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

skillets, cauldrons, jugs, terracotta jugs, mixing bowls, amphorae, cups, bowls, plates, and a
possible testum, small ceramic and glass vessels for spices and herbs, and some organic remains
of food and fuel. Most kitchens preserve few finds, the result of any of the following factors: a)
the household packed up cooking and eating wares and escaped the eruption, b) cooking and
serving wares were normally stored elsewhere in the house when not in use, c) the kitchen and
house were not occupied at the time of the eruption, and d) the finds recovered from the kitchen
were not recorded accurately or have not been published.
Casa grande The largest houses vary widely in their cooking and dining arrangements.
On average, their kitchens are no larger (7.9 m 2 ) than smaller houses. They do, however, have
more potential cooking areas (2-6) because they have more portable cooking devices. Individual
building history seems to be the primary factor in determining their array of cooking areas. As a
result, there are no general trends in case grandi. Because of their size and status they have risen
above generalities; I will approach each on a case by case basis.
I.4.5-6+25+28 inherited the individual kitchens (42, 64) originally belonging to each of its
two large atrium-peristyle houses. The kitchens contained a fixed stove and hearth respectively.
A was brazier found in court (21), but no finds are recorded from the kitchens (Fig. 5.10). I.7.10-
12 was also the product of at least two (possibly three) separate houses; accordingly, there are
stoves in three fixed cooking areas -- (7), (8) and (21). A brazier was also stored in room (18), next
to the two most elaborate dining areas in the house. Cooking equipment was found on two
stoves; the imprint of a vase and hand mill in (7), and a tripod, bronze amphora, casseruola and
skillet in (8) (Fig. 5.21). The Casa del Menandro, I.10.4+14-17, has a single kitchen (52) with a
large stove. The incorporation of a small atrium-house at #16-17 added a hearth in atrium (41),
and an assortment of items including a tripod, cooking pots, casseruole, bowls , cups and jugs. 62
A brazier was located in peristyle (c) (Fig. 5.162). 63 Large scale cooking in this house was
handled only by kitchen (52). The other, smaller cooking areas probably served several
functions: a) the needs of slaves, b) breakfasts and lunches, and c) keeping food warm at dinner.
Finds from the cooking areas of neither I.6.2+16 nor I.7.1+20 have been published. The main
kitchen in I.6.2 was originally located underground in [F] and served the large entertainment
room there; it was later destroyed and the cryptoporticus filled after the A.D. 62 earthquake (Fig.
5.50). Thereafter a small stove was built for the new masonry dining couches in area (16) of the
reduced house. The main kitchen (14) in I.7.1+20 was also connected to its cryptoporticus via a
62 The small house at #16-17 probably had its original kitchen in room (45).
63 Braziers were also stored in underground room [A] (with numerous tablewares, including the famous
silver service) and room (37) (with a tripod and other cooking pots).
133