IX.7.20 Pompeii. Casa degli Archi or House of the Arches

or House of Caprasius Felix and Fortunata or Casa della Fortuna.

Excavated 1879.

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Plan

Vicolo di Tesmo, looking north past remaining painted plaster on walls outside IX.7.20. December 2018. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Vicolo di Tesmo looking north past remaining painted plaster on walls outside IX.7.20.

On the exterior wall of IX.7.20, opposite the doorways of IX.2.17/18, a large painted lararium was found.

According to Trendelenburg, this stood out because of the freshness and strength of the colours.

It was divided into two parts of differing sizes. The upper part was 1.47m wide and the lower part was 4.12m wide.

The upper part showed the two Lares.

In the middle between them was the Genius with cornucopia, dressed in a white tunic holding a patera above a flaming altar.

Behind the altar was the figure of small tibicen who played the double pipes.

Suspended above were two garlands and above the garlands appeared the bust of Luna on the left and a bust of Sole on the right.

The lower part showed a tall altar in the centre and three heads of Medusa.

Two serpents approached the altar, one from each side.

See Trendelenburg in Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1871, pages 199-200.

See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-79. Napoli: Giannini. (p.14, No. 33).

See Fröhlich, T., 1991. Lararien und Fassadenbilder in den Vesuvstädten. Mainz: von Zabern. (F65, p. 335)

IX.7.20 Pompeii. Lararium drawing by Nicola La Volpe, 1871, found on the exterior street wall to the right of the vestibule entrance.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 1101.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

Vicolo di Tesmo, looking south past remaining painted plaster on walls outside IX.7.20. October 2017.

Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

Vicolo di Tesmo, east side, Pompeii. December 2018.

Remaining painted plaster on exterior wall of IX.7.20, with two niches. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Vicolo di Tesmo, east side, Pompeii. October 2017. Looking towards remaining plaster with niche behind.

Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

Vicolo di Tesmo, east side, Pompeii. December 2018.

Niche set behind painted plaster. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Vicolo di Tesmo, east side, Pompeii. December 2018.

Detail of upper niche behind plaster on exterior wall of IX.7.20. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Vicolo di Tesmo, east side, Pompeii. December 2018.

Detail of upper niche behind plaster on exterior wall of IX.7.20. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Vicolo di Tesmo, east side, Pompeii. December 2018.

Detail of upper niche behind plaster on exterior wall of IX.7.20. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Niche behind plaster on outside wall.

Vicolo di Tesmo, east side, Pompeii. December 2018.

Lower niche at pavement level, behind plaster on exterior wall of IX.7.20. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Vicolo di Tesmo, east side, Pompeii. December 2018.

Detail of lower niche at pavement level, behind plaster on exterior wall of IX.7.20. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

Street gutter and pavement outside IX.7.20. May 2005.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. 1964.

Exterior wall between IX/7/20 and 21, showing masks embedded in the wall. 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.

J64f1574 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. 1964. 

Exterior wall between IX/7/20 and 21, showing mask embedded in the wall. 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.

J64f1575  

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2017. Looking north towards entrance doorway.

Foto Taylor Lauritsen, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005.

According to Della Corte –

this elegant dwelling with its singular arched portico on the east side of the peristyle, was the dwelling of D. Caprasio Felici. 

This was demonstrated in the first place by an amphora of wine that came from the producer A. Atinio Crescente.

This was sent to him with the address repeated twice:  D. C. F.      D. Caprasio Felici      [CIL IV 5650 a and b]

Written in the atrium was a salute to him and his consort Fortunata, from an unknown Successus -

Successus Felici salutem et Fortunatae       [CIL IV 5373]

Nothing would have been more natural in the house of a Fortunata, than the cult attributed to Fortuna.

A graffito found near the lararium alluded to the same god - Fortuna    [CIL IV 5371]

See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.212)

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) these read as –

Summ(arum)

AAAA

LXX

A(uli) Atini Crescentis

/

[3]freius A[ti]ni C[re]s[centis]        [CIL IV 5650 a and b]

Fortuna      [CIL IV 5371]

Suc(ces)sus Fel[i]ci salutem

et For(tu)natae       [CIL IV 5373]

IX.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Stone entrance door stop.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. July 2017. Looking east along entrance corridor towards atrium.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. September 2004. Looking across atrium from entrance.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. Looking across atrium from entrance.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2023.

Bronze fountain figure of a cupid holding a dolphin, inv. 111701. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

On display in “L’altra MANN” exhibition, October 2023, at Naples Archaeological Museum.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2023.

Description card for inv. 111701. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. 1961.

Bronze statuette of a cupid holding a dolphin (0.56m high) shown in the photo on display in the fountain at VI.8.22.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 111701. Ruesch no 818.

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.

J61f0719

According to Wilhelmina, this bronze statuette is a replica of one found in the garden of IX.7.20.

It was found on a base adjacent to a round marble basin, near the atrium and north-west corner of the peristyle.

It was one of the finest found in the Vesuvian area.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.135 and p.240).

See Dwyer, E.J. (1982). Pompeian domestic sculpture. Rome, Bretschneider, (p.76, and Pl.XXX, fig. 114).

IX.7.20 Pompeii. c.1880. Bronze statuette of cupid with dolphin on right shoulder found in the peristyle.

See Mele, A. (ed.) Pompei. Rivista illustrata di archeologia popolare e industriale e d’arte. Anno 1, num. 1, 31 Marzo 1881. (p.4).

IX.7.20 Pompeii. Old undated photograph, looking east across atrium from entrance.

DAIR 72.560. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2019. Looking east across atrium from entrance.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking across atrium from entrance.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2019. Looking south from atrium into room (k).

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. Late 19th century. Looking across atrium from entrance.

See Niccolini F, 1890. Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei: Volume Terzo. Napoli, Isola VII Regione IX, Tav. I.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking east to peristyle garden and portico.

According to Jashemski, the portico was supported at the time of the eruption by fifteen columns.

Two columns stood at the rear of the atrium at the entrance to the portico.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.240).

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2019. Looking towards south wall of atrium with niche.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Rectangular niche in atrium with stucco aedicula facade.

Found within the niche were a bronze lamp and three bronze statuettes.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p88, No 439, Pl.5,1) 

IX.7.20 Pompeii. 1968.

Rectangular niche in atrium with stucco aedicula facade. 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.

J68f1525

IX.7.20 Pompeii.

Bronze lamp in the shape of a foot, and three bronze statuettes found in the rectangular niche in atrium.

See Niccolini F, 1890. Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei: Volume Terzo. Napoli, Isola VII Regione IX, Tav. III.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. c.1880. Small bronze statuettes of Fortuna between two Lares, found in lararium in the atrium.

Hanging from a chain above them was a lamp in the form of a human foot wearing elegant shoes decorated with silver.

See Mele, A. (ed.) Pompei. Rivista illustrata di archeologia popolare e industriale e d’arte. Anno 1, num. 1, 31 Marzo 1881. (p.5).

IX.7.20 Pompeii, May 2018.

Looking east across atrium towards north portico, from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

IX.7.20 Pompeii, May 2018. Puteal under north portico. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking east across atrium towards north portico.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. 1972. Looking east towards north-east corner of peristyle.

DAIR 72.3573. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2019. Looking towards north portico, from west portico.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2019. Detail from west portico, looking east.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2019. Detail from west portico, looking west to rear.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

IX.7.20 Pompeii. October 2019. Looking towards west portico, and across into atrium, from north portico.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Plan