Post 2 of the Pompeii Series
In the first post we explored the streets of Pompeii, with the temples, the Forum, the amphitheatres, bathhouses and the Coliseum.
This time we will look at the homes of the inhabitants of Pompeii. The homes of the wealthy and the less well off stand generally side by side all districts of the city (with some very grand estates situated in the suburban area to the West). Unfortunately the more humble homes are mostly only preserved in the bare outlines of what is left of their walls. However in many grand homes much resplendent detail has been preserved for later centuries to uncover under the volcanic ash.
These pictures will start with the humbler ruins, starker examples of indoor spaces, then move up the socioeconomic ladder to the better preserved, more elegant homes and gardens of Pompeii’s upper class. We’ll then take a more detailed look at the many wall paintings that covered every inch of the homes of the wealthy.
In some homes plaster casts of Vesuvius’ victims were displayed in the very spots where they originally fell. Again, these are not the actual bodies of the dead, but the hollows they left behind after decomposing in the volcanic ash that covered them. However some actual skeletons are also displayed.
The mosaic equivalent of the front door welcome mat.
The entrance mosaic into the home of someone whose wealth was likely made via the sea.
Many front entrance mosaics feature guard dogs. “Have” is the Oscan version of “ave”, meaning hello/goodbye.
The guard dogs (and museum barriers) kept us from entering these particular homes, but the camera’s zoom does allow for closer inspection of the spectacular floors of this home with the more alert and chained mosaic guard dog.
Notes from a Composer 