

This was found in Room 2 in 1934, the room on the right of the entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

V.31 Herculaneum, September 2016. Detail of upper part of wooden cupboard, in the form of a tiny temple.

This was found in Room 2, the room on the right of the entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

V.31 Herculaneum, 1961.

Wooden lararium with marble capitals with wooden cupboard below. 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.

J61f0592

 

V.32 Herculaneum. Craftsman’s shop.

Lararium niche on rear wall of shop-room.

 

V.32 Herculaneum, October 2012.

Looking west to entrance doorway, on right, and V.33, on south side. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

According to Guidobaldi, on the rear wall of the shop is a lararium niche.

See Guidobaldi, M. (2009). Ercolano, guida agli scavi. Electa Napoli, (p.94-96).

 

V.32 Herculaneum. October 2022. Looking west towards entrance doorway to shop. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

V.32 Herculaneum. October 2022.

Detail of lararium niche in west wall of shop. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

 

V.34 Herculaneum. Shop.

Large recess in west wall of shop-room.

 

V.34 Herculaneum, on right. September 2015.

Looking north-west to doorway to shop, and west wall with recess. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

V.34 Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking towards west wall with recess.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

 

V.35 Herculaneum. Casa del Gran Portale.

Painted serpent on kitchen wall, no trace remains. (No photo).

 

V.35 Herculaneum, September 2015. Looking north-west towards bench/hearth in kitchen 9. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

V.35 Herculaneum. August 2013. Bench/hearth in kitchen against west wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

According to Maiuri –

“Quartiere rustico – Appartato e separato dal resto dell’abitazione era il quartiere rustico.

Vi si accedeva dalla lunga e stretta fauce del lato di nord e si componeva delle parti essenziali: d’una cella penaria (no.7) arieggiata da una finestra, del focolare della cucina allogato nell’angolo di un’area che doveva essere semi-coperta da tettoia (a), della latrina (b) seminascosta da una rampa della scala che saliva alle stanze del piano superiore. Sul muro di contro al focolare vedesi dipinto un serpente, unico avanzo della pittura di un Larario che proteggeva anche qui dall’alto il focolare della casa. Nulla resta delle stanze del piano superiore che doveva estendersi da questo lato, oltreche sull’area del quartiere rustico, sull’esedra no.4 e sul cubicolo no.5.”

(Rustic quarter – the rustic quarter was secluded and separated from the rest of the house. It was accessed from the long and narrow corridor on the north side and consisted of the essential parts: cella penaria (no.7) ventilated by a window, of the kitchen hearth located in the corner of an area that was semi-covered by a roof (a), the latrine (b) half hidden by a flight of stairs leading up to the rooms on the upper floor. On the wall against the hearth, there is a painting of a serpent, the only remnant of the Lararium painting that also protected the hearth of the house from above. Nothing remains of the rooms on the upper floor, which must have extended on this side, as well as over the area of the rustic quarter, to exedra no.4 and cubiculum no.5.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.383).

 

VI.12 Herculaneum. Shop of a plumbarius.

Square recess on south wall of workshop.

 

VI.12 Herculaneum, September 2015.

Looking towards south wall of shop-room, with niche/recess and blocked doorway to atrium of VI.13.

 

VI.12 Herculaneum, September 2015. Niche/recess in south wall.

Painted on the back of the niche can be seen what appears to be the vague outline of people.

The figure on the right seems to be wearing a short greenish tunic, perhaps Haiphestos, the god of metalworking, similarly depicted in II.3.9 at Pompeii?

 

VI.13/11 Herculaneum. Casa del Salone nero.

Wooden shrine found placed against a wall in the “Salone nero”.

 

VI.13 Herculaneum, April 2014.

“Salone nero”, south wall with window, with entrance doorway (on left), looking towards south-west corner. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

Maiuri wrote that on the western side (of the peristyle) is a large black hall, with the walls divided into three rectangular paintings like mirrors, flanked by pillars and chandeliers in lively colours.

The ceiling too, with a wide skylight (? vaulted area) in the centre, recomposed from various fragments, is on a black ground.

Against the wall is placed a wooden shrine in the usual form of a wooden temple, with wooden columns and little marble capitals, which preserved the little statues of a Lararium.

See Maiuri, Amedeo, (1977). Herculaneum. 7th English ed, of Guide books to the Museums Galleries and Monuments of Italy, No.53 (p.40).

According to Maiuri –

“Una mensa marmorea e un Larario in legno, appartenevano alle suppellettili di grandioso oecus.”

(A marble table and a wooden Lararium belonged to the furnishings of this grand oecus.)

See Maiuri A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958) Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, (p. 241).

 

VI.13 Herculaneum. August 2023. Wooden shrine found placed against a wall in the “Salone nero”. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

On display in exhibition entitled – “Materia. Il legno che non bruciò ad Ercolano”. 

 

VI.13 Herculaneum. August 2023. Detail of statuette figures typically found in a shrine. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

On display in exhibition entitled – “Materia. Il legno che non bruciò ad Ercolano”. 

 

VI.13 Herculaneum. August 2023. Detail of statuette figures typically found in a shrine. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

On display in exhibition entitled – “Materia. Il legno che non bruciò ad Ercolano”. 

 

VI.13 Herculaneum, September 2016. Wooden shrine found placed against a wall in the “Salone nero”. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Guidobaldi wrote, that found in this room was a wooden lararium with capitals of painted marble and red lead, and a small marble table with the head of a satyr on the foot.

See Guidobaldi, M.P, 2009: Ercolano, guida agli scavi. Naples, Electa Napoli, (p.106).

 

According to Deiss, found in the black saloon – “was another miraculous wooden survival:  a shrine in the form of a miniature temple.

The fluted columns were of wood, the capitals of marble.

Preserved within are the statuettes typical of a lararium maintained by people who remained devout in the old Roman faith”.

See Deiss, J.J. (1968). Herculaneum: a city returns to the sun. U.K, London, The History Book Club, (p.64).

 

Small masonry lararium in small courtyard at rear of a cubiculum.

 

VI.13 Herculaneum, March 2014. Room 17, south wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

Cubiculum 17 on the west end of the south side of the peristyle had a small courtyard at its rear with a small masonry lararium.

 

VI.13 Herculaneum, May 2006. Masonry lararium in small courtyard.

 

VI.15 Herculaneum. Shop.

Arched niche on south wall, square recess on west wall.

 

VI.15, Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking towards south wall with arched niche, and display case with carbonised rope.

On the west wall, on right, is a square recess/niche.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

 

VI.15 Herculaneum, September 2015. Arched niche from south wall.

 

VI.15 Herculaneum. Undated. South wall with niche. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

VI.17/26 Herculaneum. Casa del Colonnato Tuscanico.

Lararium painting on wall of kitchen 18, right of doorway.

 

VI.17/26, Herculaneum. May 2004. Looking towards south wall with remains of lararium painting. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p.302, L118).

 

VI.17/26 Herculaneum, 1972. Remains of lararium painting on “south” wall of kitchen.

According to Frohlich –

This was found on the “west” wall of the kitchen 18, to the right of the doorway.

Its dimensions – height 0.80m; width 2.06m.

Most of the plaster had fallen off of the wall, the preserved painting has faded considerably.

It was described as a “white-ground wall surface with sacrificial bench.

Two large snakes, whose bodies repeatedly intersect, crawl up a flat hill from the right and approach the offering bench, which consists of a walled-in roof tile, from different sides. Oleander-like plants with red flowers stand scattered on the ground”.

He dated it as: Late Third or Fourth Style.

A photograph taken shortly after the uncovering, AFS 10082, shows a slightly better condition.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p. 302, L118).

 

VI.29 Herculaneum. Casa dei Due Atri.

Square recess/niche in south wall of atrium.

 

VI.29 Herculaneum. August 2021.

Looking south-west across impluvium in atrium 3, towards south wall with niche/recess. Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

According to Maiuri –

“Sulle altre due pareti non si notano che deboli avanzi d’una decorazione dipinta a grandi specchi rossi e, sulla parete meridionale, una nicchietta quadrangolare per il Larario e l’accensione d’una lucerna.”

(On the other two walls there are only faint remnants of a decoration painted with large red panels and, on the southern wall, a quadrangular niche for the Lararium and the lighting of a lamp.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.277).

 

Two niches on south wall of atrium 9.

 

VI.29 Herculaneum, August 2021. Looking east across atrium 9. Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

 

VI.29 Herculaneum. October 2020. Atrium 9, detail of lararia on south wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

According to Maiuri –

“Nella Parete meridionale, accanto all’impluvio, sono incassate due nicchie di Larario, affiancate, in forma di edicole con frontoncino triangolare di coronamento: la meglio conservata ha, oltre al frontoncino, una cornicetta di laterizio e la sua originaria decorazione a fondo rosso.”

(In the southern wall, next to the impluvium, there are two niches of the Lararium, side by side, in the form of aediculas with a crowning triangular pediment: the best preserved has, in addition to the pediment, a small brick cornice and its original decoration with a red background.)

See Maiuri, A., 1958. Ercolano, I Nuovi Scavi, (1927-1958). Vol.1. Roma: Inst. Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.279).

 

VI.29 Herculaneum. May 2018. Atrium 9, detail of lararium. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

 

VII.18 Herculaneum. Dwelling of C. Messenius Eunomus.

Niche on rear wall.

 

VII.18 Herculaneum, October 2014. Entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

VII.18, Herculaneum, September 2015. Niche on rear wall, from entrance doorway.

 

VII.18, Herculaneum, October 2014. Detail of niche on rear wall, from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

 

Ins. Or. I, 2/3 Herculaneum. Garden area on north side of House of Telephus Relief.

Rustic shrine near north wall.

 

Ins. Orientalis I.3, Herculaneum, May 2004.

Looking towards area of house and garden of Telephus Relief on its north-western side, lower centre right.

The aedicula lararium can be seen against the north wall of the garden area.

This rustic area occupied all the area on the north side of the house.

The rustic area was composed of a stable with ramp, and a garden, with some rooms on the south and west sides.

Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Ins. Orientalis I.3, Herculaneum, October 2023.

Aedicula lararium against north wall of garden area. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

According to Maiuri –

“The garden to the north of the dwelling, which must have been a later addition, hides here and there in the subsoil the remains of preceding constructions.

Here, roughly attached to the boundary wall, there is the rustic shrine, dear to the servant who had charge of this humble part of the dwelling.”

See Maiuri, Amedeo, (1977). Herculaneum. 7th English ed, of Guidebooks to the Museums Galleries and Monuments of Italy, No.53 (p.64-66).

 

Ins. Or. II.1a Herculaneum. Pistrinum.

North wall of mill room A, west side of door to b. (No photo).

 

Ins. Or. II.1a, Herculaneum. October 2023.

Room A, looking north across bakery towards window into room B and doorway into room b. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

According to Frohlich –

The lararium painting was found on the west side of the doorway into room b.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p.302, L119).

 

Ins. Or. II.1a, Herculaneum. 1958. Room A, mills (m’) and (m).

Looking north towards window into room B, and doorway to room b, with painted remains of lararium.

According to Maiuri –

“Sulla parete di fronte restano gli avanzi d’una pittura di larario: vi si riconosce a stento parte di un’ara colma di offerte di frutta e in basso, da uno dei lati, un porco.”

(On the facing wall there are the remains of a lararium painting: here you can just recognise part of an altar full of fruit offerings and at the bottom, on one of the sides, a pig.)

See Maiuri A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958) Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, (p. 452, fig. 403 & p.453).

 

Ins. Or. II.2 Herculaneum. Long corridor to living quarters of owner of Ins. Or. II.1a.

Niche lararium on south wall.

 

Ins Or II.2, Herculaneum. December 2004. Room M, lararium on south wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Maiuri –

“Al complesso di quest’abitazione era anche da attribuire il vasto ambiente rettanglare (M) che si apre a destra della fauce d’ingesso (no.2).

Con la finestra che prende luce dalla strada e la porta all’ingresso della fauce, con la sua decorazione tutta a fondo bianco scompartito da semplici lineole rosse, con un sacello elegantemente stuccato nella parete di sud e un armadio a muro ricavato dal vano di una porta che s-apriva anch’essa un tempo sul corridoio d’ingresso, ........”

(To this house is also to be attributed, the vast rectangular room (M) that opens to the right of the entrance corridor of No.2. With the window taking light from the street and the door to the entrance of the corridor, with its decoration all on a white background divided by simple red lines, with an elegantly stuccoed shrine in the south wall and a built-in cupboard obtained by using the opening of a door that also once opened onto the entrance corridor......).

See Maiuri A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958) Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.454)

 

Ins Or. II.8 Herculaneum. Pistrinum.

Recess/niche on an upper floor above flooring.

 

Ins. Orientalis II.8, Herculaneum. September 2015.

Recess/niche in room on mezzanine floor in upper north-east corner.

Above the recess is another doorway which would have been on the upper floor.

 

Ins. Or. II.8, Herculaneum. December 2004. Upper north wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Ins. Or. II.8, Herculaneum. December 2004.

Detail of recess/niche from upper north wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Recess/niche on an upper floor in south-west corner of a room.

 

Ins. Or. II.8, Herculaneum, December 2004.

Upper floor, looking towards west wall in south-west corner. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Ins. Or. II.9 Herculaneum. Wine shop with rear room.

Lararium painting on north wall of taberna.

 

Ins. Orientalis II.9, Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking east to details of carbonised wooden storage and remains of ladder. 

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

 

Ins. Or. II.09, Herculaneum. July 2001. Looking north-east across wine-shop. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

According to Maiuri –

“Accanto alla porta, sulla parete di sinistra, era una pittura di Larario in cui peraltro, in luogo del genio familiare e dei Lari, sono sostituite le immagini di Dioniso di Mercurio e di Ercole, nume tutelare, che liba, pitture guasta e annerita gia in antico per sobbollitura del colore; al di sotto di quelle immagini era, invece dell’ara, una minuscola nicchietta absidata fiancheggiata dai serpenti agatodemoni tra virgulti di piante.

Di faccia era il focolare e, nell’angolo del muro la latrina e l’acquaio (h) che convogliava l’acqua di spurgo nella fogna sottostrada; il banco, se pur v’era, doveva essere di legno.”

(Next to the door, on the left wall, there was a Lararium painting in which however, instead of the family Genius and the Lares, are replaced with the images of Dionysus of Mercury and Hercules, tutelary deity, who is pouring a libation, pictures damaged and blackened already in antiquity due to heat affecting the colour; below those images was, instead of the altar, a tiny apsidal niche flanked by serpents among plants.

Opposite was the hearth and, in the corner of the wall, the latrine and the sink (h) that conveyed the sewage water into the sewer under the street; the bench, if there was one, must have been made of wood.)

See Maiuri A., 1958. Ercolano I Nuovi Scavi (1927-1958) Vol. 1. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, (p.462).

 

Ins. Orientalis II.9, Herculaneum. September 2015. Niche in north wall.

According to Deiss – a niche stuccoed as a seashell, sheltered a statuette (now missing) of one of the gods.

Above and around the shrine was a fine fresco (now barely visible) of a robed Hercules pouring a libation between a nude Dionysus and a nude Mercury, who amongst other things, was the patron god of shop keepers. The fresco must have been the pride of the shop.

See Deiss, J.J. 1968. Herculaneum: a city returns to the sun. UK, The History Book Club, (p.104-6).

 

Ins. Orientalis II.9, Herculaneum.1957. 

Niche on north wall with remains of fresco, as described by Deiss, above. 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.

J57f0453

 

An arched niche decorated with stucco, inside a shell and with side pillars.

Three gods stand side by side in the upper picture-zone:

Bacchus in the middle, clothed in a hip mantle, leaning on a pillar with his left elbow, the panther drinking on his right side;

On the left is Mercury in a short robe, with winged shoes and helmet (petasus), leaning on his left leg, and holding a vase with both hands;

Hercules on the right, probably naked except for the lion skin over his left arm, leaning on his right leg, lowering his right hand in sacrificial posture and carrying the club in his left arm.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p.302, L120, Tav. 51,2).

 

Ins Or. II.10 Herculaneum. Workshop of the gem-cutter.

Lararium niche in north wall of kitchen.

 

Ins. Orientalis II.10, Herculaneum. September 2015. Lararium niche in north wall of kitchen.

Found to the right of the niche was a graffito, but which has been lost.

According to Cooley and Cooley, it read -

11 September, for a tunic: 1 denarius, 7 asses.   (CIL IV 10664)

This may record the price of purchasing, or perhaps of cleaning a tunic. The graffito was found low down on an interior wall of a shop.

See Cooley, A.E, and Cooley, M.G.L. (2014). Pompeii and Herculaneum, a sourcebook. Oxon, Routledge, (p.240 numbered as H28 Expenditure on a tunic, Herculaneum ins or II.10)

 

Also found nearby was an altar to Hercules.

Hercules (AE (1980) 250).

 

A tufa altar, 13 centimetres high, dedicated to Hercules was found in Ins. Or.II.10. It illustrated the presence of non-domestic gods in private space.

See Cooley, A.E, and Cooley, M.G.L. (2014). Pompeii and Herculaneum, a sourcebook. Oxon, Routledge, (p.150-51, numbered as E74).

 

Ins. Orientalis II.10, Herculaneum. September 2015. Detail of lararium niche.

 

Ins Or II.10, Herculaneum. January 2002.

Lararium niche in north wall of kitchen area. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Small recess in north wall of a rear room.

 

Ins. Orientalis II.10, Herculaneum. September 2015. North wall of rear room, east end.

 

Ins Or II.10, Herculaneum. December 2004. Small recess in north wall of rear room, east end. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Ins. Orientalis II.10, Herculaneum. September 2015. Small recess in north wall of rear room.

 

Ins. Or. II.14 Herculaneum. Workshop.

Niche on north wall of a rear room.

 

Ins. Orientalis II.14, Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking east towards two rear rooms.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

 

Ins. Or. II. 14, Herculaneum. December 2004. North wall of rear room, with niche. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Ins. Or. II.18 Herculaneum. Workshop.

Niche in north wall.

 

Ins. Orientalis II.18, Herculaneum. September 2015.

Looking towards north wall, with remains of furnace in middle of remains of two big counters.

 

Ins. Or. II.18, Herculaneum. May 2006. Looking towards north wall. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

 

Ins. Orientalis II.18, Herculaneum. September 2015. Niche set into north wall.

 

Mystery Painted Lararium. VI.26?

Found on November 21, 1748, near house IV.21 Casa dei Cervi.

 

VI.26 Herculaneum? Lararium painting found 21st December 1748 by the Bourbon tunnellers.

Naked Harpocrates on the left of a yellow marble altar, the altar entwined with a serpent approaching the offerings.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 8848.

According to Frohlich –

This painting was found on November 21, 1748, near house IV.21 Casa dei Cervi.

Dimensions: H 0.38 m; W 0.42 m. Some small missing parts, otherwise good.

Fröhlich’s description is of a

“White-ground, black-framed picture in yellow plaster surface.

In the middle of the picture, a snake winds around a round altar and consumes the offerings lying on it.

Harpocrates approaches from the left, emblazoned with a lotus leaf over his forehead, a branch in his lowered right hand, his left hand leading it to his mouth.

A rock is indicated on the left edge of the picture. Green grass and perennial plants stand on the ground.

To the right of the snake, the inscription Genius huius loci montis was once painted. The picture probably comes from a house shrine or from a façade”.

Dating: Fourth style.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern, (p. 303, L121, Pl.13,2)

According to Pagano & Prisciandaro, this lararium painting was found in the kitchen of VI.26?

See Pagano, M. and Prisciandaro, R., 2006. Studio sulle provenienze degli oggetti rinvenuti negli scavi borbonici del regno di Napoli.  Naples: Nicola Longobardi. (p.205).

Other references AdE, I, 36, 207, Diario 267, St.Erc.104. CIL IV 1176.

A note says “The space of the cut seems to coincide with that of the plaster of the kitchen of the House of the Tuscan Columns” see F. De Salvia in Hommages à J. Leclant, III, 1994, pp.145 onwards.

According to Rocco, “the incision made in the 1700’s of this painting in the Pitture di Ercolano recorded the inscription, next to the altar, the phrase Genius huius loci montis:  it was believed that the serpent was the protector of the places where it lurked”.

See Bragantini, I and Sampaolo, V., Eds, 2009. La Pittura Pompeiana. Verona: Electa. (p.430, no.223).

 

VI.26 Herculaneum? 17th century incision, including the inscription Genius huius loci montis [CIL IV. 1176].

See Antichità di Ercolano: Tomo Primo: Le Pitture 1, 1757, Tav. 38, p.207.