VI.16.15 Pompeii. Casa dell’Ara Massima or House of Pinarius or Casa di Narcisso.

Excavated 1903.

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VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2005. Doorway to room G (left) on south wall of atrium.

According to NdS, this room had a threshold of lava which formed a step.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking south into doorway to room G in south-west corner of atrium.

According to NdS, the triclinium, although small, was rectangular with a rough floor of cocciopesto.

At the time of the disaster it was receiving a more dignified decoration.

Opening in the upper part of the south wall was a window with well-preserved iron grating.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. Doorway and north wall of room G.  

According to NdS, the yellow-painted walls each had three panels, with a frieze that was also yellow. The lower dado was painted red.

At the top of each wall was a cornice of painted stucco. In the middle of each central panel was a painting.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 14 Oct 1904. North wall of room G, and doorway to south-west corner of atrium.  

NdS 14 ott 1904, VI, xvi, 15, G;

“Nel medesimo ambiente e propriamente a destra dell’ingresso si rinvenne nel giorno 14 ottobre 1904 il bel tavolo di marmo con cornice e piede di bronzo, pub­blicato e illustrato dall’ispettore dott. G. Spano (Rendic. della R. Accad. dei Lincei, vol. XIV, fasc. 8°, 1905, pag. 215 sgg.).” (MN 130860)

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 14th Oct 1904, VI, xvi, 15, G;

"In the same room and immediately to the right of the entrance was found on October 14th 1904 the beautiful marble table with bronze frame and foot, published and illustrated by the inspector dott. G. Spano (Rendic. of the R. Accad. of the Linceis, vol. XIV, fasc. 8°, 1905, pag. 215 sggs.)." (MN 130860)

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, (p. 81)

See Spano G., in Rendiconti della Reale Accademia. dei Lincei, vol. XIV, fasc. 8°, 1905, pag. 215-227, figs 1-3.

Our thanks to Raffaele Prisciandaro for locating these references for us.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. Room G. Bronze table support with sphinx on base.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory Number 130860.

According to NdS, when found the table was broken in various of the weldings on its feet.

Following the restoration, it was put back in situ to be photographed.

It was against the north wall of the triclinium with a doorway connecting to the atrium.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. Room G, Bronze Sphinx table support.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory Number 130860.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023. Room G, looking towards north wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, looking towards north wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, north wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023. Room G, north wall, detail from west side of central painting. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015.

Room G, detail of wall decoration from west side of central painting on north wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. North wall of room G with detail of architectural wall painting with peacock and sea creature.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, central painting of Mars and Venus from north wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, north wall, central painting of Mars and Venus.

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 2015/2016.

Central painting of Ares and Aphrodite (Mars and Venus) in a group with cupids playing with the weapons of the god, from north wall of room G.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. North wall of room G.  

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, detail from central painting of Mars and Venus from north wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, detail from central painting on north wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024.

Room G, detail of Cupids playing with helmet of Mars, from central painting on north wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, detail from central painting on north wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. North wall of room G.

Wall painting of Ares and Aphrodite (Mars and Venus) in a group with cupids playing with the weapons of the god.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, p. 76, fig. 6.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 1908. North wall of room G.

Wall painting of Ares and Aphrodite (Mars and Venus) in a group with cupids playing with the weapons of the god.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, p. 76, fig. 6.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, north wall, detail from east side of central painting.

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015.

Room G, detail of wall decoration from east side of central painting on north wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. North wall of room G with detail of architectural wall painting with peacock.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

North wall of room G with detail of medallion painting.

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. North wall of room G with detail of medallion painting. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. North wall of room G with detail of medallion painting.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, looking towards east wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, east wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, east wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. East wall of room G and doorway to atrium B.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, medallion from north end of east wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, detail of medallion from north end of east wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 2015/2016.

Room G, medallion from north end of east wall. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. North end of east wall of room G with detail of painted medallion bust.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. East wall of room G with central wall painting from a myth of Hercules. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 2015/2016.

East wall of room G with central wall painting from a myth of Hercules. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. East wall of room G with central wall painting from a myth of Hercules.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 1908. East wall of room G with central wall painting from a myth of Hercules.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, p. 78, fig. 8.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, detail from central wall painting of myth of Hercules. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, detail from central wall painting of a myth of Hercules. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, detail from central wall painting of a myth of Hercules. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, medallion from south end of east wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, detail of medallion from south end of east wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, medallion from south end of east wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. South end of east wall of room G with detail of painted medallion bust.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023. Room G, looking towards south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, looking towards structure on floor in south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, remains of structure in south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, looking towards south wall with remains of central painting. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, south wall with remains of central painting. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. South wall of room G with detail of wall decorations.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. South wall of room G with remaining detail of central wall painting of Selene and Endymion.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 1908. South wall of room G with detail of wall painting of Selene and Endymion.

Selene coming down from on high approaching Endymion, on left.

Endymion sits on a stone seat in front of a mountainous background

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, (p. 77, fig. 7).

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, medallion from west end of south wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, detail of medallion from west end of south wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, looking towards west wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. Room G, looking towards west wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. West wall of room G.  

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, detail of medallion from south end of west wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, detail of medallion from south end of west wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, central painting from west wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024.

Room G, central painting of the arrival of Dionysus on Naxos where Ariadne is sleeping, from west wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

Kuivalainen describes –

“A composition of at least six figures; the two on the right are in an arching cave-like space, marked with dark brown. In the foreground, a female reclining to the right, raises her right arm to the top of her head as if awakening; a pink cloak covers her legs. Behind her stands a figure with green wings, dressed in a green robe, holding branches in her right hand and a large patera in her left. On the left side of the picture stands a youth stretching his right arm to the left, with a red cloak covering his left shoulder; in his left hand he holds a thyrsus. Behind are members of the thiasus, perhaps with Silenus on the left.”

Kuivalainen comments –

“Another version of the same theme, but Bacchus now seems to be paying less attention to the awakening Ariadne.”

See Kuivalainen, I., 2021. The Portrayal of Pompeian Bacchus. Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 140. Helsinki: Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, (p.148, E10).

VI.16.15 Pompeii. May 2015. 

West wall of room G with central wall painting of the arrival of Dionysus on Naxos where Ariadne is sleeping. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2006. 

West wall of room G with central wall painting of the arrival of Dionysus on Naxos where Ariadne is sleeping.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. 1908. West wall of room G with central wall painting of the arrival of Dionysus on Naxos where Ariadne is sleeping.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1908, p. 79, fig. 9.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. December 2023.

Room G, detail of medallion from north end of west wall.

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.16.15 Pompeii. January 2024. Room G, detail of medallion from north end of west wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

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