DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61617#0215
164
POMPEII
The entrance to the court of the temple (Fig. 73) is from the
north. Above the door is an inscription which informs us that
after an earthquake (that of the year 63) Numerius Popidius
Celsinus, at his own expense, rebuilt the temple of Isis from the
Fig. 73. — Plan of the temple of Isis.
1. Portico.
2. Celia.
3. Shrine of Harpocrates.
4. Purgatorium.
5. Hall of initiation.
6. Hall of the Mysteries.
7,8,9. Dwelling of priest.
a. Colonnade.
b. Pit for the refuse of
sacrifices.
c. Niche for statue of
Bacchus.
d. d. Niches at the sides
of the cella.
e. Large altar.
foundation, and that in recog-
nition of his generosity, though
he was only six years of age,
the members of the city coun-
cil, the decurions, admitted him
without cost to their rank:
N[umerius~\ Popidius N[ume-
rii^\ f[ilius~\ Celsinus aedem
Isidis terrae motu, conlapsam a
fundamento p\ecunia~\ s[ua]
restituit; hunc decuriones ob
Izberahtatem, cum esset anno-
rum sexs, ordini suo gratis ad-
legerunt. The temple evi-
dently belonged to the city;
and the places for statues in
the court, as the inscriptions
show, were assigned by vote of
the city council.
Other inscriptions give information in regard to the family of
the child Celsinus. His father was Numerius Popidius Ampli-
atus, his mother Corelia Celsa; a brother bore the same name as
the father. The real rebuilders were of course the parents; by
associating their munificence with the name of their son, they
opened the way for him to the city offices, for which the father,
a freedman, was not eligible. Ampliatus perpetuated his own
name by setting up a statue of Bacchus in a niche in the outside
of the rear wall of the temple (at c on the plan), with the inscrip-
tion : N. Popidius Ampliatus pater p. s., ‘Numerius Popidius
Ampliatus the father (set up this statue) at his own expense.’
The names of the two sons appear with that of their mother
in the mosaic floor of the large room (6) behind the colonnade
at the rear.
Though the rebuilding of Celsinus was ‘ from the founda-
POMPEII
The entrance to the court of the temple (Fig. 73) is from the
north. Above the door is an inscription which informs us that
after an earthquake (that of the year 63) Numerius Popidius
Celsinus, at his own expense, rebuilt the temple of Isis from the
Fig. 73. — Plan of the temple of Isis.
1. Portico.
2. Celia.
3. Shrine of Harpocrates.
4. Purgatorium.
5. Hall of initiation.
6. Hall of the Mysteries.
7,8,9. Dwelling of priest.
a. Colonnade.
b. Pit for the refuse of
sacrifices.
c. Niche for statue of
Bacchus.
d. d. Niches at the sides
of the cella.
e. Large altar.
foundation, and that in recog-
nition of his generosity, though
he was only six years of age,
the members of the city coun-
cil, the decurions, admitted him
without cost to their rank:
N[umerius~\ Popidius N[ume-
rii^\ f[ilius~\ Celsinus aedem
Isidis terrae motu, conlapsam a
fundamento p\ecunia~\ s[ua]
restituit; hunc decuriones ob
Izberahtatem, cum esset anno-
rum sexs, ordini suo gratis ad-
legerunt. The temple evi-
dently belonged to the city;
and the places for statues in
the court, as the inscriptions
show, were assigned by vote of
the city council.
Other inscriptions give information in regard to the family of
the child Celsinus. His father was Numerius Popidius Ampli-
atus, his mother Corelia Celsa; a brother bore the same name as
the father. The real rebuilders were of course the parents; by
associating their munificence with the name of their son, they
opened the way for him to the city offices, for which the father,
a freedman, was not eligible. Ampliatus perpetuated his own
name by setting up a statue of Bacchus in a niche in the outside
of the rear wall of the temple (at c on the plan), with the inscrip-
tion : N. Popidius Ampliatus pater p. s., ‘Numerius Popidius
Ampliatus the father (set up this statue) at his own expense.’
The names of the two sons appear with that of their mother
in the mosaic floor of the large room (6) behind the colonnade
at the rear.
Though the rebuilding of Celsinus was ‘ from the founda-