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

Data
A) Total area: 85.4 Nodes: 34.7 Connectors: 17.2 Static spaces: 33.5
B) Total # spaces: 6 # Nodes: 1 # Connectors: 2 # Static spaces: 3
C) Area, ST in (c): 4.0 Area, DR (d): 19.7 Length, DR (d): 5.06 Width, DR (d): 3.90
D) Entry prox., ST in (c): 6.9 Entry prox., DR (d): 8.6 Prox, ST in (c)-DR (d): 5.7
E) Entry access., ST in (c): 4 Entry access., DR (d): 4 Access, ST in (c)-DR (d): 2
F) Sight perc., ST in (c)-DR (d): N Sound perc., ST in (c)-DR (d): T Smell perc., ST in (c)-DR (d): T
G) Environmental amenities, DR (d): The room is airy and well-lit due to a window up in the S
wall onto the peristyle of the neighboring house (I.7.7), and a broad window N towards the street
through the open court (c) (Figs. 5.75, 5.77).
H) Installation amenities, ST in (c): A small one-arched masonry ST of sub-type (2) is built
against the middle of the E wall of court (c) (l. 1.06, w. 0.61, h. 0.84 m.). Fragments of its top tiled
surface remain; the supporting arch is uniquely formed by a section of a dolium and its rim (Figs.
5.75-5.76). A single ridge of plaster that once held an imbrex tile extends W from the E wall; it was
probably complemented by one or two other such imbrices which together formed separate
'burners' on the stove surface. Water was retrieved from a cistern head at the NW corner of the
court, and drainage was available in the LT along the W wall of entrance (a) (Fig. 5.74).
Numerous cooking items were found around the ST, including a small iron BZ, a stone mortar,
and many coarse ceramic cookwares. 57 Five small broken lamps were stored in the arched space
underneath the ST, and a bronze casseruola and cauldron were found in the company of a marble
mortar in room (b).
Installation amenities, DR (d): The identification of dining in this room is confirmed by a
couch niche cut in the E end of the N wall (w. 1.26 m.). Serving and dining wares were stored in
both a wicker hamper that lay against the E wall and a wooden chest in the NW corner of room
(a); these wares included bronze vases, a patera, a mixing bowl, and terracotta bottles, glasses, a
cup and bowl. The finest items for a meal were found in room (b): a bronze cup, parts of two
crystal chalices, and a ladle (for distributing wine) finished in crystal.
I) Decorative amenities, ST in (c): Faded wall plaster adorns the E wall of court (c) above the
stove; the stove was protected from the weather by a shed roof marking off the E end of the court.
Decorative amenities, DR (d): The cocciopesto floor of the room has a regular pattern of single
white inset tesserae in the 1st style. The walls are decorated in the 3rd style, black-based
decoration accented by central red panels (Fig. 5.77).
J) Sanctity: No ritual finds or installations have been reported from this (work)shop-house.
57 Maiuri NSc 1927, 17: "Alla parete est è appoggiato il podio della cucina con sottoposto fornello ed accanto
ad essa si rinvennero molti vasi fittili grezzi, un mortaio in pietra ed un fornelletto portatile in ferro:
nell'angolo NE del cortile erano appoggiate varie anfore sane ed in frammenti."
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