House of Caecilius Jucundus (V,1,26) It was built (late 3rd-early 2nd cent. BC) in opus africanum using Sarno limestone, with tufa used for the decorative parts. It is especially famous for its two reliefs—one of which has been stolen, the other (in storage) decorating the lararium (domestic sacellum)—that vividly depicted in popular fashion the effects...Read More

House of the Amorini Dorati (VI,16,7) The name is due to the cherubs on gold laminate (at the Naples Museum) that decorated one room: graffiti reveal the owner to be Cn. Poppaeus Habitus, related to Poppea Sabina, Nero’s second wife. The building (3rd cent. BC, variously remodeled through the 1st cent. AD) is organized around...Read More

House of the baker (VI,3,3) This dates from the 2nd cent. BC, but the remodelling after the 62 AD earthquake converted the ground floor of the house into workrooms, while the residential function moved to the top floor, reached by the stairs to the right of the atrium entrance: it appears that work was not...Read More

House of the surgeon (VI,1,9-10) Iron and bronze surgical instruments such as probes, gynecological forceps, catheters, scalpels give the house its name, one of the most ancient in Pompeii (3rd cent. BC), with square limestone blocks in the façade and internal walls built in ‘opus africanum’. With its regular layout, the house is the result...Read More

House of the tragic poet (VI,8,three-5) This is a typical ‘atrium style’ house, although rather smaller compared to other grandiose dwellings. The name comes from the mosaic emblema in the tablinum, depicting the scene of a theatre rehearsal by a choir of satyrs, now at the Naples Archeological Museum along with other paintings of Admetus...Read More

House of the small fountain (VI,8,23) The original layout (early 1st cent. BC) retains the typical plan of the “atrium style” house, based on the entrance-atrium-tablinum axis, sumptuously organized so that the guest would become aware of the host’s social status immediately upon entering. Almost all of the rooms open onto the atrium. The roof...Read More

House of the geometric mosaics (VIII,2,14-16) This large dwelling, with more than 60 rooms, combines two existing houses (late 3rd-2nd cent. BC) with entrances at numbers 14 and 16: its current appearance dates from after the earthquake in 62 AD, when the external façade (opus reticulatum) and the walls of n. 16 were rebuilt, and...Read More

House of Sallustio (VI,2,4) Damaged by the bombing in 1943, the house is one of the most ancient (3rd cent. BC): it is attributed to A. Cossius Libanus, as suggested by a signet ring found in 1806, and not to the C. Sallustio mentioned on the façade. It may have been converted into an inn,...Read More

House of Pansa (VI,6,1) The Ionic capitals of the porticoed garden date the dwelling to 140-120 BC; it has an ‘atrium style’ layout, based on the entrance-atrium-tablinum axis, and occupies the entire block. Colored stones and brick fragments pave the sidewalk in front of the entrance and the vestibule. According to the notice painted in...Read More

House of the Vettii (VI,15,1) Campaign slogans and two signet rings tell us that this domus belonged to the Vettii, wealthy freedmen: renovated in the 1st cent. AD, it centers around the peristyle. The paintings at the entrance highlight wishes of prosperity in cursive style: especially noticeable is the figure of Priapus, god of fertility,...Read More