VIII.4.4 Pompeii. Casa dei Postumii or Domus M. Holconi Rufi or House of Holconius Rufus.

Linked to VIII.4.2, VIII.4.3, VIII.4.5, VIII.4.6, VIII.4.49 and VII.4.50.

Excavated 1766, 1855 and 1861.

Part 3      Part 4      Part 5      Part 6      Part 7      Part 1      Part 2      Plan

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking south-west across peristyle.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009.

Room 8. Corridor on west side of kitchen, with basin. Looking south to east portico.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018.

Room 8, looking east towards basin and arched opening to kitchen. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009.

Room 8. Corridor on west side of kitchen, with square basin, beneath arched opening.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Room 8, detail of basin beneath arched opening to kitchen. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018.

Room 8, detail of arched opening with basin below. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018.

Room 8, corridor, looking towards east side with doorway to kitchen, and basin with arched opening above.

Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 8, floor of corridor on west side of kitchen. 

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking south-west across garden from east portico.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Decorated pillar, in north-east peristyle.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking west across peristyle. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Column reinforced by a pillar. Looking north from east portico.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 9, east portico. Remains of wall plaster in north-east corner.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north from east portico in south-east corner. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north-west across garden area, from south-east portico. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking north-west across garden from south-east portico.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009.

Room 9, looking south across east portico. Column reinforced by a pillar in south-east corner of peristyle.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 9, east portico. Decorated column and pillar in south-east corner of peristyle.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking north-east from south portico. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north across peristyle from room 11. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. Painting by Carlo Sorgente, March 1861, of detail of decorated column and pilaster in peristyle.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 863.

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)

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. Drawing by Carlo Sorgente, 1861, of detail of decorated column and pilaster in peristyle.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 864.

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

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VIII.4.4 Pompeii. South-east corner of peristyle, with doorways to rooms 10 and 11.

Old undated picture showing the painted decorations on the walls.

For a description of the paintings found in these rooms, see Richardson.

See Richardson, L., 2000. A Catalog of Identifiable Figure Painters of Ancient Pompeii, Herculaneum. Baltimore: John Hopkins.(p.97)

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. 1959. Looking south across garden area. 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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VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking south across south portico to doorway of room 10, triclinium. 

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, triclinium. Looking south.

According to Helbig, this room contained three wall paintings.

On the right (west) wall only a fragment was found of the painting, but Fiorelli recognised it as being Orestes and Pylades in Tauris (1336).

Helbig added that only Orestes was preserved and could be seen in chains and the guard of Thoas.

On the rear (south) wall was the painting of the Judgement of Paris (1284).

On the left (east) wall was Achilles found by Ulysses among Lycomedes’ daughters on Skyros (1296).

There were also painted busts (1413, 1427 and 1440) showing figures related to the world of Dionysus.

These were described by Minervini (Bullettino Archeologico Italiano, 1862, pp.139-140), and are now completely lost.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.127)

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin.

See Senatore, F., (ed). 2001. Pompei tra Sorrento e Sarno. Roma, Bardi editore. (p.78)      

See Richardson, L., 2000. A Catalog of Identifiable Figure Painters of Ancient Pompeii, Herculaneum. Baltimore: John Hopkins. (p.97)

VIII.4.4 Pompeii.

Room 10, the painting of The Judgement of Paris, from the south wall. Stereoview by Sommer & Behles, between 1867 and 1874.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii.

Room 10, the painting of The Judgement of Paris, from the south wall. Stereoview by Sommer. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii.

From an Album by Roberto Rive dated 1868. Room 10, painting from centre of south wall. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. 1865. Room 10, centre of the south wall. Drawing of the painting of The Judgement of Paris.

Paris is seated, with Hermes, Athena, Hera and Venus standing.

DAIR 83.182. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, 1284.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 10, recess in south-east corner of triclinium. 

VIII.4.4 Pompeii.

Room 10, the painting of Achilles on Skyros, found on the east wall. Stereoview by Sommer & Behles, between 1867 and 1874.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. Old photograph c.1870. Room 10, centre of the east wall.

The painting of Achilles being found by Odysseus among King Lycomedes’ daughters on Skyros.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (1296).

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. Drawing by Nicola La Volpe of painting seen on east wall of triclinium, room 10.

The painting is no longer recognisable having faded away.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 854.

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

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VIII.4.4 Pompeii. 1861. Drawing by Abbate of painting of Achilles on Skyros seen on east wall of triclinium, room 10.

See Fiorelli G., 1861. Giornale degli Scavi di Pompeii, p. 89, Tav X.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. Drawings by Nicola La Volpe, of medallions with young girls and Maenads, from walls of room 10.

None of these are recognisable on the walls today.  

Top left, woman with cupid behind her shoulder, Helbig 1427.

Top right, woman playing the lyre also with cupid behind her shoulder, Helbig 1440.

Lower left, Maenad with kantharos and a panther drinking, Helbig 1413.

Lower right, Maenad with young child drinking from low cup, Helbig 1413.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 839.

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)

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Doorway linking to room 11, exedra, in west wall of room 10.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking west along south portico, and with the marble sill of room 11, exedra on the left.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11, exedra. Marble floor and sill.

According to Helbig, this room contained the following paintings: Bacchus, sleeping Ariadne and a faun lifting up the veil that covered her (1240),

Narcissus beholding himself in the water (1356), Hermaphrodite with his left arm on the shoulder of Silenus (1372) and Urania (891).

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel.

See Curtius, L., 1972. Die Wandmalerei Pompejis. New York: Hildesheim. (p. 313, fig 179 for Bacchus and Ariadne at Naxos)

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.127)

See Richardson, L., 2000. A Catalog of Identifiable Figure Painters of Ancient Pompeii, Herculaneum. Baltimore: John Hopkins. (p.97)

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11, south wall of exedra. 

In the centre of the south wall, would have been the painting of Narcissus looking at himself in the water.

When found the painting was very damaged due to the hole left by the ancient searchers who had penetrated into the house after the eruption.

Only the feet of a young man and two cupids could be distinguished.

However, it was recognised that the subject was Narcissus.

See Fiorelli, Giornale degli Scavi, 1861, (p.84).

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (1356)

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.127)

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. Room 11, south wall of exedra. 

19th century drawing by A. Aureli of the painting of Narcissus looking at himself in the water.

DAIR 83.185. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, 1356.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11. east wall of exedra, and with small doorway to room 10.

In the centre would have been the wall painting of Hermaphrodite, now completely lost.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii.

Drawing by Nicola La Volpe, of painting of sitting figure from north side of painting of Hermaphrodite on east wall.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 858.

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

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VIII.4.4 Pompeii.

Drawing by Nicola La Volpe of painting of sitting figure from south side of painting of Hermaphrodite on east wall.

In the detail, below, the painting of the naked sitting female can just be seen.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 857.

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

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VIII.4.4 Pompeii. Room 11, east wall of exedra, detail of painting in exedra at rear of peristyle. 

Hermaphrodite has his left arm on the shoulder of Silenus who is playing the lyre with a plectrum.

Courtesy of Society of Antiquaries, Fox Collection.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii.

Room 11, east wall of exedra, detail of painting in exedra at rear of peristyle. 

On the left - a standing Dionysian maenad, and a small Pan.

In the centre - the Hermaphrodite.

On the right - Amor and Papasilenos.

Photo courtesy of Espen B. Andersson.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii.  Room 11, painting from east wall of the exedra at rear of peristyle.

Hermaphrodite has his left arm on the shoulder of Silenus who is playing the lyre with a plectrum.

Stereoview by Sommer & Behles, between 1867 and 1874. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11, west wall of exedra. 

In the centre would have been the painting of Bacchus, sleeping Ariadne and a faun lifting up the veil that covered her.

See Curtius, L., 1972. Die Wandmalerei Pompejis. New York: Hildesheim. (p. 313, fig 179 for Bacchus and Ariadne at Naxos)

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.127)

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. 1867. Room 11, west wall of exedra. 

According to Dyer this is a painting of Bacchus finding the sleeping Ariadne on Naxos.

Bacchus, crowned with ivy, approaches the sleeping Ariadne.

A faun is lifting up the veil that covered her.

Sleep is on the right, wings spread as if about to leave.

At the head of the Bacchic troupe is Silenus, walking with the aid of a stick.

He is followed by a faun playing a double flute.

Behind are eight bacchantes.

Another bacchante and a faun look down from the mountain above left.

See Dyer, T., 1867. The Ruins of Pompeii. London: Bell and Daldy, (p. 80-81).

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. 1861. Room 11, west wall of exedra. Drawing by Abbate of Bacchus finding the sleeping Ariadne on Naxos. 

See Fiorelli G., 1861. Giornale degli Scavi di Pompeii, p. 87, Tav VII.

Kuivalainen comments –

“A customary theme of discovering Ariadne in a rocky landscape, but the details are original, such as the challenging-looking Hypnos, more interested in Bacchus velificans than tending her, the well-built satyr, and the large entourage just arriving at the scene.”

See Kuivalainen, I., 2021. The Portrayal of Pompeian Bacchus. Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 140. Helsinki: Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, (p.151, E13).

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11, south west corner of exedra.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii.

Drawing by Nicola La Volpe, of painting of Dionysus on his throne, perhaps from exedra 11.

Perhaps seen in the upper architecture of the room.

According to PPM, -

Fiorelli mentioned that in the upper zone was a female divinity on her throne and a masculine figure also on a throne, which could have been this figure,

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol. VIII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.506, no.99)

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 1194.

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

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See also Kuivalainen, I., 2021. The Portrayal of Pompeian Bacchus. Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 140. Helsinki: Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, (p.101-2, B14).

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. December 2018. Room 11, looking north from door threshold of the exedra. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 11, exedra. Looking north-west from door threshold. 

View across garden, including the base of the fountain statuette shown in the pictures below.

According to Dyer:

“Over the roof of the portico, supported by the pillars, ran a gallery with another set of columns, reached by a staircase near the tablinum.

The peristyle is simply decorated.

The lower third of the columns having the channelling only marked with lines, is painted red, while the upper (and channelled part) is white.

The walls are black, and adorned with small pictures of eatables, separated by ornaments.

The border at the bottom is painted with water-plants and waterfowl.

On the wall on the right (of the peristyle) was a graffito, to the following effect:

“July 7th, lard 200lb, garlic 250 bundles” meaning probably that these things were either bought or sold on that day.”

See Dyer, Thomas, 1867: The Ruins of Pompeii. London: Bell and Daldy, (p.80).

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. c.1930. Looking north from threshold doorway of exedra.

According to Blake – the threshold of the exedra uses border strips more sparingly to set off double rows of squares of contrasting materials.

See Blake, M., (1930). The pavements of the Roman Buildings of the Republic and Early Empire. Rome, MAAR, 8, (p.41, & Pl. 9, tav.1).

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. From an album of Michele Amodio dated 1874, entitled “Pompei, destroyed on 23 November 79, discovered in 1745”.

Looking north across garden from exedra. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.4.4 Pompeii. From an Album, c. 1875-1885. Looking north across garden from exedra. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

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