The Garden History Society

The Garden of 'Casa dei Casti Amanti' (Pompeii, Italy)

Author(s): A. Ciarallo and M. Mariotti Lippi
Source: Garden History, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Summer, 1993), pp. 110-116
Published by: The Garden History Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1587056
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 NOTES

THE GARDEN OF 'CASA DEI CASTI AMANTI' (POMPEII, ITALY)

Macro- and microscopic analyses were made of plant fragments and pollen found in
'Casa dei Casti Amanti', Pompeii with the aim of reconstructing the appearance of the g
A. D. 79. Our findings showed that the garden had geometrically shaped beds whic
trellises of reeds. Juniperus and Rosa grew in the beds together with Artemisia and
and herbs from families such as Caryophyllaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae. Fern
perimeter drains.

INTRODUCTION

In 1987 the archaeologist A. Varone began excavating 'civici 6 and 7' (in 'i
which are on the central 'via dell'Abbondanza' of ancient Pompeii. The exca
progress, has revealed two distinct complexes. One is a house, to which
counter facing the street, was annexed. The other is a rich house called '
The triportico and the garden enclosed within it have also been unc
re-emergence of the columns of this triportico from the lapilli sugges
viridarium.
By taking advantage of the newest and most sophisticated techniques,
study the arrangement of the garden. Its structure has been revealed in it
A.D. 79, when Pompeii was buried beneath ash and lapilli following the
With the ultimate aim of reconstructing the appearance of the garden a
macro- and microscopic analyses of the plant finds were made.

THE PHASES OF THE EXCAVATION (Annamaria Ciarallo)

Having established the level of the ancient garden, the removal of the la
halted at a depth of twenty centimetres above it. The entire surface w
squares (Figure 2). The ancient ground level was then uncovered, square b
to be made up of reinforced beds of earth, which are still delimited by narro
(Figures I and 2). The beds formed a complex geometrical design that offe
the finely decorated rooms. The size of the flowerbeds varied (Figure 2) so a
longitudinal garden path, which was misaligned with respect to the entran
The central beds appeared to be delimited by a large number of holes wit
0.5 centimetres and found in groups of four. In pairs, they were inclined in
an angle of about 60 degrees above the horizontal. At regular intervals (o
were other holes of a larger diameter (approximately 3 centimetres). Th
parallel strip of numerous small perforations, distributed homogeneously
There were other cavities of various dimensions within the beds (Figur
lapilli, they were found to have contained shrubs. The following were ide
whose main stem averaged fifteen centimetres in diameter (C2, C5, C7,
shrubs, all of whose stems had more or less the same diameter (average:

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 NOTES III

Figure I. The garden of the

'Casa dei Casti Amanti'

uith the kind permission of the

Sovrintendenza Archeologica di
Pompei

C6, C8, F3, F6, F8); and about a hundred plants with stems not branched at the neck, with stems
averaging three to four centimetres in diameter. In addition, traces left by thin stalks of various
dimensions were present on the ground. They probably belonged to tufted plants of diverse
species.
Finally, along the wall that bounded the garden on its short side, there were clear imprints
that had been left by roots. Between them were linear perforations that were attributable to stakes.

WOOD ANALYSIS (Annamaria Ciarallo)

Fragments of carbonized wood were found both in the holes that were located along the perimeters
of the beds and in several holes within the beds. They were collected and examined under the
microscope.
The analysis of the carbonized remains from the holes in groups of four along the perimeters
of the beds suggests that the specimens belonged to reeds of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin.
(common reed). The larger holes, situated at intervals of one metre between those grouped in four,
contained canes of Arundo donax L. (giant reed). After experimentation, pieces of reed of an
appropriate size were placed in each hole to demonstrate the structure of the trellis that enclosed
the beds (Figure 3).
Once freed of the lapilli, the cavities within the confines of the beds were found to contain
shrubs. Both the six large and six small shrubs were identified by microscopic analysis. The results
of analysis are reported in Table I.

TABLE I: SHRUBS IDENTIFIED BY MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF WOOD

C2 Juniperus sp. F2 Juniperus sp.

C3 Rosa sp. F3 Rosa sp.
C5 Juniperus sp. F5 Juniperus sp.
C6 Rosa sp. F6 Rosa sp.
C7 Juniperus sp. F7 Juniperus sp.
C8 Rosa sp. F8 Rosa sp.

Samples numbered by site grid.

POLLEN ANALYSIS (Marta Mariotti Lippi)

Ten samples were collected from the garden by Dr
indicate the coordinates of their points of collection (Fi
were prepared and treated is available from the author.

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II2 NOTES

i?
I

Figure 2. Plan of the garden

Figure 3. Reconstruction of the trellis which surrounded the beds. a: Arun

b: Phragmites australis

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 NOTES II3

The results of the pollen analysis are reported in Table 2. Only the results of the analysis of
sample AI, which was collected at the point of confluence of the small perimeter drains, are
expressed as percentages. It is the only sample that, because of its high concentration of pollen
(Absolute Pollen Frequency = 400 grains per gram of sediment), allowed for an exhaustive pollen
analysis. For the other samples, the presence of a single grain of pollen is indicated by an 'r'; a '+'
or '+ +' indicates the finding of, respectively, two to five, or more than five grains.

TABLE 2: POLLEN SPECTRA OF THE SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE GARDEN

AI(%) C2 C5 C7 C8 D2 E2 F5 F8 F I

Juniperus 3.5 ++ + r + r + r - +
cf. Rosa - - - r + r

Polypodium
31.2 +australe
+ - + - + + + +
Artemisia
IO.0 ++ + + ++ + + ++ +

Poaceae (wild
3.5 ++ - grasses)
r r r +
cf. Anthemis r

Other Asteroideae 0.6

Cichorioideae 0.6 r r

cf. Cerastium 0.6 r

cf. Lychnis 0.6 + r r

Campanula 0.6
Apiaceae 1.2 r
Fabaceae 1.2 - r r r r
Brassicaceae - r

Malvaceae 0.6 r

Vitis r

Myrtus 0.6
Plantago 1.2 r r r r
Rumex 0.6 r - r

Urticaceae 0.6 + r r

Chenopodiaceae 3.0 + - r r +- + +

Cyperaceae 0.6 + -

Hydrocharitaceae r - r

Equisetum
Pteridophyta 1.8 + r - r

(except Polypodium) r

Pinus 35.0 + r + r r r r
Quercus r

Corylus avellana 0.6

Juglans +

Carpinus - +

Salix rr

Populus 0.6 +

Platanus + r

Poaceae (cereals) 1.2 r r

Samples numbered by site grid.

The list of plants to which the pollen grains were attributed was made according to the
following criteria: the plants whose presence in the garden was directly shown by the discovery of

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 II4 NOTES

10 ;Fi 2-&. Ros;

Figure4. Pollen grains in the samples. I. Polypodium australe Fee; 2. Rosa; 3.Juniperus;
4. Artemisia; 5. Poaceae (wild grass); 6. Apiaceae

their carbonized wood are listed first. These are followed by the plants whose presence in th
garden may be guessed at, starting with those that were found more frequently and those th
might have had ornamental functions. Those plants that did not form any part of the garden, even
if a considerable number of their pollen grains were found, come last. These include the cultivat
Poaceae (cereals) and trees like Pinus (pine), Quercus (oak), and Corylus avellana (hazel), which
would undoubtedly have left obvious traces of their roots in the earth had they been there.
The presence of both Juniperus and Rosa, which was demonstrated by wood analysis, wa
confirmed by the pollen analysis (Table 2, Figure4). However, the pollen grains of the latter
appeared in quantities that would have been considered negligible in other contexts.
The highest percentage of grains among those listed second (Table 2) was ascribed to the fer
Polypodium australe Fee (Figure 4). Its spores were identified by reference to the criteria of t
Flora Palinologica Mediterranea (Forlani, I981). These plants presumably lived along the small
perimeter drains of the garden; this might explain their abundance in sample Ai.
Pollen grains of Artemisia were also frequently found (Figure 4), although it was not possib
to attribute the grains to any species of this genus. In fact, the grains differed noticeably one fro
the other especially in size. On the basis of data in the literature (Singh and Joshi, I96
Praglowsky, 1971; Bandini Mazzanti and Forlani, I986; Caramiello et al., I987), some of these
pollen grains appeared to be similar to those of A. absinthium L. (common wormwood), whil
others, which were present in smaller quantities, resembled the pollen grains of A. vulgaris

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 NOTES II5

(mugwort). However, in the present case, the overlaps of dimensions and the morphological
differences among the exines of the different species were such that they did not allow any
certainty in their identification at specific levels. There may have been several reasons for the
abundance of these grains in the garden: above all, one must keep in mind that Artemisia is an
anemogamous plant, therefore producing significant quantities of pollen, in contrast with many
others listed in the spectrum (Table 2). Furthermore, both A. absinthium and A. vulgaris bloom in
summer, the season in which Vesuvius erupted.
The fact that there were Poaceae (grasses) (Figure 4) in the garden can be taken for granted. It
was thought to be useful to distinguish wild and cultivated genera of Poaceae on the basis of the
dimensions of the grains (Andersen, I979). The cultivated ones were listed third, since it was
improbable that they had been present in the garden. None of the Poaceae grains was ascribable to
either Arundo donax or Phragmites australis.
Among the other plants included in the second group, there are those that may have had an
ornamental purpose, like the Asteraceae (composite family) or the Caryophyllaceae (pink family).
On the other hand, some, for example, Urticaceae (nettle family) and Rumex (sorrel), should be
considered synanthropic (Behre, 198I).
The only pollen grain that could have been attributed to Vitis (vine) was poorly preserved. As
a single specimen, it could not be considered valid proof of the existence of this plant in the garden.
The presence of numerous grains of Pinus, an anemogamous plant which is listed in the third
group, does not support the hypothesis that these plants had been present in the garden (Table 2).
On the basis of the data reported in the literature (Accorsi et al., I978; Arobba, 1979) some of the
grains were attributed to P. halepensis Miller (Aleppo pine), and others to P. pinea L. (stone pine).
Both of these species were reported to have been present in the area of Pompeii at the time of the
eruption of Vesuvius (Berenger, I965).

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together the results of the analyses of the carbonized wood specime
grains allow a fairly complete reconstruction of the appearance of the garden
Amanti' in A.D. 79.
The geometrically shaped beds (Figure 2) were delimited by reeds of P
posted in pairs and crossed at an angle of 60 degrees. Between them and at reg
there were large canes of Arundo donax (Figure 3). The absence of pollen grain
confirms that they were not present as living forms.
Within the trellis, a row of small, regularly spaced plants ran along the
plants identified by the pollen analysis, the Caryophyllaceae (cf. Lychnis and
perhaps best adapted to this arrangement.
A comparison of all the available data about the arrangement of the la
indicates that the geometry of the beds was emphasized by the positions of th
particular, this was the case with roses and junipers, whose presence is show
wood and by their pollen. The roughly one hundred three- to four-centim
which are dispersed for the main part among the peripheral beds, most p
Artemisia. Together with the grasses, other herbs grew among the shrubs,
Fabaceae, and Campanula. The fern Polypodium australe lived along the sma
Many of its spores were found there.
Finally, the wall that bounded one of the short sides of the garden was pro
a trained vine. This is suggested by the positions of the traces of roots that al
along the wall (Ciarallo, I99I). Nevertheless, the single pollen grain of Vitis t
not sufficient to confirm this hypothesis.
The analyses that were conducted on the macro- and micro- remnants
garden is very similar to those represented on the murals painted before the e
(Comes, I979). There are still many such murals intact in Pompeii.
The geometric arrangement of the viridarium of the 'Casa dei Casti Am
Roman origin of the Renaissance garden. In the Roman paradigm, enclosing

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 ii6 NOTES

the
the canons
canons
of theof
ars topiaria,
the ars were
topiaria,
less common were
than has
less
been
common
believed. A re-examination
than has been of all the
believed. A
excavation
excavation data from
data Pompeii
from shows
Pompeii
that practically
shows no traces
that of practically
such arrangements
no have
traces
come of such a
down
down to us.
toSimilarly,
us. Similarly,
this type of this
gardentype
is not represented
of garden in any
is known
not represented
frescoes or mosaics.
in any kno
Even
Even though
though
it is highly
it isprobable
highly that probable
it was common
that
in theitrich
washouses
common
of the capital
in bythe
therich
time ofhouses of
the
the eruption
eruption
of Vesuvius,
of Vesuvius,
this fashion hadthis
still fashion
not reached had
Pompeii,
still
which
not wasreached
considered Pompeii, w
provincial
provincial when when
comparedcompared
to Rome. Excavation
to Rome.
data available
Excavation
on the subject
datafullyavailable
confirm that
onin the subje
Pompeii
Pompeii the beds
thewerebedsinstead
wereenclosed
instead
by trellises
enclosed
of canes, by
or oftrellises
wood, as they ofarecanes,
often or of woo
represented.
The garden was organized in such a way that the plants played on the colour contrast between
the dark green of the junipers and the lighter, grey-green of the leaves of artemisia. This contrast
was enhanced by the colours of the roses and of the other flowers. The ornamental plants in the
garden were the same as those used daily for medicinal purposes, or to make garlands. This
complex arrangement emphasizes the close relationship between man and nature at that time.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACCORSI, C. A., BANDINI MAZZANTI, M., FORLANI, L., I978. 'Modello di sch
italiani (Pinus cembra L., Pinus pinea L., Pinus sylvestris L. subsp. sylvestris L
Bot. Biogeogr. Ital., 54 (3-4): pp. 65-loI.
ANDERSEN, S. T., I979. 'Identification of wild grass and cereal pollen', Danm. G
pp. 69-92.
AROBBA, D., I979. 'Determinazione di Pinus halepensis Miller e Pinus pinaster Aiton sulla base di differenze
palinologiche', Arch. Bot. Biogeogr. Ital. 55 (3), pp. 83-93.
BANDINI MAZZANTI, M., FORLANI, L., I986. 'Flora Palinologica Italiana, sezione Aeropalinologia
S 187: Artemisia absinthium L.', Aerobiologia 2, pp. 35-40.
BEHRE, K. E., 198I. 'The interpretation of anthropogenic indicators in pollen diagrams', Pollen et Spores 23
(2), pp. 225-45.
BERENGER, DI A., 1965. Studii di Archeologia Forestale. Ristampa fotolito a cura dell'Accademia di Scienze
Forestali e della Direzione generale dell'Economia Montana e delle Foreste. Firenze.
CARAMIELLO, R., FERRANDO, R., SINISCALO, C., POLINI, V., 1987. Schede palinologiche di Artemisia
vulgaris L., Artemisia verlotorum Lamotte, Artemisia annua L., su campioni freschi e acetolizzati.
Aerobiologia 3, pp. 37-51.
CIARALLO, A., I99I. In Ciarallo, A., De Carolis, E., Gallo, E., Mariotti Lippi, M., Varone, A., Parchi e
giardini storici - Gli spazi verdi dell'area archeologica di Pompei. De Luca, Roma, pp. 166-77.
COMES, 0., 1879. Illustrazione della piante rappresentate nei dipinti pompeiani. Giannini ed., Napoli.
FORLANI, L., I98I. 'Atlas for a Mediterranean pollen flora', Journal of Palynology 17 (1-2), pp. 3-36.
PRAGLOWSKY, J., 1971. 'The pollen morphology of the Scandinavian species of Artemisia L.', Pollen et
Spores 13 (3), pp. 38I-404.
SINGH, G., JOSHI, R. D., 1969. 'Pollen morphology of some Eurasian species of Artemisia', Grana
Palynologica 9 (1-3), pp. 50-62.

A. CIARALLO

Unit of Applied Sciences to Archaeolog

Archaeological Superintendence of Pompeii, N
M. MARIOTTI LIPPI

Department of Plant Biology

University of Florence

THE TUGGYS OF WESTMINSTER: ADDENDUM

To Jim Gould's interesting account of the Tuggy family a few small poi
only did Parkinson give detailed descriptions of the 'Princesse' and 'Rose

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