VI.8.5 Pompeii. Casa del Poeta Tragico or House of the Tragic Poet.

Excavated 1824. Linked to VI.8.3.

Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Part 1      VI.8.3 and VI.8.5 Room Plan

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, west side of atrium. Doorways to rooms 10, 9 and 8.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking towards east side of atrium, towards room 4 ala; room 3 cubiculum; and room 2 small room.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. Drawing by Mau of plan with position of paintings in atrium.

See Mau, A., 1899, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan, (fig. 145, on p.307).

a – Zeus and Hera

b – Judgement of Paris

c – Delivery of Briseis to the messenger of Agamemnon

d – The departure of Chryseis

e – Only a fragment survived too small to be recognised

f – Thetis bringing arms across the sea to Achilles.

     (The fragment at “f” in which were seen a Triton, two figures riding on a sea-horse, and a Cupid on a dolphin, is now entirely faded).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. c.1828. Drawing by Zahn of plan of house, with position of paintings.

(Note: there are slight differences in the position of the paintings between Zahn and Mau.

S.E side of south wall of atrium (n. on above plan) – Zahn, Wedding of Zeus and Hera.

S.E side of west wall of atrium (o. on above plan) - Zahn, Achilles and Briseis.

East side of atrium (p. on above plan) –

Zahn (a female figure being led onto a ship) – Mau (painting of the departure of Chryseis (Half of this painting was already ruined at the time of excavation)

West side of atrium (“L or l” on above plan) –

Zahn (fragment showing small, winged figure holding a trident and riding a dolphin -Mau (site of small unrecognisable fragment).

S.W side of south wall of atrium – Zahn (fragment of Venus) – Mau (The Judgment of Paris – the picture is now entirely obliterated).

See Zahn W. Neu entdeckte Wandgemälde in Pompeji gezeichnet von W. Zahn [ca. 1828], taf. 6.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Wall on south-east side of south wall.

One of the six panels more than 4-foot-high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

Site of the Nuptials of Zeus and Hera. Now in the Naples Museum.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p.316 & 484).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. Found on wall on south-east side of south wall. Wall painting of the Wedding of Zeus and Hera.

One of the six panels more than 4-foot-high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9559.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p.316 & 484).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. c.1828. Found on wall on south-east side of south wall. Wall painting described as Jupiter on Mount Ida.

See Raoul Rochette et Bouchet J., 1828. Choix d'Edifices Inédits : Maison du Poète Tragique. Paris, pl 22.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Wall between rooms 2 and 3:

One of the six panels more than 4-foot-high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

Site of “The delivery of Briseis to the messenger of Agamemnon”. Now in the Naples Museum.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p.316 & 317).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. Found 4th December 1824. Wall between rooms 2 and 3:

One of the six panels more than 4-foot-high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

Wall painting of the delivery of Briseis to the messenger of Agamemnon.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9105.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella taken December 2019.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. Found 4th December 1824. Wall between rooms 2 and 3:

One of the six panels more than 4-foot-high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

Wall painting of the delivery of Briseis to the messenger of Agamemnon.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9105.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p.316 & 317).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. Paintings by Francesco Morelli from the east and west walls of the atrium. 

Top left is the lower half of a painting with Poseidon and Amphitrite from the west wall.

Top right is a fragment of an unrecognisable painting.

Lower left is the fragment of the painting of Helen about to board the boat to Troy.

Lower right is the painting of the delivery of Briseis to the messenger of Agamemnon.

All these paintings show the red zoccolo with painted plants, and yellow panels of the middle walls.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 263.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Wall between rooms 3 and 4:

One of the six panels more than 4-foot-high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

According to Zahn, this was the site of the painting of Helen about to board the boat to Troy.

According to Mau, this was the site of the painting of the departure of Chryseis, half of this painting was already ruined at the time of excavation.

The other half was transferred to Naples Museum.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p. 316).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. Found 4th December 1824. Room 1, atrium.

Part of wall painting of Helen about to board the boat to Troy with Paris.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9108.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Wall between corridor and tablinum.

VI.8.3/5 Pompeii. April 2022. Looking north-east across atrium. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.8.3/5 Pompeii. April 2022.

Looking north-west across impluvium towards rooms on west side of atrium and tablinum.

Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorways to room 8 and room 6 on west side of atrium.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Wall between rooms 8 and 9 on west side of atrium:

One of the six panels, each more than 4-foot-high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

Possibly the site of Thetis bringing arms across the sea to Achilles.

The fragment that showed a Triton, two figures riding on a sea horse, and a Cupid on a dolphin, is now entirely faded.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p.316).

VI.8.5 Pompeii.

Drawing by Roux of a painting seen on the west wall of the atrium, described as a Cupid on a dolphin, a triton, and the legs of other figures.

See Roux, H., 1839. Herculanem et Pompei recueil général des Peintures, Bronzes, Mosaïques : Tome 2. Paris : Didot. (p. 193-194 and No.61).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. Pre-1827.

Lower row – drawing by Maldarelli of a painting seen on the west wall of the atrium.

This painting would have shown a Cupid on a dolphin with the trident of Neptune in his hands, a triton, and the legs of other figures.

The rest of the painting was undistinguishable.

Upper and centre row– the dove near to the glass dish full of fruit (top), and the imaginary animals (middle) are from the decoration of the triclinium/exedra.

See Real Museo Borbonico, Vol. III, 1827, Tav. LII (52).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. c.1828. Drawing by Zahn of winged figure holding a trident and riding a dolphin from west wall of atrium.

See Zahn W. Neu entdeckte Wandgemälde in Pompeji gezeichnet von W. Zahn [ca. 1828], taf. 8.

See Morelli painting from east and west walls of atrium in previous part.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Wall between rooms 10 and 9 on west side of atrium:

One of the six panels more than 4 feet high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

Site of a small fragment too small to be able to recognise the subject.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p.316).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, south-west corner of atrium.

On the south-west side of this wall was one of the six panels more than 4 foot high, that used to adorn the walls of the atrium.

Possible site of the painting of The Judgment of Paris – the picture is now entirely obliterated.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p.316).

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, atrium and entrance fauces looking south.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 1, south side of atrium.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. Painting by Francesco Morelli showing two paintings from the south wall of the atrium.

On the left side is the painted wall on the east side of the south wall with painting of The Wedding of Zeus and Hera.

On the right side is the remaining decoration from the west side of the south wall, perhaps Mars and Venus, perhaps The Judgement of Paris.

This painting was not detached and taken to Naples Museum, due to its precarious state of preservation.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 262.

Photo © ICCD. https://www.catalogo.beniculturali.it

Utilizzabili alle condizioni della licenza Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Condividi allo stesso modo 2.5 Italia (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 IT)

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009.

Doorway to room 10 on west side of atrium, porter’s room with staircase to upper floor.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, south-west corner of porter’s room.

Site of staircase to upper floor which can be seen in outline of plaster on the south wall, on left.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, niche under staircase to upper floor in porter’s room.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, north wall of porter’s room.

VI.8.3/5 Pompeii. April 2022. Room 10, south wall of porter’s room. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.8.5 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, south wall of porter’s room.

Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Part 1      VI.8.3 and VI.8.5 Room Plan