DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16632#0147
The Roman Empire
119
gardens, seeing that the larger places (seldom to be found in the narrow spaces of the
town) were probably used for the practical purposes of a vegetable-garden. This was
certainly the case in the house of Epidius Rufus (Fig. 84), and probably in that of Pansa
and of the Silver Wedding (Fig. 85). At the first of these there is a small terrace, which
was obviously laid out prettily with flowers, behind the kitchen-garden. These little raised
terraces were liked as a
suitable ending, and in
addition to the flower-
beds, fountains were set
up with mosaic, and also
statues. Most of them were
so made that one could not
quite reach up to them.
The garden of Lucre-
tius (Fig. 86) at Pompeii
is peculiar; it ascends a
little towards an alcove for
flowers, wherein stands a
Silenus, pouring water out
of a vessel over a litt le stair-
way: the water is caught
in a channel or gutter, and
flows thence into a small
round fountain. Standing
around are little animals FIG. g4. the house of fig. 85. the house of the silver wedding,
in marble, a small row of epidius rufus, pompeii pompeii—ground-plan
other statuettes, and four ground-plan
figures of Hermes; the whole thing, now that flowers have been replanted there, makes a
pleasing picture, if somewhat bizarre. Peristyles generally ought to be regarded as part of
the dwelling-house, simply rooms in the open air. The furniture and decoration are not
intrinsically different, for indoors one walks through rooms that (by pictures) have been
converted into gardens. We find this at Pompeii, whichever way we turn, for walls are all
119
gardens, seeing that the larger places (seldom to be found in the narrow spaces of the
town) were probably used for the practical purposes of a vegetable-garden. This was
certainly the case in the house of Epidius Rufus (Fig. 84), and probably in that of Pansa
and of the Silver Wedding (Fig. 85). At the first of these there is a small terrace, which
was obviously laid out prettily with flowers, behind the kitchen-garden. These little raised
terraces were liked as a
suitable ending, and in
addition to the flower-
beds, fountains were set
up with mosaic, and also
statues. Most of them were
so made that one could not
quite reach up to them.
The garden of Lucre-
tius (Fig. 86) at Pompeii
is peculiar; it ascends a
little towards an alcove for
flowers, wherein stands a
Silenus, pouring water out
of a vessel over a litt le stair-
way: the water is caught
in a channel or gutter, and
flows thence into a small
round fountain. Standing
around are little animals FIG. g4. the house of fig. 85. the house of the silver wedding,
in marble, a small row of epidius rufus, pompeii pompeii—ground-plan
other statuettes, and four ground-plan
figures of Hermes; the whole thing, now that flowers have been replanted there, makes a
pleasing picture, if somewhat bizarre. Peristyles generally ought to be regarded as part of
the dwelling-house, simply rooms in the open air. The furniture and decoration are not
intrinsically different, for indoors one walks through rooms that (by pictures) have been
converted into gardens. We find this at Pompeii, whichever way we turn, for walls are all