Pompeii; its history, buildings and antiquities - an account of the destruction of the city, with a full description of the remains, and of the recent excavations and also an itinerary for visitors (14792955033)

Identifier: pompeiiitshist00dyer (find matches)
Title: Pompeii; its history, buildings and antiquities : an account of the destruction of the city, with a full description of the remains, and of the recent excavations and also an itinerary for visitors
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Dyer, Thomas Henry, 1804-1888
Subjects:
Publisher: London : Bell
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto



Text Appearing Before Image:
ll scale, and isscarcely worth a minute description : the other is moreremarkable, though not larger. A prothyrum leads from the narrow street which runs be-side the basilica into a tetrastyle atrium. The columns haveevidently been composed of old materials worked up again,and stuccoed over to make a fair show. At the foot of onewhere this coating is broken away, part of the fluted shaft of HOUSES OF CHAMPIONET. 441 a former column is to be seen surmounted by brickwork, andthe upper parts of the others are composed of alternatecourses of brick and stone. In the centre is a marble im-pluvium with a well-hole; the edges of the impluvium aresurrounded by mosaic of different patterns. The lower partof the columns has been painted, as usual, of some dark colour.Around this apartment a triclinium, hall, and other roomsare disposed. An open tablinum intervened between theatrium and the peristyle, which enclosed a diminutive xystus,or garden. The most remarkable thing in it is, that apertures
Text Appearing After Image:
Tetidstyle Atuum of a House Lxcavakd by Gen. Championet. are cut in the basement or pluteum which supported thepillars of the peristyle, to give light to a subterranean set ofapartments, accessible either from the peristyle by a staircase,or from the street by a long sloping jDassage. A chamberwhich looks upon the peristyle is remarkable for the eleganceof its decorations. Around the lower parts of the walls thereruns a broad skirting of a deep red, relieved by paintings offlowers, and minute borders and ornaments. The upper partis of a brilliant celestial blue, divided into compartments by 442 POMPEII. broad borders and arabesques, in the centre of which com-partments are medallions containing figures of elegant designand execution. Flying Cupids, with peacocks, doves, andother animals, appear to be the favourite subjects. We have now surveyed, besides the temples and publicbuildings, all that part of the city lying between the Gate ofHerculaneum ai>d adjacent wall on the north, t