Relief in plaster
Dimensions: 18 x 86 x 6 cm
Setting: Rome, Museum of Roman Civilization

Relief of lararium of L. Caecilius Iucundus, Pompeii

The relief is from the front of the lararium (shrine for holding images of the lares, household gods, in the homes of the ancient Romans) situated in the house of L. Caecilius Iucundus in Pompeii. Depicted in the scene are the effects of the earthquake of 62 AD, which damaged some of the Campanian cities, including Pompeii. Notable are the city walls with the Vesuvian Gate which collapsed as a result of the earthquake. At the left is the castellum aquae, still solidly standing, and represented in a schematic fashion with its facade characterised by three blind archways and four pilasters resting on a pedestal. Three horizontal openings appear in the centre of the arches. At the right, a cart pulled by two donkeys is depicted in a unique bird's-eye view. The relief was produced in the 1930s.