Promenade on the roof of the colonnade Terrace Colonnade facing the terrace Right arm of colonnade (_g_, _h_) Front of colonnade (_d_) Room under the terrace (_i_) Tablinum Peristyle Entrance] The large room (8) at the rear of the peristyle may be loosely called a tablinum; it could be closed at the rear. Back of the tablinum was originally a colonnade (26), which was later turned into a corridor, with rooms at either end; the original form is assumed in our restoration. Beyond the colonnade was a broad terrace (28) extending to the edge of the garden. It commanded a magnificent view of Stabiae, the coast in the direction of Sorrento, and the Bay. Connected with it was an unroofed promenade over the colonnade (_e_, _f_, _g_, _h_) surrounding the large garden below. A rectangular room (27, indicated on the plan but not in the restoration) was afterwards built on the terrace. Members of the family could pass into the lower portion of the villa by means of a stairway, at _b_; the slaves could use a long corridor (_a_), which was more directly connected with the domestic apartments. The flat roof of the quadrangular colonnade (_e_, _f_, _g_, _h_) was carried on the outside by a wall, on the inside by square pillars (Fig. 184). The rooms (_i_, _k_) opening into the front of the colonnade were vaulted, and the decoration, in the last style, is well preserved; the ceiling of the corner rooms (_l_, _m_) is flat, and the decoration of one of them (_l_) is noteworthy; green and red stars are painted on a white ground. In the narrow space between _i_ and _c_ a cistern was built, from which water could be drawn by means of a faucet in front. At the opposite corners of the colonnade were two airy garden rooms (_n_, _o_). Outside of the left arm (_e_, _f_) was a broad walk (_u_), at the upper end of which were steps leading to the garden above. The garden enclosed by the colonnade was planted with trees, charred remains of which were found at the time of excavation. In the middle was a fish pond (_r_), in which was a fountain. Back of it was a platform, over which vines were trained on a framework supported by six columns, making a pleasant arbor in which meals were doubtless often served. The door at the rear of the garden led into the fields. Near it were found the skeletons of two men. One of them had a large key, doubtless the key of this door; he wore a gold ring on his finger, and was carrying a considerable sum of money--ten gold and eighty-eight silver coins. He was probably the master of the house who had started out, accompanied by a single slave, in order to find means of escape. The floor of the three sides of the colonnade was a few feet higher than that of the front. Underneath was a wine cellar, lighted by small windows in the wall on the side of the garden; it contained a large number of amphorae.