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

est of the kitchen by an E-W partition wall, provided drainage. Many cooking wares were
obviously stored in the kitchen itself, but a blackened cooking-bowl and some foodstuffs were
also found amongst the remnants of a cupboard in the SW corner of atrium (b).
Installation amenities, dining areas: The publication of the finds and their contexts from this
house by Allison shed much light particularly on the storage of dining utensils, which are
considered here after all the dining areas have been treated. DR (c) contained an assortment of
finds; a statuette, lamp, bottle, and amphora at the E end suggest mixed storage. Pestles and raw
plastering material at the W suggest some renovation work. Finally, ten bronze feet found along
the S wall were probably supports for dining couches; it is unclear whether they were part of
whole couches or if these were merely spare couch parts. 40 Allison concludes that the room was
being used as a storeroom at the time of the eruption. Even if DR (c) was not used for dining at
that moment, it was clearly intended as a dining room, judging by its size, shape, the couch
fittings and painted scenes of food on the walls; the temporary storage of a few small items and
some material for patching plaster does not refute that attribution. Moreover, if the room was
meant to be used during the winter season, miscellaneous storage here at the time of the August
eruption would not be surprising.
DI◊(i) did not have any recorded finds; the room has only its wide door, fine decoration and axial
orientation onto the atrium to argue for its use as a dining area. DH•(p) likewise had no
recorded finds; its original bipartite decoration however (see below) suggests that it was suited to
hold dinners as well as other sorts of receptions.
Fittings for three cupboards, arranged in the NW and SW corners and in the center of the W wall
of atrium (b) were found during excavation. The NW cupboard contained a ceramic cup, bowl
and jug, three figurines (nude male with sword, Bacchant, and a small herm) and miscellaneous
metal fragments; the central cabinet included an Arretine bowl and several bone items. In the SW
cupboard were a quantity of glass cups, bowls and bottles which Allison reports were for eating
and drinking. Amongst them was a blackened cooking bowl, an amphora, and a pot containing
fish bones. A few bronze and glass vessels, and more fish bones were associated with a cabinet in
the SW corner of tablinum (f). Finally, glass vessels for storage and table use were recovered from
two chests in the alcove (e). As Allison has noted, these finds suggest the careful organization of
domestic equipment according to material and function. Vessels for storing, serving and
consuming, as well as a few pieces connected to food preparation, are stored in atrio. Their
location makes them conveniently accessible from DR (c), DI◊(i), and KI (n).
40 See Della Corte NSc 1912, 406, Figs. 7-8. Allison 1992b, 320 notes that ten legs do not make up a suitable
number for reconstructing a set of couches at a standard six legs to a couch, and argues that the legs were
being stored here.
215