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Description of the Sacred Area
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Past some rooms that were possibly used
for storage, the first of the two temples (b) was dedicated to Venus
(pictured above and below). The building
was completely restored after the earthquake in AD62, the restoration being funded by Vibidia
Saturnina and her son A. Furius Saturninus.
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The second temple (c), also restored after AD62, was dedicated to the four gods Vulcan, Neptune, Mercury and Minerva as evidenced by the neo-Attic
reliefs (pictured opposite) which were torn from the building by the
force of the pyroclastic flow. The reliefs were recently rediscovered
and copies have been placed in the cella (pictured below). Like the adjoining temple, the cella is on a raised podium, fronted by a pronaos which was framed by Corinthian columns.
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The Sacred Area lies to the west of the Terrace of M. Nonius Balbus,
accessed off a passageway (a) at its eastern end where the ramp from Cardo
IV joins the terrace. This western terrace contains two sacelli at its westmost end and, like the adjoining Terrace of M. Nonius Balbus, was built over vaulted boat houses lining the ancient shore.
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Raised on a podium, the cella (pictured lower left) is fronted
by a pronaos which had fluted stuccoed columns (now alas no longer in
situ). The cella has a vaulted ceiling and retains some of its original
frescoed decoration, based round a garden theme. In front of the podium
was a marble altar.
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In
the extreme northwest corner of the area are the remains of other
buildings (d) (pictured left) whose use has yet to be determined.
Note: the originals of the four reliefs shown here can be seen in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.
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