I.2.28 Pompeii. Casa dell’Atrio tetrastilo or Casa della grata metallica or House of Cassandra.

Excavated 1873. Linked to I.2.27 and I.2.29.

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I.2.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking west above kitchen area. Photograph taken from I.2.20.

According to Fiorelli, this comprised

“an ample hearth, two rooms as cells, the latrine, a staircase to the floor above, and at the back of the portico a cupboard between two small masonry walls”.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.38)

I.2.28 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking south-west over part of kitchen and the large triclinium towards the atrium. 

Photograph taken from I.2.20.

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking south along east portico from doorway from kitchen area.

Looking towards corridor on east side of atrium and doorway to large triclinium, on left. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking east into large triclinium on east side of portico. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

According to Fiorelli, this room was adorned with paintings, of which two were saved.

One of a big sacred landscape scene with pastoral sacrarium and goats.

The other showing Cassandra and Hector predicting the ruin of Troy to Priam, caused by the young boy Paris.

Paris is leaning against the King’s knee holding an apple.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore. (p.37 and black and white drawing)

According to Sogliano, paintings found in the triclinium were –

Amore and Psyche at the hunt, on a black background, and Eros at the hunt, on a black background (p. 64, nos. 374 and 375).

Prophecy of Cassandra. Now in Naples Archaeological Museum inventory number 111476. This was found damaged at the upper corner (p.105, no.560). 

Landscape: the scene represented a valley between high mountains (p.141, no.684).

See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-79. Napoli: (pages, as above)

I.2.28 Pompeii. Pre-1942. Looking towards east wall of large triclinium.

According to Warscher, “X” marks the spot which was the place of the painting of Cassandra prophesizing.

She remarked that –

“the destruction of landscapes on the north and south walls show how wise the transfer of the painting of Cassandra to the Museum had been.”

(La distruzione dei paesaggi dipinti sulle pareti nord e sud mostrano quanto sia stato saggio il trasferimento della pittura di Cassandra nel Museo.)

See Warscher, T. 1942. Catalogo illustrato degli affreschi del Museo Nazionale di Napoli. Sala LXXIX. Vol.1. Rome, Swedish Institute

I.2.28 Pompeii.  Wall painting found in the large triclinium.

Cassandra (centre) predicting the downfall of Troy.

Priam was seated on the left, with Paris (holding the apple of discord) and a warrior leaning on a spear, presumably Hector.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 111476.

I.2.28 Pompeii. West wall of triclinium.

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (no.62), Rome: DAIR, whose copyright it remains.

See Ruesch, A., 1908. Guida illustrata del Museo Nazionale di Napoli, Napoli: Richter, (p.301/2).

I.2.28 Pompeii. West wall of triclinium.

1935 photo taken by Tatiana Warscher, described as “Il muro occidentale del triclinio “i””.

(translation: “The west wall of triclinium “i”).

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (no.61), Rome: DAIR, whose copyright it remains.

According to Warscher, “Il posto dal quale è stato tolto il quadro di Cassandra”.

(translation: “The place from which the painting of Cassandra had been taken”.)

(This appears to be an error on her part, as the west wall would be the large opening onto the east portico).

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010.

Looking north towards north-west corner and west end of north wall of large triclinium. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. North wall of triclinium.

1935 photo taken by Tatiana Warscher, described as “I resti della decorazione della parete nord”.

(translation: “The remains of the decoration from the north wall”.)

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (no.60), Rome: DAIR, whose copyright it remains.

Warscher quoting Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1873, p. 244, described –

“Un paesaggio pure era dipinto sul muro dirimpetto, ma vi si riconosce soltanto un tempietto ed una parte del cielo”.

(translation: “A landscape was still painted on the wall opposite, but there only can be recognised a temple and a part of the sky”.)

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. North wall and north-east corner of large triclinium. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. East wall of large triclinium. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. South wall and south-west corner of large triclinium. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. South wall of triclinium.

1935 photo taken by Tatiana Warscher, described as “I miseri resti della decorazione paesistica che ornava la parete sud del triclinio “i””.

(translation: “The pitiful remains of the landscape decoration that adorned the south wall of the triclinium “i”.)

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. (no.59), Rome: DAIR, whose copyright it remains.

See Sogliano, A., 1879. Le pitture murali campane scoverte negli anni 1867-79. Napoli: Giannini. (p. 141, no.684 – from the triclinium to the right of the peristyle, height 1,17, width 0.87).

See Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1873, p.244.

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. Detail of remaining fresco work on south wall of large triclinium. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking west from large triclinium onto south-east portico of garden area. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking south along corridor on east side of atrium. Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking south into doorway in corridor on east side of atrium.

Corridor with steps to upper floor, bench and doorway to room, on its east side.

I.2.28 Pompeii. September 2010. Looking south through doorway, across tablinum to atrium and entrance doorway.

Photo courtesy of Drew Baker.

I.2.28 Pompeii. December 2006. Looking south across the atrium to the entrance.

In Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2, (the copy at DAIR), Warscher included Viola’s description of the insula, from

Gli scavi di Pompei dal 1873 al 1878, p.10 (Pompei e la regione sotterrata dal Vesuvio nell’anno 1879, Seconda parte).

This is included at the end in all parts of I.2 on the website.

“Nel dicembre del 1873 incomminciò lo scavo di questa isola – quale dovette essere abitata da moltissime persone. Infatti non si vede grande lusso di abitazioni, nè grandi locali, ove i ricchi pompeiani passavano la vita nell’ozio e nel piacere; si può invece osservare grand’economia di spazio, case piccole miste a botteghe e ad officine, onde non è difficile argomentare che quivi abitarono persone del ceto medio, le quali benchè agiate non godevano certamente della più splendide posizione.

E’ questa un’isola dove avennero frequentissime trasformazioni, per cui riesce difficillissimo intravvedere qual’era la sua forma primiera; non mancano però degli avanzi di costruzioni primitive, insieme ad altri di epoca posteriore, come si osserva in molti luoghi di Pompei.

La sua area è di mq.2948, ed è limitata da occidente dal cardo, a settentrione dalla via secunda, ad oriente dal vico parallelo al cardo e a mezzogiorno dalla via tertia che la separa dalle isole 1 e 5; il margine che la fiancheggia da tre lati escluso l’orientale e sulla via tertia di fronte al vano No.28 si vede un piccolo ponte, formato da massi posti a contrasto, il quale serve per unire i due margine (vedi la fotografia no.42c)”.

See Warscher T., 1935. Codex Topographicus Pompeianus: Regio I.2. Rome: DAIR.

(Note: photo no 42c can also be seen at I.5.1, I.2.28 and in the “streets” section under Vicolo del Conciapelle). 

(translation: "In December of 1873 the excavation of this insula began – which would have been inhabited by many people. In fact you don't see great luxury homes, nor large rooms, where rich Pompeian passed life in idleness and pleasure; if you instead look at the great economy of space, small homes and shops mixed with workshops, it's not difficult to argue that here lived people in the middle class, which however well-to-do they certainly did not enjoy the most splendid position.

This was an insula, where there were frequent transformations, for which it is difficult to glimpse what was the original form; it does not lack however, the remains of primitive constructions, alongside others of a later date, as can be seen in many places in Pompeii.

Its area was 2948 sq. m., and was bounded on the west by the “cardo”, on the north by via secunda, and east by a parallel vicolo to the “cardo” and in the south by the via tertia, that separated it from Insula’s 1 and 5:  the border that flanked it by three sides excluding the east and on via tertia opposite No. 28, you will see a small bridge, formed by a boulder placed to serve to unite the two edges, (see photo No. 42 c)."

(Note: this photo can also be seen at I.5.1, I.2.28 and in the “streets” section under Vicolo del Conciapelle). 

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