Pompeii, Its Life and Art

by August Mau

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.

At the time of the eruption many members of the family took refuge in the cellar. Here were found the skeletons of eighteen adults and two children: at the time of excavation the impressions of their bodies, and in some instances traces of the clothing, could be seen in the hardened ashes. Among the women was one adorned with two necklaces and two arm bands, besides four gold rings and two of silver. The victims were suffocated by the damp ashes that drifted in through the small windows. According to the report of the excavations, fourteen skeletons of men were found in other parts of the house, together with the skeletons of a dog and a goat.

KEY TO PLAN IV

• A. Court.
  • 1, 5. Cistern curbs.
  • 2. Wash basin of masonry.
  • 3. Lead reservoir from which water was conducted to the reservoir in the kitchen supplying the bath.
  • 4. Steps leading to the reservoir.
• B. Kitchen.
  • 1. Hearth.
  • 2. Reservoir containing water for the bath.
  • 3. Stairway to rooms over the bath.
  • 4. Entrance to cellar under the inner end of the first wine press, in which were the fastenings of the standard of the press beam.
• C-F. Bath.
  • C. Furnace room.
  • D. Apodyterium.
  • E. Tepidarium.
  • F. Caldarium.
• H. Stable.
• J. Tool Room.
• K, L. Sleeping Rooms.
• N. Dining Room.
• M. Anteroom.
• O. Bakery.
  • 1. Mill.
  • 2. Oven.
• P. Room with Two Wine Presses.
  • 1, 1. Foundations of the presses.
  • 2, 2, 2. Receptacles for the grape juice, dolia.
  • 3. Cistern for the product of the second pressing, lacus.
  • 4. Holes for the standards of the press beams.
  • 5, 5. Holes for the posts at the ends of the two windlasses used in raising and lowering the press beams.
  • 6. Pit affording access to the framework by which the windlass posts were tied down.
• Q. Corridor.
  • 1. Round vats, dolia.
• R. Court for the Fermentation of Wine.
  • 1. Channel for the fresh grape juice coming from P.
  • 2. Fermentation vats, dolia.
  • 3. Lead kettle over a fireplace.
  • 4. Cistern curb.
• S. Barn, nubilarium (?).
• T. Threshing Floor, area.
• U. Open Cistern for the Water falling on the Threshing Floor.
• V-V. Sleeping Rooms.
• W. Entrance to Cellar under the Inner End of the Second Wine Press; see B. 4.
• X. Room with Hand Mill.
• Y. Room with Oil Press.
  • 1. Foundation of the press.
  • 2. Hole for the standard of the press beam.
  • 3. Entrance to cellar with appliances for securing the press beam.
  • 4. Holes for the windlass posts.
  • 5. Hole affording access to the fastenings of the windlass posts.
  • 6. Receptacle for the oil, gemellar.
• Z. Room containing the Olive Crusher.

PLAN IV.—PLAN OF THE VILLA RUSTICA AT BOSCOREALE
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