Pompeii. Street Altar at I.11.1.

Via dell’Abbondanza, south side, Pompeii. October 2017.

Looking south-east towards entrance doorway of I.11.1, in centre, and street altar in small roadway, on right.

Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

Unnamed vicolo on south side of Via dell’Abbondanza, Pompeii. October 2017.

Looking towards street altar on east side of roadway, at junction with Via dell’Abbondanza, on left.

Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

Street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. December 2018. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. September 2015. Looking south towards painted street shrine and altar.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. December 2015. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

Street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. December 2018. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Pompeii, street altar on west side wall of I.11.1, September 2005.

According to Della Corte, found written in charcoal probably by a passer-by was CIL IV 8426:

[Per] Lares sanctos

rogo tu et…… [CIL IV 8426, AE 1914, 149]

This was written, approximately in the left top corner of the photo, although none of the wording has been conserved.

According to Cooley, CIL IV 8426, appeared to the left of a street corner shrine, where a painting of a Lar and a serpent can still be faintly seen.

On top of the altar were found the carbonised remains of a sacrifice of a chicken.

She translated the wording as –

“By the sacred Lares, I ask you …..”  [CIL IV 8426]

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. (p.109)

Pompeii, street altar on west side wall of I.11.1, May 2006. Altar with remains of painting above.

Street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. December 2018.

Detail of top of altar with remains of painting of street shrine, above. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. September 2015. Top of altar and remaining painted street shrine.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

Pompeii, street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. Old photo c. 1915.

Two large Lares were on the sides of a painted altar.

Each held a cornucopia and a situla (bucket).

A serpent coiled around the painted altar with its head in the fiery offering.

A garland was above each and one hung down each side.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (F7, Taf 53,1).

Pompeii, street altar on west side wall of I.11.1, May 2006. Painting above street altar.

Pompeii street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. May 2006. Remains of painting above altar.

The right-hand Lar can be seen with his left hand raised holding a cornucopia.

A curving line flows from the cornucopia, above his head and down to the situla (bucket) in his right hand.

The curve of the serpent can be seen above the top of the painted round altar.

The head is down to the left reaching into the burning offering on the top of the altar. 

The garland can be seen above the Lar.

Painting above street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. December 2006.

Pompeii, street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. Old undated photo.

See Ragghianti, C.L., 1963. Pittori di Pompei. Milano: Edizioni del Milione. Tav. 86.

The picture is painted over a masonry altar on the white-ground pedestal that continues along the entire facade.

Two large Lares flank a round altar, around which a serpent winds, which lowers its head over the offerings lying in the fire.

At the top there are two red, yellow and green garlands, one on each side.

On the left of the picture the graffito Lariis sanctos rogo t (e) ut is carved in red stone. Underneath is painted the election call Ceium aed.

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (F7, Taf 53,1).

The Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) records

[Per] Lares Sanctos

rogo te ut [   [CIL IV 8426, AE 1914, 149]

Painting above street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. May 2006. Detail of Lar on right-hand side.

Pompeii, street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. 1968. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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Pompeii, street altar on west side wall of I.11.1. 1966. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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