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

D) Entry prox., HE in (a): 5.5 Entry prox., DI◊(c): 10.1 Prox., HE in (a)-DI◊(c): 6.8
E) Entry access., HE in (a): 3 Entry access., DI◊(c): 4 Access., HE in (a)-DI◊(c): 4
F) Sight perc., HE in (a)-DI◊(c): N Sound perc., HE in (a)-DI◊(c): T Smell perc., HE in (a)-DI◊(c): T
G) Environmental Amenities, DI◊(c): This possible dining area was offered light, air and greenery
via a wide doorway onto the garden court (d), where an altar and a painting marked a sacred spot
against the N wall.
H) Installation Amenities, HE in (a): Against the S wall of the narrow room NE of (a) is a HE (l.
1.70, w. 0.55, h. 0.43 m.) of combined sub-types (1, 2), consisting of two rubble supports with a tile
top. Between the supports is a gap of 0.33 m., spanned by a tile that rests on the edges of both
platforms. The open space perhaps forms a kind of 'burner'. All light and ventilation must have
been provided by the street through the front door. Water may have been collected from court
(d), but no cisterns seem to have been built to contain it. Water was probably drawn from a
public fountain 25 meters away at the NW corner of insula I.4. The latrine in the SE corner of (d)
provided drainage, but the street itself was nearer to the HE. Some storage space may have been
available in the back of the room with the HE.
J) Sanctity: Fiorelli described a lararium painting on the N wall of (d) that depicted a Genius
flanked by Lares, pouring libations at an altar that itself was flanked by two serpents. A masonry
altar stood below the painted shrine. Nothing survives today.
Synthesis
The cooking area off of (a) was obvious to anyone on the street, but was concealed from
all other parts of the property. A glimpse of what was cooking could have enticed customers into
the establishment, perhaps to dine in one of the rooms behind. In addition, the counter at the
front of (a) could have sold food or drink to passersby. But because the nature of what was sold
at the front counter is not definitively known, and because neither (b) nor (c) have any secure
evidence for being identified as dining areas, Fiorelli and Della Corte's suggestion that this
building was a caupona must remain hypothetical.
8. I.4.12-14+17, Bakery; I.4.15-16, Taberna di D. Iunius Proculus, (work)shop
(Figs. 2.3, 5.2, 5.12, 5.39)
Synopsis
This complex of shops and baking facilities takes advantage of the major crossroads of
the Via Stabiana and the Via dell'Abbondanza, on the corner opposite of the Terme Stabiane.
Entrance #12 leads to a large work area (b) with mills, benches, and the LO (c). More work and
storage space is found in (d, f), (e) is a small stable, and a staircase at (g) accesses an upper floor.
Indirectly connected is #13-13A, which has a SO at the back and storage space in (b). Thence a
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