V.1.28 Pompeii. House of M. Tofelanus Valens or House of C. Cassius Bassus.

Excavated 1875.

For extra detailed information see Swedish Pompeii Project web site

V.1.28 Pompeii. January 2024.

Looking north on east side of Via del Vesuvio, with entrance doorway, on right. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.1.28 Pompeii. May 2015. Looking north to entrance on Via del Vesuvio. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

V.1.28 Pompeii. May 2006. Looking north to entrance on Via del Vesuvio.

V.1.28 Pompeii, on right. 1961. Looking north along the east side of Via del Vesuvio. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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V.1.28 Pompeii but numbered as V.1.27 on photo. Pre-1937-39.

Looking north-east along the east side of Via del Vesuvio.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1529.

V.1.28 Pompeii on left. About 1909. Looking south on Via del Vesuvio. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

V.1.28 Pompeii. May 2015. Detail of façade above doorway. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

V.1.28 Pompeii. Based on plan in World of Pompeii.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. January 2024. Entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.1.28 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance.

V.1.28 Pompeii. December 2006. Entrance and south wall of fauces/entrance corridor.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Looking towards south side of entrance fauces/corridor “a”, with niche.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. January 2024.

Looking towards north side of entrance fauces/corridor, with niche. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Looking towards north side of entrance fauces/corridor, with niche.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. January 2024. Detail of niche on north wall of entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.1.28 Pompeii. May 2015. North wall of fauces and niche. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

V.1.28 Pompeii. January 2024. North wall of fauces and niche. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

V.1.28 Pompeii. December 2006. North wall of fauces and niche.

V.1.28 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. North wall of fauces and niche.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 958.

V.1.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Niche on north wall.

According to Boyce, the square niche was surrounded by an elaborate aedicula façade of stucco.

In the floor of the niche were holes for the bases of statuettes.

The niche and façade were brightly coloured, the rear wall was white bordered with red and having delicate painted green plants on it.

The pilasters of the façade were yellow, their capitals red, white and blue.

The bands of relief that ran around the architrave and the cornices were also painted in these colours.

On the wall below the niche was a painted band of yellow.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.33, no.81, and Pl.1,5)

See Giacobello, F., 2008. Larari Pompeiani: Iconografia e culto dei Lari in ambito domestico. Milano: LED Edizioni. (p.231)

V.1.28 Pompeii. 1930s photo by Tatiana Warscher. Niche on north wall.

According to Boyce, the square niche was surrounded by an elaborate aedicula façade of stucco.

See Boyce G. K., 1937. Corpus of the Lararia of Pompeii. Rome: MAAR 14. (p.33, no.81, and Pl.1,5)

V.1.28 Pompeii. May 2015. Stucco on upper part of niche. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

V.1.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Stucco on niche.

V.1.28 Pompeii. March 2009. The square niche.

V.1.28 Pompeii. May 2015. Remains of painted decoration below niche. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Looking towards west side of entrance fauces/corridor “a”, with entrance doorway.

V.1.28 Pompeii. September 2004. Looking east along fauces to atrium “b”.

V.1.28 Pompeii. 1972. East wall of atrium. In 1972, Wilhelmina could only just make out three leaves.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.335)

Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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V.1.28 Pompeii. 1959. Looking east along fauces to atrium. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

According to Wilhelmina, this house had no garden but in the north-east corner of the atrium in compensation, there was a garden painting.

The only description was from Overbeck-Mau who described a garden painting with plants and birds on a yellow background, above a high red dado.

The painting has now faded. In 1972, Wilhelmina could only just make out three leaves.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.335)

V.1.28 Pompeii. December 2006. Atrium “b”, with staircase against east wall.

V.I.28 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Square stone embedded into the atrium wall.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 653.

According to Della Corte, a bronze signet/seal was found here with the inscription C. CASSI BASSI, which proved that this house of modest proportions was lived in by C. Cassius Bassus, (see S21, with Note 1).

According to GdS, a bronze signet/seal was found here on the 28th May 1875, with the inscription C. CASSI BASSI.

See Giornale degli Scavi di Pompei, N.S.3, 1875, p. 175.

However, on the 4th June 1875, found walled into the atrium was a stone with epigraph which according to Della Corte, referred undoubtedly to the same house.

This stone slab indicated that the last owner was M. Tofelano Valente.

See Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino, (p.102).

V.I.28 Pompeii. Wording on the square stone embedded into the north atrium wall.

M TOFELANO M F VALENTI QUOD AMICO DONAVI HS N I

The last occupant of the house has been identified as M. Tofelanus Valens through this inscription on this marble plaque.

See Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol. X, Part 1, 1883. Berlin: Reimer [CIL X 866].

V.I.28 Pompeii. Pre 1937-9. Square stone embedded into the north atrium wall with the wording:

M TOFELANO

M F

VALENTI QUOD

AMICO DONAVI

HS N I

Detail from photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 653.

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) this read

M(arco) Tofelano

M(arci) f(ilio)

Valenti(no) quod

amico donavi(t)

HS n(ummum) I      [CIL X 866]

The Swedish Pompeii Project suggests the following translation and interpretation.

To Marcus Tofelanus Valens, son of Marcus, because I gave to my friend one sestertius coin.

He who speaks seems to have presented the inscription (with a herm) to the master of the house and friend M. Tofelanus Valens, so that he would sell him to him for one sestertius, that is give him [his freedom].

See http://www.pompejiprojektet.se/admin/rwdx/inscriptions/Casa_di_Tofelanus_Valens.pdf

See Giornale degli Scavi di Pompei, N.S.3, 1875, p. 175.

V.I.28 Pompeii. Bronze signet/seal was found here on 28th May 1875, with the inscription C. CASSI BASSI.

See Giornale degli Scavi di Pompei, N.S.3, 1875, p. 175.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 110669.

According to the Epigraphic Database Roma this reads:

C(ai) Cassi Bassi    [CIL X 8058, 16]

V.I.28 Pompeii. Top of bronze signet/seal found here on 28th May 1875, with imprint of a jug.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 110669.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Looking towards north-west corner of atrium/courtyard “b”, with doorway to corridor “h” .

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

Looking north along corridor “h”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

Looking west along corridor “g” (continuation of corridor “h”). Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  Room “c”.

East wall in room “c”, with doorway from corridor “h”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

South wall in room “c”, a room with doorway from corridor “h”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

West wall in room “c”, a room with doorway from corridor “h”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

North wall in room “c”, a room with doorway from corridor “h”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

West wall of atrium/room “b”, in south-west corner, with doorway to room “e”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. East wall of atrium/room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

South wall of atrium/room “b”, with doorway to room “f”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. Room “d”.

West wall of room “d”, a room on north side of atrium/room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

North wall of room “d”, a room on north side of room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

East wall of room “d”, a room on north side of room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. Room “e”.

East wall of room “e”, with doorway into atrium/room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

South wall of room “e”, a room on west side of room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

West wall of room “e”, a room on west side of room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

North wall of room “e”, a room on west side of room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. Room “f”.

North wall of room “f”, with doorway into atrium/room “b”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

East wall of room “f”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10.  

South wall of room “f”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.

V.1.28 Pompeii. c.2008-10. West wall of room “f”. Photo by Hans Thorwid.

Photo courtesy of The Swedish Pompeii Project.