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

Data
A) Total area: 144.1 Nodes: 79.6 Connectors: 12.9 Static spaces: 55.39
B) Total # spaces: 13 # Nodes: 2 # Connectors: 3 # Static spaces: 6
C) Area, CS in (g): 3.0 Area, DI•(c): 11.6 Length, DI•(c): 3.26 Width, DI•(c): 3.56
D) Entry prox., CS in (g): 16.4 Entry prox., DI•(c): 7.2 Prox, CS in (g)-DI•(c): 12.5
E) Entry access., CS in (g): 5 Entry access., DI•(c): 4 Access. CS in (g)-DI•(c): 4
F)Sight perc., CS in (g)-DI•(c): E Sound perc., CS in (g)-DI•(c): T Smell perc., CS in (g)-DI•(c): F
G) Environmental amenities, DI•(c): The room is lit by a small window high in the N wall onto
the street, and by the small doorway onto atrium (d). The view out of the room was marked
primarily by the two light sources from the compluvium and court/garden (f, g), and any of the
fine 4th style wall paintings in the atrium that these illuminated.
H) Installation amenities, CS in (g): There was no KI with fixed installations in the house, but
Della Corte and Maiuri (NSc) report cooking vessels from several places within the house. Fallen
from a room with a balcony located over entrance (a) and DI•(c) were four terracotta
cooking/storage pots (ollae). A large lead water-storage barrel with relief decoration of the signs
of the zodiac sat in the atrium next to the marble table. Used for pouring water was a large (h.
0.68 m.) one-handled terracotta jug with relief decoration was found in court (g). 56 From a room
off of court (g), probably (i), a bronze cauldron with a cover came. Maiuri describes room (i) as a
cella penaria; but only a niche for storage in the W wall supports such an attribution. An oinochoe
and jug were also found near the LT under the stairs in the NE corner of (h).
Maiuri (1954a, 112) reports that: "The kitchen was represented by a few utensils and an iron
tripod in one corner of the courtyard". Cooking seems therefore to have centered on the open
court (g), probably against the W wall under the balcony that overhung the S edge of the court,
where a fire would not block any doorways or traffic (Fig. 5.72). Cooking in an open court had
obvious natural advantages of light and ventilation; furthermore, there was a water source at a
cistern head in (g), and drainage close by via the latrine in (h).
Installation Amenities, DI•(c): Maiuri (NSc 1927, 9) identifies the function of DI•(c) on the
basis of the imprint (presumably in the volcanic fill) of a couch (l. 1.75, w. 0.97 m.) within. Three
couches of such a small size could be fit in this room, but the evidence might as easily support the
identification of a cubiculum here. Cut in the S end of the E wall is a large niche used as a cabinet
or cupboard (w. 1.00, h. 0.76, depth 0.22 m.). A cupboard at the S edge of the atrium near the NE
pilaster of garden (f) contained a terracotta vase full of eggshells and ten glass bottles. The find of
a bronze amphoretta and patera near the cooking area in the back of the house around court (g)
may indicate other tableware storage.
56 Maiuri NSc 1927, 12, Fig. 4; underneath its handle was an inscription: "P. Corneli Corinti servos fecit",
referring perhaps to the putative potter next door at I.7.4.
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