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View looking at the north wall of the cult room of the Sacellum (chapel) of the Augustales (priests in charge of Emperor Worship). The central panel is flanked by two slender spirally fluted columns. It appears that there is an attempt to portray this central panel as a hanging tapestry. On the left is Hercules with his club, lion's skin, and a bow and arrows. The nude figure next to him is a river deity that is attempting to snatch away Hercules' wife, Deianeira. Hercules is about to rescue her! Tuck suggests that this is a metaphor for the Emperor as Hercules who protects/rescues his people.
Flanking the central piece are "windows" that look out on to the world. Note especially the two chariots with horses in the upper two corners.
Professor Tuck (see below) suggests that this room was renovated shortly after the death of Vespasian in A.D. 79, early in the reign of Titus—which implies that the room was soon buried by the pyroclastic flow from Vesuvius—ca. 24 August 79.
Tuck, Steven L. "Worshipping the Emperors at Herculaneum," Lecture 21 in Pompeii: Daily Life in an Ancient Roman City. Produced by the Great Courses/The Teaching Company, Course No. 3742, 2010.
