"The Garden of Hercules at Pompeii" (II.viii.6): The Discovery of a Commercial Flower Garden

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. . Abstract The "Garden of Hercules" takes its name from the statue worshipped in the large lararium of the garden (II.viii.6) attached to a modest house to the W of the Great Palaestra at Pompeii. This garden was partially excavated in 1953-1954, but even in previously excavated gardens it is still sometimes possible to find evidence of ancient plants. University of Maryland excavations from 1972-1974 uncovered here a garden very different from any found thus far. The soil contours, planting pattern, provisions for watering, ancient pollen and the perfume bottles found suggest that this was a commercial flower garden, the products of which were used in making the perfume or perfumed oils, and perhaps the garlands, so important in ancient Roman life. Ancient writers speak of the importance of the flower industry in Campania; wall paintings at Pompeii picture the procedures of making garlands and perfume; inscriptions attest to the activities of the unguentarii. This garden, however, provides the first evidence for commercial flower growing within the city. THE SITE University of Maryland excavations discovered in the large open area attached to a humble house (II.viii.6), W of the Great Palaestra, a garden very different from any known thus far (ill. I; pl. 57, fig. i). This property was bordered on the N by a narrow lane that led directly to the rear of the palaestra and the amphitheater beyond. The entrance to the property was on the busy Via Nuceria which led to the Nucerian Gate, through which traffic from this part of town passed to the port on the Sarnus river.In i971 I found it almost impossible to enter the house for it was completely filled with saplings and brambles that had grown up since the site had been originally excavated in 1953-1954-1 It was necessary to cut our way through the vegetation that completely filled the atrium, before we could eventually examine the badly overgrown garden. It looked as if all evidence of ancient roots had been destroyed, but when a trial trench showed that it was possible to recover root cavities we decided to clean the garden the following year. Fortunately there were some areas in which the original lapilli had been left to a sufficient height to preserve the ancient soil contours and cavities. When we

A Historical and Archaeological Study of the Nineteenth Century Hudson's Bay Company Garden at Fort Vancouver: Focusing on Archaeological Field Methods and Microbotanical Analysis

“…The high frequency of olive, which is an insect-pollinated plant, is quite definitive for olive trees being cultivated in the garden. The frequencies for weeds and grasses were very low, implying that the garden was highly maintained (Jashemski 1979).…”

“…The results of the article review suggest that, in terms of plant remains, it is possible, even in sediments known to have characteristics that would be detrimental to pollen preservation, for pollen to be well preserved and that analysis of these microartifacts can be very informative (Hume 1974;Jashemski 1979;Currie and Locock 1991;Moynihan 2000). The locations of insect-pollinated plants, which generally drop their relatively heavy pollen in the location that the plant is growing, can also be determined, through the identification of pollen in sediments (Moynihan 2000).…”

“…These water channels were fed with water from the roof of the building or poured in from the street. The beds at one end of the garden are higher than at the other, allowing the water to flow naturally throughout the garden (Jashemski 1979).…”

“…Remote sensing (including aerial photography) can detect subtle differences between such things as paths and beds, intricate bedding patterns, and hard landscaping (Aston 1974;Jashemski 1979;Currie and Locock 1991;Aspinall 1997;Miller and Gleason 1999;Bedal 2001), although Currie and Locock noted that small garden beds could be entirely missed with one meter transects. The ideal situation for this type of testing is sediments that have not experienced alteration over time, as overlying features make it difficult to discern the less-defined characteristics generally found in a garden (Currie and Locock 1991;Miller and Gleason 1999).…”

“…These sediments can also be dated by several methods, including the presence of artifacts, as refuse was often used to loosen the soil, and analyzed for the presence of additives used to enhance fertility (Hume 1974;Jashemski 1979Jashemski , 1995Currie and Locock 1991). The types of additives can also help to determine what was being planted.…”