Jan., 1912. Antiquities from Boscoreale. , 171 



upper left corner through the head of the figure. There are numerous abrasions. 

 The background is a dark yellow, whether originally or through discoloration is 

 uncertain. Possible traces of previous framing appear on the lower and right edges. 



FRESCO. 24648. [Plate CXXIV.J 



Decorative figure of winged beardless sphinx on yellow background. 



The design is very similar to that of the preceding fresco (No. 24649), 

 but is much less well preserved. Noteworthy details are the traces of 

 the crested cap and of the eye, the upper line of which is visible. 



There is a black stripe along the back, and on the tail and the left 

 hind leg. The light-flecks have disappeared, excepting one on the back, 

 just behind the wings. 



Height, m. 0.31 ( = 12.2 in.). Width same. 



The plaster is cracked about the under, upper and left sides. The design is 

 much abraded, especially the head, which lacks the lower part of the face, the 

 shoulder, the wings, the left front foot and the end of the tail. The yellow of the 

 background preserves, in part, the original medium light shade, as in No. 24647, 

 but the color has become still lighter in many places. There is probable trace of 

 previous framing on the under side. 



FRESCO. 24658. [Plate CXXIII.] 



Sacrificial scene and serpent from a domestic shrine, which probably 

 belonged to the villa discovered in 1897 in the Piazza del Mercato of 

 the village of Boscoreale. 1 The upper part of the painted surface is 

 occupied by the scene of sacrifice, which is depicted as taking place out 

 of doors. A little to the right of the center of a heavy base-line there 

 is an altar of a dark red marble containing large and small yellowish 

 spots. The altar has a molded base and a wide cornice. On the upper 

 surface a red fire burns with a whitish smoke. Close to the altar at 

 either side there is a small slender green tree. 



At the right of the altar a tall male figure clad in a toga which may 

 possibly be drawn up over his head, extends his right hand over the fire. 

 His left arm is bent at the elbow, the forearm being brought forward 

 with the open hand held near the body. The feet do not show owing to 

 a patch in the plaster. He has a sinewy neck and a sharply retreating 

 chin. Near the short dark brown hair there are traces of a green wreath. 



1 Notiz. degli Scavi, 1 898. p. ±2 1 (Sogliano) : ' ' Al di sotto della nicchietta e dipinto, fra due alberetti, 

 l'altare ardente, sul quale f anno libazioni il genius familiaris a dritta, vestito di toga bianca e col capo 

 velato e a sinistra la iuno. vestita anche di bianco e col capo del pari velato. Dietro il genius stanno un 

 camillo, in parte dannegiato, con la benda nella destra e un altra figura irriconoscibile ; e dietro la iuno 

 un altro camillo avente nella dritta le bende e nella sinistra un piatto con le offerte, e il tibicen in atto di 

 suonare la doppia tibia. Al di sotto, il serpente agatodemone." The doubt as to whether the heads 

 of the principal figures are covered and the omission of the plate carried by the camillus on the right are 

 slight discrepancies which count for little against the agreement of the other details and the fact that 

 no such fresco is mentioned in the reports of the excavations of the treasure villa. 



