This book examines how Pompeian peristyle gardens were utilized to represent the socioeconomic status of Roman homeowners, introducing fresh perspectives on how these spaces were designed, used, and perceived.
Pompeian Peristyle Gardens provides a novel understanding of how the domus was planned, utilized, and experienced through a critical examination of all Pompeian peristyles – not just by selecting a few well-known examples. This study critiques common scholarly assumptions of ancient domestic space, such as the top-down movement of ideas and the relationship between wealth and socio-political power, though these possibilities are not excluded. In addition, this book provides a welcome contribution to exploring the largely unexamined middle class, an integral part of ancient Roman society.
Pompeian Peristyle Gardens is of interest to students and scholars in art history, classics, archaeology, social history, and other related fields.
Author(s): Samuli Simelius
Series: Studies in Roman Space and Urbanism
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 252
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Roman house and status display
1.2 Top-down model?
1.3 Middle class, middling group, middle group, sub-elites?
Notes
Chapter 2 Pompeian peristyle gardens
2.1 Reconstructing the Pompeian peristyles
2.2 What is a peristyle garden?
2.3 Creating the basis of the quantitative analysis
Notes
Chapter 3 Why were peristyles built in Pompeian houses?
3.1 The courtyard architecture of a Mediterranean house
3.2 The multifunctionality of the Roman house and peristyle
3.2.1 Water supply as the function of the peristyle
3.2.2 Cult activity in the peristyles
3.2.3 Business activity in the peristyles
3.3 The audience of the socioeconomic display
Notes
Chapter 4 The parameters of socioeconomic display
4.1 Sources of socioeconomic display: What can and cannot be analyzed?
4.1.1 Plants and plantings: too poorly documented for a comprehensive analysis
4.1.2 Quality of building: too similar
4.2 The architecture of display
4.2.1 Size of the peristyle: area
4.2.2 Porticoes
4.3 Decorative features
4.3.1 Pools and decorative basins
4.3.2 Fountains
4.3.3 Sculpture
4.3.4 Wall paintings
4.3.5 Floor decoration
Notes
Chapter 5 Classification of peristyles according to their means of economic display
5.1 Grouping the peristyles according to their use for display
5.2 Opulent peristyles
5.3 Large full peristyles
5.4 Ornamental peristyles
5.5 Large painting peristyles
5.6 Imitation peristyles
5.7 Minor decoration peristyles
5.8 Architectural peristyles
Notes
Chapter 6 The economic display functions of peristyles: The social influence and trends in peristyles
6.1 Peristyle groups and socioeconomic standing
6.2 Architecture and the size of built space as representations of wealth in the opulent and large full peristyles
6.3 The importance of the quantity and size of decorations: the means of display in the ornamental and large painting peristyles
6.4 The idea of the full peristyle: imitating the top peristyles of Pompeii
6.5 The peristyles without a specifically planned display function
6.6 The role of the peristyles in the architectural functions of the house
6.7 Other purposes of the peristyles
Notes
Chapter 7 The social status of Pompeian peristyle owners
7.1 Evidence of social status in the domestic sphere
7.2 Possible peristyle owners and their social statuses
7.2.1 Opulent peristyles
7.2.2 Large full peristyles
7.2.3 Ornamental peristyles
7.2.4 Large painting peristyles
7.2.5 Imitation peristyles
7.2.6 Minor decoration and architectural peristyles
7.2.7 Political activity and the peristyle owners
7.3 Business uses of houses with peristyles
Notes
Chapter 8 Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
