Two Examples of Water Deities in Pompeii: Sarnus and Venus Pompeiana
Charles-Laforge,
Two Examples of Water Deities in Pompeii: Sarnus and Venus Pompeiana - 2022.
97
Although not widespread in Pompeii, Sarnus (the deified Sarno river) is present in several religious and secular paintings. Nevertheless, no sanctuary of this deity is attested here. On lararia paintings, Sarnus appears as a secondary deity, unlike Venus Pompeiana. On their representations, we see that she holds an overturned rudder. Its meaning is twofold: it recalls the marine origins of the goddess, but also the maritime prosperity of the city and its link with maritime and river trade. Her marine origins made her a protective goddess of sailors and navigation.
Two Examples of Water Deities in Pompeii: Sarnus and Venus Pompeiana - 2022.
97
Although not widespread in Pompeii, Sarnus (the deified Sarno river) is present in several religious and secular paintings. Nevertheless, no sanctuary of this deity is attested here. On lararia paintings, Sarnus appears as a secondary deity, unlike Venus Pompeiana. On their representations, we see that she holds an overturned rudder. Its meaning is twofold: it recalls the marine origins of the goddess, but also the maritime prosperity of the city and its link with maritime and river trade. Her marine origins made her a protective goddess of sailors and navigation.
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