Near the west end of Nola Street is the house of Pansa, which occupies
the whole of the sixth Insula of Region VI. Although of approximately
the same size as the house of the Faun, and built in the same period,
it contained fewer large rooms; its proportions were less impressive,
its finish less elegant. The walls present many evidences of repairs
and alterations, but of the wall decoration nothing remains.
[Illustration: Fig. 178.--Capital of pilaster at the entrance of the
house of the Sculptured Capitals.]
The plan (Fig. 179) is of interest on account of its regularity. It
well illustrates the extent to which, at Pompeii, rooms not required
for household purposes were utilized as shops and small separate
dwellings, which were rented to tenants, and doubtless formed an
important source of income.
The vestibule and fauces have been mentioned previously (p. 249). The
living rooms are grouped about a single atrium (2) and a large
peristyle (9). A colonnade at the rear of the house faces the garden,
which, as indicated by the appearance of the ground at the time of
excavation, was used for vegetables. Opening on the colonnade is the
gardener's room (_a_).
In the front were shops, one of which (35) was connected with the
house and served as the proprietor's place of business; another (33)
was used as a salesroom for the bakery, which occupied the rooms
numbered 28-34. On the same side of the house were three small
two-story dwellings, one of which (22-23) contained windows opening
into an adjoining room (12) of the house and into the peristyle; it
was doubtless occupied by some one connected with the household. The
dwellings on the other street (A, B, C) were larger. Fiorelli thought
that this Insula belonged to Alleius Nigidius Maius (p. 489); the name
of Pansa was given to it from an election notice painted on the
front.
[Illustration: Fig. 179.--Plan of the house of Pansa.
1. Fauces.
2. Atrium.
4, 4. Alae.
5. Tablinum.
6. Andron.
9. Peristyle.
10. Passage leading to posticum.
13. Dining room.
15. Oecus.
19. Kitchen.
20. Room for a wagon.
21. Colonnade opening on the garden.
22-23. Small dwelling with second story, connected with the house.
24-25, 26-27. Two small separate dwellings.
28-34. Bakery. (29. Mill room, 30. Oven.)
35, 37-40. Shops.
41. Shop with back rooms.
42. Room with bake oven.
A, B, C. Separate dwellings.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account