KITCHENS AND DINING ROOMS AT POMPEII ... - Get a Free Blog

typology is a common basis for comparing dining areas in residences across the socio-economic
spectrum (see chapter three, pp. 140-145). The English terminology for the types breaks away
from the conventional Latin terms discussed above. After defining each type, I will suggest Latin
terms that correlate most closely to each, offering a link between the literary and archaeological
evidence. 237 The codes are used on the individual building plans and in the Gazetteer entries:
Type DR "Dining room" Type DO "Dining area (Open-Air)"
Type DH "Dining-Hall" Type DB "Dining Benches"
Type DI "Dinette"
Type DR, "Dining room"
The primary attribute of a 'dining room' is a set of three three-person dining couches.
The Latin term that best describes this type is triclinium, which assumes the presence of the three
couches. Dining areas have been found with only one or two couches in situ (although there was
usually room for three). Traditionally, two couch dining areas have been called biclinia. A
biclinium technically refers to a smaller couch that holds only two people, just as the term lectus
tricliniaris refers to a three-person couch, but the term has gained wide acceptance as referring to
a two-couch dining area. 238 Cenatio is also a suitable equivalent, although cenatio may also be
applied to other types of dining areas.
Decorative patterns in the pavement or division of the wall decoration can indicate
where the couches were placed:
"Both wall-paintings and pavement design often distinguish clearly between the
forepart of the room, for reception of the guests, service, and entertainment, and
the inner part for the couches; and the pavement of this inner part may be
divided into a more highly decorated center and a plainer surround." 239
This functional differentiation of space is achieved by a synchronized bipartite division of wall,
ceiling, and floor decoration. Stucco or painted pilasters or a change in the base color of the paint
237 Allison (1992a, 1992b) calls for a break from conventional nomenclature, and yet follows it herself, for the
obvious advantage of convenience. Bek's typology (1983, 83) is based solely on literary evidence. She
derives the "three main types of triclinia" from Vitruvius: winter, summer, and open-air garden triclinia,
none of which are distinguished from larger rooms like oeci. As a result, she lumps all of the types together
and treats them as equals (which they are not).
238 Dining room (19) of the Casa dell'Alcova (IV.4) at Herculaneum had only two couches found within,
although there was room for three. Biclinium clearly refers to a two person couch in Pl. Bac. 714-760, and the
word is scarce in Latin; it appears elsewhere only once (Quint. Inst. 1.5.68). Modern definitions of biclinium
as a dining area with two couches: Clarke 1991, 374, 194-199, Jashemski 1979, 45, Dunbabin 1991, 124; all
primarily refer to the two masonry open-air couches in II.2.2 (k) except Soprano 1950, 305-306, who lists
other instances of two-couch ensembles in masonry at Pompeii.
239 Dunbabin 1991, 123. See also Watts 1987, 236-237, 325-328.
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