Archaeology, botany and sensorial culture have come together as this domus reopened Wednesday morning in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. The house can be visited every Tuesday as the “house of the day”.
The redevelopment and enhancement interventions of some internal spaces, as well as the garden, were made possible by the collaboration between the public and private sectors, thanks to a technical sponsorship by the Rosantiqua Association.
Along with the planting of 800 ancient roses, 1200 violets, a thousand ruscus plants, cherry trees, vines and quince trees, the redevelopment of the garden space of the domus included the restoration of the original ground plan and the ancient irrigation system - unique in Pompeii - as well as the reconstruction of the vine pergolas and the planting of botanical species documented in Roman times.
“The Garden of Hercules dates back to the 3rd century BC and owes its name to a marble statuette found in the garden’s lararium,” explained the director of the Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
“It is a typical ‘terraced’ house of Pompeii and is famous for the inscription cras credo (tomorrow we will have credit) placed at the entrance.”
At the time of the eruption in 79 AD, the domus was undergoing restoration, most probably because of damage by the previous earthquake in 62 AD. It had been enlarged by the owner who had carried out building mergers to be used for specialised production.
When the devastating explosion of Vesuvius occurred, the production of perfumes and the flower trade were still active, since in the 1950s the first excavations in the area brought to light pollen, spores, macro-vegetal remains and various objects, together with numerous glass bottles for perfumes, to make its productive function recognisable in the garden.
ANSA
