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

The extensive evidence for renovation going on in this house in its last period makes an
interpretation of the use of its cooking and dining areas problematic. Neither of the two dining
areas, DH•(b) nor DI•(e), were in use at the moment of the eruption. Because of the confusion in
dating the phasing of this house (based almost entirely on ambiguous painting styles), it appears
best here to summarize the layout of the house as it was designed and was in use prior to the
earthquake. The entrance (u) was flanked by bedrooms (a, t) on either side; a staircase in the
latter room led to upper floor rooms over the front of the house (that Maiuri believed were
installed after the earthquake). The N side of atrium (p) was closed off by a bedroom (r) flanked
by two small probable storage areas (s, q). A small door led to the large DH•(b) on the NE, next
to the wide doorway of tablinum (c) which dominated the atrium (Fig. 5.106). Alongside another
bedroom (d) ran corridor (o) to the E part of the house, passing by another stair to upper floor
rooms in (m), next to KI (l) and the small open-air court (n) that collected water and provided
light through a wide window onto the cubiculum (Fig. 5.104). Rooms on the E part of the house
were all arranged around garden (h) with a portico (g) on its N and E sides. DI•(e) had a broad
view onto this garden from the N. Bedroom (f), the large (function uncertain) room (k), and
service room (i) lined the E portico, at either end of which were stairs to the house at #10-12 and
to upper floor rooms overlooking garden (h), respectively.
References
Jashemski 1993, 41, 316; Allison 1992b, 288-298; PPM I, 750-789; Sutherland 1990, 157-158;
Andersson 1990, 218-219; CTP IIIA, 12-13; PPP I, 73-77; Jashemski 1979, 57-58; Bastet & De Vos
1979, 28-29, 95-96; Guida 1976, 215; Schefold 1957, 35-36; Pernice 1938, 107; Maiuri 1938, 27-34;
Boyce 1937, 26, #42-43; Maiuri NSc 1929, 354-379.
Data
A) Total area: 369.5 Nodes: 156.2 Connectors: 30.2 Static spaces: 188.4
B) Total # spaces: 26 # Nodes: 2 # Connectors: 6 # Static spaces: 16
C) Area, KI (l): 4.4 Area, DH•(b): 25.6 Length, DH•(b): 5.68 Width, DH•(b): 4.50
Area, DI•(e): 12.4 Length, DI•(e): 3.35 Width, DI•(e): 3.70
D)Entry prox., KI (l): 18.8 Entry prox., DH•(b): 9.7 Prox, KI (l)-DH•(b): 21.2
Entry prox., DI•(e): 15.1 Prox, KI (l):-DI•(e): 8.3
E) Entry access., KI (l): 6 Entry access., DH•(b): 4 Access, KI (l)-DH•(b): 5
Entry access., DI•(e): 6 Access, KI (l):-DI•(e): 5
F)Sight perc., KI (l)-DH•(b): N Sound perc., KI (l)-DH•(b): T Smell perc., KI (l)-DH•(b): F
by Allison (1992b, 297): "Studies concerned with the decoration of this house do not seem to have been able
to agree on third or fourth style classifications for them. Hence this house may serve to demonstrate that
such divisions should be handled with extreme care".
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