Roman Times: Focusing on the wealth evaluation of marble and bronze objects found in Pompeii houses

As I was working my way through the sections of the Pompeianarum Antiquitatum Historia that described bronze finds in the Casa del Leone (VI 17,25) so I could ensure proper points were awarded for wealth calculation, it became clear I needed to define the types of bronze objects that actually reflected wealth as opposed to utilitarian objects like door and window hardware, everyday cookware, etc.

Apollo Citharoedus (I 4,5) from the House of the Citharist, Pompeii, at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Female bust found in the House of the Citharist (1 4,5) at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Male bust found in the House of the Citharist (1 4,5) at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Closeup of a bronze sculpture of a hunting dog from the House of the Citharist at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Closeup of a bronze sculpture of a wild boar from the House of the Citharist at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Bronze sculptures of hunting dogs attacking a wild boar from one of the peristyles in the House of the Citharist (I 4,5) at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Closeup of a bronze sculpture of a hunting dog from the House of the Citharist at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Bronze sculpture of a lion fountain feature from the House of the Citharist (1 4,5) at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Bronze sculpture of a serpent fountain feature from the House of the Citharist at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Sculpture of a stag at the House of the Citharist (1 4,5) at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

So, I asked ChatGPT, "In our calculation for luxury items, we are awarding points for finds of marble and bronze. However, should I limit bronze finds to artwork, scales, ornate braziers, ornate lighting and furniture applications or should I also count bronze cookware?

ChatGPT replied: "In the context of Pompeian wealth scoring, it would make sense to differentiate between bronze as a marker of wealth and bronze as a utilitarian material:

Considerations for Scoring Bronze Finds

Artwork, Scales, and Furniture Applications

These items typically represent wealth and cultural refinement. Bronze statues, decorative furniture elements, or scales for measuring valuable goods would have been luxury items and clear indicators of affluence.

Recommendation: Assign higher points for these applications as they denote investment in aesthetics and specialized craftsmanship.

Cookware and Everyday Utensils

Bronze cookware was relatively common in Pompeii, used by a broad spectrum of the population. While a large or particularly high-quality collection of bronze cookware might imply wealth, its presence alone is not as strong an indicator as artwork or furnishings.

Recommendation: Assign fewer points for cookware unless:

There is an unusually large collection, suggesting opulence.

The cookware is ornate or particularly high-quality, indicating it was not just utilitarian.

Scoring Suggestions for Bronze Items

Bronze artwork, scales, and furniture elements: 4–8 points each depending on quality, size, and uniqueness.

Bronze cookware: 1–3 points total unless the collection is extraordinary.

By weighting bronze cookware lower, the scoring system preserves the distinction between items that reflect affluence and those that are simply functional. This approach ensures fairness while still recognizing the contribution of high-quality cookware to the household’s overall wealth profile."

However, I was afraid we were risking becoming too granular in our assessment.

ChatGPT agreed: "You're absolutely right to question whether increasing granularity risks overcomplicating the scoring system. Striking the right balance between precision and usability is key to ensuring the framework remains practical and meaningful. Let’s consider a few guiding principles to determine if we’re at risk of becoming too granular:

Signs the System is Becoming Overly Granular

Difficulty in Data Collection and Consistency

If scoring relies on highly specific details (e.g., differentiating between functional and decorative bronze items), the variability in available archaeological data might introduce inconsistency. Some excavation reports may not distinguish cookware quality or provide sufficient context.

Marginal Impact on Overall Scores

If granular distinctions only shift scores by 1–2 points, their inclusion may unnecessarily complicate the framework without significantly affecting wealth categorization.

Dilution of Major Indicators

Overemphasizing minor details, like cookware, could reduce the weight of more significant markers (e.g., property size, decorative programs, or specialized rooms).

Loss of Accessibility

A highly detailed system might become less intuitive or accessible to users who need to interpret the results, such as students or researchers unfamiliar with intricate scoring mechanics.

Simplifying Without Losing Precision

To avoid excessive granularity while maintaining accuracy:

Broader Categories for Artifacts

Instead of scoring individual items, consider grouping related artifacts (e.g., "decorative bronze items" vs. "utilitarian bronze items"). Award aggregate points based on the quantity and significance of the category as a whole.

Weighted Categories

Focus on weighting key categories—like property size, decorative programs, and specialized rooms—more heavily than secondary indicators like cookware.

Use Discretionary Scoring

For edge cases (e.g., exceptionally ornate cookware), include guidelines for assigning bonus points instead of fixed values.

Test and Calibrate the System

Apply the scoring framework to a diverse sample of homes to evaluate whether granular details skew results or introduce unnecessary complexity.

How This Applies to Bronze Items

Rather than scoring each type of bronze item separately, the system could treat all decorative bronze objects as a single category, awarding points based on the cumulative presence of notable pieces. Similarly, utilitarian bronze items could earn a low, flat score unless they are of exceptional quality or quantity.

Conclusion

While granular distinctions provide nuance, they should only be included if they meaningfully enhance the framework."

Knowing how incomplete some excavation reports are and the fact that some homes were subject to looting, I suggested it would be simpler to only award points for bronze decorative objects and ignore the common utilitarian items.

ChatGPT replied: "Your approach makes a lot of sense. Limiting points for bronze finds to decorative objects rather than common utilitarian items would streamline the scoring process and better reflect wealth indicators in a Pompeian context. Here's why this strategy is effective:

Why Focus on Decorative Bronze Objects?

Reflects Wealth and Status

Decorative bronze items—like statuettes, candelabra, or furniture applications—signal investment in artistry and luxury, distinguishing them as status symbols. Utilitarian bronze (e.g., nails, door hardware) was widespread and does not necessarily indicate affluence.

Simplifies Scoring

Ignoring mundane items reduces the burden of combing through exhaustive excavation reports and minimizes the risk of overcomplicating assessments with negligible details.

Aligns with Other Luxury Categories

Awarding points for decorative bronze aligns with how you treat marble or opus sectile—focusing on items that represent craftsmanship and wealth rather than functional ubiquity.

Proposed Scoring Adjustment

Include: Decorative bronze objects (e.g., statues, candelabra, inlaid furniture details). [Add more points for:] Exceptional or unusual bronze items (e.g., ceremonial or symbolic objects).

Exclude: Everyday hardware (e.g., hinges, nails).

Functional cookware (unless exceptionally ornate).

Example Implementation for a home with bronze finds:

Decorative bronze items: +2 points per notable piece, with possible bonuses for exceptional craftsmanship.

Common utilitarian items: No points.

Advantages

Focuses on meaningful indicators: Emphasizes artifacts directly tied to wealth.

Ensures consistency: Simplifies report interpretation and scoring.

Avoids overinflation: Prevents homes with large quantities of mundane items from being artificially elevated in score.

Currently, the point awards for marble and bronze items in our system are structured as follows, with an emphasis on decorative or luxury artifacts rather than utilitarian items:

Marble Items

Decorative objects (e.g., statues, tables, reliefs, cartibulum):

+2 points per notable piece.

+3–4 points for exceptional craftsmanship or large-scale items (e.g., significant statues, elaborate altars).

Functional items with luxury features (e.g., marble steps, fountains):

+1–2 points per item.

Plain structural marble (e.g., simple thresholds, basic construction elements): No points (excluded for simplicity and to avoid skewing results).

Bronze Items

Decorative or ceremonial objects (e.g., statuettes, candelabra, luxury furniture fittings):

+2 points per notable piece.

+3–4 points for exceptional craftsmanship or unique pieces.

Bronze scales (associated with trade or precision craftsmanship):

+1 point each.

Functional cookware or everyday items (e.g., pots, door hinges, nails): No points (excluded as utilitarian and commonplace).

To test this part of our framework, I asked ChatGPT to score the House of the Citharist (I 4,5). I remembered seeing a number of high-quality bronze sculptures recovered from the house in a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry that I photographed back in 2017.

ChatGPT replied:

"Here is the rescoring for the House of the Citharist, using the proper formulae for constructed and garden space, along with other applicable categories:

Revised Scoring for the House of the Citharist

Size (Constructed Space):

Constructed area: Approx. 1,800 m²

Points: 1,800 divided by 10 ×1.5 = 270

capped at 60 points.

Size (Garden Space)

Garden area: Approx. 800 m²

Points: 800 divided by 10 ×0.5 = 40

capped at 20 points.

Decoration:

Large-scale fresco program, mostly 4th Style: 15 points

Mosaic floors: Includes opus tessellatum in various rooms: 15 points

Use of marble decoration: 10 points (based on fragments found).

Specialized Rooms/Features

Tuscan atrium with marble impluvium: 10 points

Tablinum: 5 points

Peristyle garden: 5 points

Multiple triclinia: 5 points

Dedicated exedrae for entertaining: 5 points

Luxury Items

Extensive bronze finds (notably large sculptures):

Bronze Apollo Playing a Cithara: 25 points

Bronze Hercules: 20 points

Other significant bronze sculptures: 15 points.

Marble statuary and decorative elements: 10 points.

Location and Visibility

Prime location near the forum: 15 points.

Other Notable Features

Vaulted rooms: 5 points

Garden sculptures and fountains: 5 points.

Total Score:

Constructed Space: 60

Garden Space: 20

Decoration: 40

Specialized Rooms/Features: 30

Luxury Items: 70

Location and Visibility: 15

Other Notable Features: 10

Final Total: 245 points

Assessment

This total places the House of the Citharist well into the Elite Residences category. Its high score is driven by its monumental size, prime location, luxurious decorative program, and the extraordinary collection of bronze sculptures. Bronze luxury objects from elsewhere in Pompeii:

Lamp in the shape of a Nubian's head from an unspecified house in Pompeii at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

An ornate brazier recovered from an unspecified house in Pompeii at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Steelyard Balance Scale from an unspecified location in Pompeii at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

Closeup of steelyard weight from balance scale recovered from an unspecified location in Pompeii at a Pompeii exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in 2017. Photograph by Mary Harrsch.

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