Gardens of the Roman Empire

VIII.7.1. Caupona

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Keywords

Garden Description

This caupona, excavated in 1874, had a garden (a) across the back with a low wall on the east and a gutter that ran beside it, most of this covered by a roofed passageway. The northwest corner had a shallow pool, 1.87 x 0.55 m. from which water drained to a into a round basin 0.50 m. dia. on the southeast. Mau thought perhaps this had been a cistern opening. The west wall had a garden painting on the north side. A description by Mau is the only record remaining of this painting, for it was poorly preserved and has since completely deteriorated. The painting was divided into three sections by painted pilasters joined by a fence which formed an apse in the center panel containing a vase shaped marble fountain. Two birds perched on the fence either side of the fountain facing it, the bird on the right was identified as a peacock. Both side panels had a hydria standing on the center fence post and Mau surmised that a bird would have been perched on the fence on either side of the hydria, although only one image of a pigeon survived. A lush garden grew in back of the fence with birds flying across a blue sky above. A little shield and mask hung from the center of the pediment of the center panel and from the arch above each of the side panels. There was a closed up doorway in the south wall which once led to the pomerium. This ancient pomerium was situated between the south wall of this house and the city wall, closed near the Porta di Stabia by a wall and entered through a gate. Soil had been piled obliquely against the wall with high ridges running north-south and smaller ridges diagonally, forming squares. Mau suggested that the high ridges were planted and the low ridges slowed the flow of water in the depressions.

Plans

Fig.23, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII

Images

Fig.24, 9.34.66 (Stanley Jashemski, Jashemski Archives, University of Maryland)

Fig.25, 9.35.66 (Stanley Jashemski, Jashemski Archives, University of Maryland)

Fig.26, 10.2.66 (Stanley Jashemski, Jashemski Archives, University of Maryland)

Places

Excavation Dates

1874

Bibliography

Grimal, Les jardins romains, 3rd ed. pp. 457-459, no. 31 (address given as VIII.viii.1) (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, pp. 220, 365 (worldcat)
Mau, Bullettino dell'Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (1875), pp. 127-128, 169 (worldcat)
Niccolini, Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei designati e descritti, vol. 2, "Descr. gen," p. 68 (worldcat)
Schefold, Die Wande Pompejis, p. 230 (worldcat)
Soliano, Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-1879. In Pompei e la regione sotterrata dal Vesuvio nel'anno LXXIX, p. 224, no. 695 (address given as VIII.viii.1) (worldcat)

VIII.7.10. Shop-House

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Keywords

Garden Description

Behind shop no. 10 and the accompanying living quarters was a garden (a) enclosed by a low wall on the east with an entrance on the north end. The excavations in 1906 uncovered a triclinium (l. medius, 4.60 m.; l. imus and l. summus 3.20 m.) attached to the south wall with painted plaster decorating the sides. Against a red background an amorino on the right tries to defend a bunch of grapes he is holding from a pheasant, and an amorino on the left drinks from a bowl while holding off what is perhaps a leopard. The rectangular triclinium table (1.40 x 0.90 m.) had a semicircular cut-out in the front and colored marble shapes inlaid on the top. The semicircular area in front of the triclinium was compacted soil with bits of marble. To the north of the triclinium there was an unusual masonry table (1.11 x 0.73m., 0.90 m. high) with two openings 0.25.m. square on each of the long sides and one on each of the short sides to store food and utensils. The top of this was also inlaid with marble, one circle and various small squares and rhomboids. A beautiful two-handled vase was found inside, made of terra-cotta but evidentially a copy of a silver vase. On the south side of the table there was a white marble statuette of a boy (0.38 m. high) holding a bunch of grapes and a small animal propped up in a small millstone of Vesuvian lava due to the fact the lower part of the statuette had broken off. This was found to the left on a small base. On the right of the statuette was a small rectangular capital of a post, used for garden decoration, with a white marble statuette of a crouching dog 0.16 m. long on the top. Additionally some broken terra-cotta pots were uncovered and two other bases. Soil cavities were found, the three round cavities near the triclinium were possibly the holes for the pergola posts and the others more likely to had been trees. The southwest corner of the garden contained a circular raised planting bed in which Spano reported finding a red terra-cotta pot, wide except for the base and top. Jashemski commented that it was likely a planting pot but was not sure, for Spano did not mention any holes in the pot. Also in this bed a small alabastron was found, similar to ones found in the pre-Roman tombs in the Villa of the Mosaic Columns. Two masonry basins were attached to the north wall on either side of an opening with a lava step leading to the garden to the north. The long basin on the west side had a terra-cotta channel which directed the overflow to the garden. The basin on the east side was deep and faced with opus signinum, collecting water from the neighbor's roof through a terra-cotta pipe. This garden was also connected to the large garden to the south.

Plans

Fig.23, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII

Places

Excavation Dates

Unspecified

Bibliography

Döhl,Plastik aus Pompeji, p. 48, (listed under VIII.vii.5-11) (worldcat)
Fiorelli, Notizie degli scavi di Antichita (1881), p. 17 (worldcat)
Fiorelli, Descrizione di Pompei, p. 349 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, 1:187 and fig. 277 on p. 187 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, pp. 221-222 (worldcat)
Mau, Bullettino dell'Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (1875), p. 168 (worldcat)
Soprano, I triclini all'aperto di Pompei In Pompeiana, p. 302, no. 18 (worldcat)
Spano, Notizie degli scavi di Antichita (1910), pp. 265-268 and fig. 5 (plan) on p. 263 (worldcat)

VIII.7.11.

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Garden Description

Behind this shop and the rooms beyond that there was a garden (a).

Plans

Fig.23, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII

Places

Excavation Dates

Unspecified

Bibliography

Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, p. 222 (worldcat)
Viola, Gli scavi di Pompei dal 1873 al 1878. In Pompei e la regione sotterrara dal Vesuvio nell' anno LXXIX, p. 17 (where the address is VIII.viii.11) (worldcat)

VIII.7.12.

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Garden Description

The rear of this shop-house had a garden (a), perhaps with rooms overhead supported by columns in the garden according to Fiorelli.

Plans

Fig.23, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII

Places

Excavation Dates

Unspecified

Bibliography

Fiorelli, Descrizione di Pompei, pp. 349-350 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, p. 222 (worldcat)
Niccolini, Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei designati e descritti, vol. 2, "Descr. gen," p. 68 (piccolo giardino) (worldcat)

VIII.7.16. Gladiatorial Barracks; Ludus Gladiatorius; Schola Gladiatoria

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Keywords

Garden Description

A public garden laid out to the specifications of Vitruvius originally occupied the area at the rear of the Great Theater. There was a seventy four column portico enclosing an area with green plots of trees and shrubs and pathways for promenades. In the later years of the city the colonnade was converted into gladiator barracks and the green space became the training field. A gutter surrounded the area to collect the roof run off. There were two puteals in the east portico.

Plans

Fig. 28, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII, 24-27

Places

Excavation Dates

Unspecified

Bibliography

Fiorelli, Descrizione di Pompei, pp. 350-351 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, 1:160 and 216 (balloon photo) and 217 (plan) on pp. 138-139 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, p. 222 (worldcat)
Mazois, Les ruines de Pompei dessinees et mesurees pendant les annees 1809-1810-1811,vol. 3, pl. 2 (plan) (worldcat)
Fiorelli, ed. Pompeianarum Antiquitatum Historia, vol. 1, pt. 1, p. 202 (Feb. 7, 1767) (worldcat)

VIII.7.24.

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Keywords

Garden Description

The rooms adjoining the atrium of this house, excavated in 1795-1798, had been converted to a sculptor's workshop. To the left of the atrium and up fifteen steps was a garden (a) with a surrounding portico and a fountain in the center. The triclinium to the north offered a view of the garden and the fountain.

Plans

Fig. 28, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII, 24-27

Places

Excavation Dates

Unspecified

Bibliography

Fiorelli, Descrizione di Pompei, p. 357 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, 1:198 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, p. 222 (worldcat)
Mazois, Les ruines de Pompei dessinees et mesurees pendant les annees 1809-1810-1811, 2:54 and pl. 16 (plan) (worldcat)
Niccolini, Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei designati e descritti, vol. 2, "Descr. gen.," p. 69 (worldcat)
Overbeck and Mau, Pompeji in seinen Gebäuden, Altertümern und Kunstwerken pp.281-282 and figs.156 (plan) and 157 on p.281 (worldcat)

VIII.7.26-27.

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Keywords

Garden Description

Beyond shop 26 and the living quarters behind it there was a very large garden (a) that was entered directly from the atrium through the portico that stood at the north side of the garden. The garden could also be reached by the long, narrow angiportus located at the rear of the east portico of the Temple of Isis. The garden could be viewed from the triclinium to the north.

Plans

Fig. 28, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII, 24-27

Images

Fig.29, 9.21.59 (Stanley Jashemski, Jashemski Archives, University of Maryland)

Fig.30, 9.27.59 (Stanley Jashemski, Jashemski Archives, University of Maryland)

Places

Excavation Dates

Unspecified

Bibliography

Fiorelli, Descrizione di Pompei, p. 358 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, p. 222 (worldcat)
Mazois, Les ruines de Pompei dessinees et mesurees pendant les annees 1809-1810-1811,2:55 and pl. 16 (plan) (worldcat)
Niccolini, Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei designati e descritti, vol. 2, "Descr. gen," p. 69 (worldcat)

VIII.7.28. Temple of Isis

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Garden Description

This temple site was excavated in 1764-1766 and although, as Jashemski points out, it was likely that there was a sacred garden surrounding it, she could find no evidence of plantings remaining when she examined it. Ceremonies in a garden in front of a temple of Isis were depicted in two paintings found in Herculaneum (Mus. Naz. inv. nos. 8924, 8919; Ruesch nos. 1346, 1347). Gardens were often part of the cult of Egyptian temples.

Plans

Fig. 28, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII, 24-27

Places

Excavation Dates

1764-1766

Bibliography

Jashemski, Gardens, 1:157 and figs. 216 (balloon photo) and 217 (plan) on pp. 138-139 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, pp. 222-223 (worldcat)
Niccolini, Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei designati e descritti, vol. 1, "Tempio d'Iside," pl. 2 (plan) (worldcat)

VIII.7.30. The Triangular Forum

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Keywords

porticoes AAT:300004145

Garden Description

The Doric Temple in the Triangular Forum was excavated between 1767 and 1797. A superlative view from the colonnade at the edge of the cliff looked across the Bay and a marble fountain basin supported by a fluted marble base stood in front of a middle column of the north portico catching water that spouted from a pipe above in the column. Fiorelli suggested that the temple most likely had been surrounded by a sacred grove. There was a stone schola in the northwest corner of the temple with a sundial on the back. The sundial was inscribed with the acknowledgement that L. Sepunius Sandilianus and M. Herennius Epidianus had built the sundial and seat at their own expense (CIL X. 831).

Plans

Fig. 28, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII, 24-27

Places

Excavation Dates

Unspecified

Bibliography

Fiorelli, Descrizione di Pompei, pp. 363-364 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, 1:155-157 and figs. 216 (balloon photo) and 217 (plan) on pp. 138-139 and fig. 243 on p. 156 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, p. 223 (worldcat)

VIII.7.6.

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Province

Location

Location Description

An ancient city of Campania destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Sublocation

Region VIII

Insula

Insula VII

Keywords

Garden Description

The extremely long entranceway from the street led all the way to the back of the house into the garden (a) which was excavated in 1906. A portico bordered the garden on the east with four columns, white on top and black on the bottom, connected with a low wall with an entrance on the north end. (Fig.27, 9.31.66) A masonry triclinium (l. medius, 4.60 m.; l. imus 4.96; l. summus 3.75 m.) was located in the northwest side of the garden with a rectangular table (2.00 x 1.45 m.) that had a semicircular indentation in the east end. The couches had been painted red and were faced with opus signinum and the table top was inlaid with a round piece of marble in the center and square pieces of marble all around. Close by on the north wall a small table with an arched niche below also had a top inlaid with marble. The lower part was decorated with painted plants on a red background. A shallow basin on the south side of the triclinium collected rain run-off from the sloping couches and directed it towards the mouth of the cistern at the southwest corner of the basin. There was a bottom half of a large dolium at this corner also. The north wall contained an arched lararium niche with traces of a lararium painting next to it. The root cavity of a very large tree was found near the portico by Spano, as well as various small cavities which could have been posts for a pergola over the triclinium or of small trees. The cavities were not emptied or measured. Like Mau, Spano reported that the area between the south wall of this house and the city wall was filled with soil to a considerable height. He supposed that the furrowed soil indicated the location of a kitchen garden.

Plans

Fig.23, Plan of Region VIII, Insula VII

Images

Fig. 27, 9.31.66 (Stanley Jashemski, Jashemski Archives, University of Maryland)

Places

Excavation Dates

1906

Bibliography

Boyce, Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii, Memoris of the American Academy in Rome (1937), p. 78, no. 376 (worldcat)
Fiorelli, Descrizione di Pompei, pp. 348-349 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, 1:187 (worldcat)
Jashemski, Gardens, vol. II, p. 220 (worldcat)
Matz, Bullettino dell'Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (1875), pp. 164-165 (worldcat)
Mau, Bullettino dell'Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (1875), pp. 164-165 (worldcat)
Niccolini, Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei designati e descritti, vol. 2, "Descr. gen," p. 68 (worldcat)
Soprano, I triclini all'aperto di Pompei In Pompeiana, pp. 301-302, no. 16. (worldcat)
Spano, Notizie degli scavi di Antichita (1910), pp. 264-265 and fig. 5 (plan) on p. 263 (worldcat)
Viola, Gli scavi di Pompei dal 1873 al 1878. In Pompei e la regione sotterrara dal Vesuvio nell' anno LXXIX, p. 17 (where the address is given as VIII,viii.6.) (worldcat)