V.5.2 Pompeii. House without Compluvium. Excavated 1888, 1891, 1895.

This house had no compluvium. The problem of lighting the atrium, the roof of which sloped towards the back, was solved in a simple manner. 

At the rear, there was a light courtyard. By means of broad windows, this provided light and air to not only the atrium, but also to the adjoining rooms.

V.5.1 and V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking north through entrance doorway.

V.5.2 Pompeii. December 2007. Entrance on Via di Nola, with masonry bench and small window on the east side of the doorway.

According to Mau, above the bench was a trace of a small slanting roof that protected anyone sitting on the bench from the sun and rain.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1895, p.154.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. Entrance, and east wall of entrance corridor.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. Doorway on east side of entrance corridor.

According to Not. Scavi, this doorway led to cubiculum “c”.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1895 p. 150.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. Looking north across atrium to doorway to summer triclinium, from entrance corridor.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. Looking north from entrance across atrium to rear.

According to Mau, when excavated the walls were conserved nearly to the height of 6 metres.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1895, p.149

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. Structure in south-west corner of atrium, remains of the hearth in the kitchen area.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. West wall of atrium, looking north to steps to upper floor.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. West side of atrium, doorway to courtyard or light-well, with steps to the upper floor at the rear.

V.5.2 Pompeii. December 2007. Doorway from atrium to courtyard or lightwell.

Through arched doorway there was a rough and low area containing the latrine, in north-west corner of the house.

V.5.2 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking north-west across atrium towards light yard.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. West side, steps to upper floor.

V.5.2 Pompeii. December 2007. Light yard or small courtyard in north-west corner of house with arched doorway under steps to upper floor.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. East side of atrium. On the left can be seen the doorway to the summer triclinium.

V.5.2 Pompeii. May 2010. East side of atrium with doorway to summer triclinium.

V.5.2 Pompeii. December 2007.

Looking north from atrium, across summer triclinium that had two windows, one looking west (left) into the courtyard or lightwell.

The other window looking north into the winter triclinium.

V.5.2 Pompeii. December 2007. Summer triclinium on the east side of the light courtyard, looking north through rear window into winter triclinium.

According to Mau, found on the wall of this summer triclinium was a scratched graffito. It read –

Fures foras, frugi intro    [CIL IV 4278]

This translated as -

Let thieves keep out, let honest folk come in    [CIL IV 4278]

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey, F. W., Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p. 343-44 including description and plan).

V.5.2 Pompeii. December 2007. Looking south to steps to upper floor in south-east corner of atrium.

The doorway on the west side (right) of the steps led to a cubiculum “d”.

The south wall, visible in the background, was decorated in the first style.

These six masonry steps would have continued with wooden stairs.

These steps and stairs would have been against the east wall and led above both cubiculum “d” and cubiculum “c”.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1895, p.150

V.5.2 Pompeii. 1972. House without Compluvium, cubiculum “d” with stair right of fauces, S wall. 

Photo courtesy of Anne Laidlaw.

American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Laidlaw collection _P_72_24_30.

V.5.2 Pompeii. 1972.

House without Compluvium, cubiculum “d” with stairwell to right fauces, SW corner, detail. 

Photo courtesy of Anne Laidlaw.

American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Laidlaw collection _P_72_24_31.

V.5.2 Pompeii. 1972. House without Compluvium, cubiculum “d” with stair right of fauces, W wall. 

Photo courtesy of Anne Laidlaw.

American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Laidlaw collection _P_72_24_29.

V.5.2 Pompeii. 1975. House without Compluvium, cubiculum “d”, right W wall, incision. 

Photo courtesy of Anne Laidlaw.

American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Laidlaw collection _P_75_7_24.

V.5.2 Pompeii. 1972. House without Compluvium, cubiculum “d” with stairwell to right fauces, W wall, detail grooves. 

Photo courtesy of Anne Laidlaw.

American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Laidlaw collection _P_72_24_32.

V.5.2 Pompeii. 1975. House without Compluvium, cubiculum “d”, detail of incision. 

Photo courtesy of Anne Laidlaw.

American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Laidlaw collection _P_75_7_25.