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

E) Entry access., KI (n): 5 Entry access., DR (c): 4 Access, KI (n)-DR (c): 4
Entry access., DI◊(i): 4 Access, KI (n)-DI◊(i): 4
Entry access., DH•(p): 7 Access, KI (n)-DH•(p): 4
F)Sight perc., KI (n)-DR (c): N Sound perc., KI (n)-DR (c): T Smell perc., KI (n)-DR (c): F
Sight perc., KI (n)-DI◊(i): N Sound perc., KI (n)-DI◊(i): T Smell perc., KI (n)-DI◊(i): F
Sight perc., KI (n)-DH•(p): N Sound perc., KI (n)-DH•(p): T Smell perc., KI (n)-DH•(p): F
G) Environmental amenities, dining areas: Light and air enter DR (c) primarily from its door on
the SW corner onto the atrium (Fig. 5.53). A window up in the N wall towards the W end that
would have opened onto the street was closed up with rubble prior to the last redecoration of the
room. The SW orientation of this room and its closed form off the atrium suggests that it was
used in winter. DI◊(i), with its wide entrance directly onto the impluvium of the atrium, is amply
supplied with light and air. DH•(p) was originally designed for a commanding view over the
cryptoporticus garden to the S via a doorway the width of the room, which would have provided
ample light and breezes. The closure of the S wall severely limited light and air in this room to
the two small doorways via (r) to court (m) (Fig. 5.16). This alteration must have either reversed
the orientation of dining-couches from S to N, or limited the function of this room for proper
reception and dining.
H) Installation amenities, KI (n): A masonry ST of sub-type (1) rests against the E wall (l. 1.67, w.
0.83, h. 0.80 m.) (Fig. 5.51). The ST has a tiled surface and a curb constructed of imbrices on its S
edge; another arm of imbrices parallel to the curb extended from the E wall 0.5 m. to the N. The
two curbs together formed a 'burner' across which spits, grates, or large pots and pans could have
been placed. Found in situ on the hearth were a smoke-blackened bronze vessel upon an iron
tripod, a blackened shallow bowl, or patera of terracotta, and a pot-bellied bronze vase. 38 A
small bronze cauldron lay at the base of the N wall, accompanied by a ceramic cooking pot and a
one-handled bowl; a flat mixing bowl sat in the SW corner, and two truncated amphorae in the
NW corner were identified as having adapted as makeshift ovens. 39
Light and ventilation seems to have been provided by court (m). Water was available from the
cistern head in atrium (b) and from court (m). The latrine in the SE corner, separated from the
38 Allison 1992b, 326, Della Corte NSc 1913, 358: "Sopra il podio di cucina...e sopra il corrispondente
treppiede di ferro, per nulla spostato, si è rinvenuto un vaso conico di bronzo, alto m. 0.19, dall'orlo
allargato e rialzato, esternamente tutto ricoperto di nero-fumo. Alla estremità meridionale del posio stesso,
e sopra ll'apposito fornello in muratura, due basi rettangolari di bardiglio, ivi utilizzate per sostenere altro
vasellame: fra queste e la pentola sul teppiede, già descritta, un vaso panciuto di bronzo, alto m. 0.17, a
stretto collo e orlo allungato in versatoio, con ansa desinente in giù in fogliolina."
39 Della Corte NSc 1913, 359: "Continuandosi a liberare la cucina, vi si sono rinvenuti questi altri oggetti sul
pavimento di semplice terreno battuto: sotto la parete nord, una caldaia di bronzo col fondo a colotta e il
corpo a tronco di cono, alta m. 0.16; e, di terracotta, una pignatta oviodale e un urceo panciuto, monoansato;
nell'angolo sud-ovest, due anfore tronche adoperate come fornelli."
214