Niches in the courtyard

We already encountered niches in the courtyard of the Horrea of Epagathus and Epaphroditus, made of polychrome terracotta, limestone and pumice. A very similar niche is found in the House of the Lararium. The aedicula-facade is well-preserved, only the upper part was damaged by the collapse of the building. The choice of the name for the building is a bit unfortunate, because the niche certainly never held statuettes of the Lares and Genius. We should think of one small, marble statue (the opening of the niche is 0.94 high). The niche is opposite the vestibule, but not exactly opposite the centre, which the architecture of the interior did not allow.

The main entrance of the House of the Lararium, seen from the Decumanus Maximus.
Photo: Daniel González Acuña.

Detail of the niche. Photo: Klaus Heese.

The lower part of a very wide niche can be seen in the courtyard of the small Warehouse III,II,6. Like the previous niche it had an aedicula-facade, but of this only the travertine consoles on which two columns and the entablature rested have been preserved. The columns may have been attached in slightly damaged tufa stones, directly above the consoles and a little higher up. The niche is opposite the vestibule, but like the previous niche not opposite the centre: it is in the middle of the back wall of the courtyard.

Looking through the entrance of the courtyard, with the (overgrown) niche at the back.
Photo: Daniel González Acuña.

Detail of the niche.
Photo: Jan Theo Bakker.