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

5.93). Elsewhere in the building, a low bench of irregular shape is built along the E wall of room
(5). Another bench-like feature takes up the E end of the N wall of KI◊(6), opposite a complex
feature in the SE corner that has the appearance of a small HE. Small windows in the walls of
both (5, KI◊6) would have provided an outlet for smoke and a source of light if either of these
rooms were used for cooking. Della Corte is the only source to mention finds, a great quantity of
amphorae found in situ on the ground floor and many other wine amphorae on the upper floor,
turned upside down after they had all been emptied.
Installation amenities, DR•(4): In Maiuri's plan, two niches for couch legs are shown at the N
end of the W wall, in the position of the lectus medius (ca. w. 1.10 m., suggesting a couch length of
2.64 m.). The position and proportions of this room can fit the definition of either a tablinum or a
dining room; with only one couch niche, it is not possible to decide. In such a small shop-house,
the room was perhaps used as both. I suggest moreover that the room was used by customers, a
dining room for rent. No finds have systematically been reported, so storage of cooking and
eating vessels and utensils is difficult to locate. However, in the N wall of room (2), there is an
alcove with impressions of the boards that made up its three shelves clearly preserved (Fig. 5.92).
I) Decorative amenities, cooking areas: The HE• was installed after room (3) was decorated, as it
obstructs part of the red socle of the plain white plaster decoration. At least plain plaster covered
the walls of KI◊(6).
Decorative amenities, DR•(4): Plain white plaster is still visible in patches; Maiuri described
fine 2nd style decoration featuring a panel of the Muse Calliope on the N wall of an upper floor
room, perhaps the cenaculum, that likely overlay DR•(4).
J) Sanctity: Two rectangular niches are set into the N end of the W wall of the covered court (3); it
is unclear whether they had a ritual function (Fig. 5.92). On the face of the sales counter at
entrance #14 was painted (it is no longer extant) a scene of Priapus standing in front of an aedicula,
flanked by vignettes of rampant, heraldic felines. Maiuri discusses the ritual power of Priapus as a
protector of boundaries, of gardens and their produce. This appearance of Priapus in the context
of a diner is not unique; Jashemski reports a drawing of Priapus near the door to the Caupona of
Euxinus (I.11.10), and a statue of the same god in the Caupona dei Gladiatori (I.20.1). 67
Synthesis
If this building was a diner with attached living quarters for the proprietor and his
familia, it may be explained as follows. The front room (1) with its sales counter advertised the
establishment and offered food to be eaten in that front room, on the street or à la carte. Small
amounts of food and drink were prepared and heated up at the HE• in (3) and at the counter
67 Jashemski 1979, 120-121, 175-178.
267