roman gardens Flashcards
House of the Faun
Pompeii, pre 79 AD
example of a garden still to the rear of the house like the old Hortus but including colonnades and peristyle
development of the roman villa garden over time
small gardens had existed at the rear of roman houses for a long time - function primarily for agricultural subsistence
2nd century BC transformation from the horus to the peristyle architectural garden design - aligns with shift from utility to pleasure
NOTE: progression is not strictly linear - there were still houses with small hortus and no peristyle in pompeii (79 AD eruption)
House of the Garden of Hercules
large rectangular garden without any colonnades
House of the Ceii
Pompeii
hunting scenes in the garden
eastern/hellenistic kings would commission zoological gardens - including depictions of exotic animals on the peristyle often engaged in hunting scenes OR tamed by the song of Orpheus
this could be precedent for the hunting scenes in this garden
House of Orpheus
Pompeii,
Given it’s name due to a fresco of Orpheus with his lyre taming animals (surround him - compare with the imagery in romano-british mosaics)
House of Octavius Quarto (gardens)
Atrium miniature architectural garden, impluvium, fountains, small peristyle garden behind the atrium, enclosed by porticoes on 3 sides
evidence of several statues - perhaps terracotta of egyptian god
hunting scenes, enclosures, images of orpheus and venus, painting of a priest of Isis
Has been theorised that an owner was a priest of Isis and the waterworks may have been a part of a ritual - but seems implausible as egyptising elements in gardens aren’t uncommon, waterways also have a history in italy before the import of egyptian/eastern culture
eastern end of porticos - outdoor dining area - biclinium
between kline - aedicula framed by columns it’s narcissus and priamus on either side - statues of dionysus and baby satyrs (link with theatre/ outdoor spaces but also just luxury innit)
below portico - larger garden, water feature at the centre, 12 statue bases
the villa of papyri
pompeii
grand peristyle with figures of significance (philosophers etc) - statues of satyrs, pan, dionysus
