V.7.7 Pompeii. Casa dei Delfini. Previously an unexcavated doorway.

Only the southern street fronts of the insula were excavated in 1907-8.

As of 2018 excavations are taking place here as part of a scheme to improve drainage.

Following discoveries of dolphin paintings in the 2018 excavations this is now known as Casa dei Delfini.

We have constructed the new rooms on this page from press material and photos produced by the Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

Our grateful thanks to the Parco Archeologico di Pompei for giving us permission to use their press releases and photos.

Abbiamo costruito le nuove ambiente in questa pagina da materiale stampa e foto prodotte dal Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

Ringraziamo il Parco Archeologico di Pompei per averci dato il permesso di utilizzare i loro comunicati stampa e le loro foto.

According to CTP, there is a discrepancy in the number of doorways, not made any easier to correct by the new modern brick walling.

CTP said that according to the plan by Eschebach in 1969, there were six entrances marked, but his number 2 doorway was now missing behind the restored brick wall.  This should now leave five entrances.

There is however written documentation that Mau and Spano described seven entrances on this south front. Then Spano mentioned eight entrances.

If V.7.6 is known as the House of Paris because of the graffiti on its façade, and we can see another doorway on the east side of it, that doorway should be V.7.7. 

If V.7.6 and V.7.7 are accounted for, there must be two doorways V.7.2 and V.7.3, perhaps also even V.7.4, behind the modern brick wall.

See Van der Poel, H. B., 1986. Corpus Topographicum Pompeianum, Part IIIA. Austin: University of Texas. (p.82).

The doorways will remain a mystery until the rest of the insula is brought to light again.

V.7.7, on right, Pompeii. September 2021.

Looking west to entrance doorway on north side of Vicolo delle Nozze d'Argento.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. October 2023.

Looking east along north side of Vicolo delle Nozze d'Argento towards entrance doorway, centre right.

In the centre is the doorway into V.7.6. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7, Pompeii. September 2021.

Entrance doorway on north side of Vicolo delle Nozze d'Argento. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. October 2023. Entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. May 2006. Entrance doorway.

V.7.7 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance doorway.

V.7.7 Pompeii. September 2021. West side of entrance corridor/fauces with painted decoration. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. September 2021. West wall of fauces/entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. West wall of fauces with painted architectural scenes and pair of dolphins.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. September 2021.

Detail of architectural decoration on west wall of fauces/entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. September 2021.

Detail from upper west wall showing architectural decoration from wall of fauces/entrance corridor.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. West wall of fauces with painted architectural scene with vase.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. September 2021.

Detail of architectural decoration from upper west wall of fauces/entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. September 2021. Painted zoccolo on west wall of entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. Massimo Osanna showing west wall of fauces with painted deer and winged sphinx.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. West wall of fauces with painted winged sphinx.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. West wall of fauces, painted deer.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. West wall of fauces. Dolphin painting that gave the house its new name Casa dei Delfini.

Along the northern part of the Vicolo delle Nozze d'Argento, the re-profiling of the excavation fronts made it possible to discover the front of some houses with richly frescoed rooms. The frescoed rooms that emerged right in front of [opposite] the entrance to the Silver Wedding House suggested the name of this Domus: "Casa dei Delfini" because in the entrance (fauces), richly decorated on a red background, two small squares with a couple of dolphins appear, as well as various animals and architectural perspectives.
Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

See video of the discoveries on Il Mattino web site: Video showing the discovery of the Casa dei Delfini

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. West wall of fauces with painted peacock.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. October 2023.

Looking towards east wall from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

V.7.7 Pompeii. October 2023.

Looking towards painted candelabra on east wall of entrance corridor. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

South side of Reg. V.7 near V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018.

Start of excavations, uncovering the tops of walls. Looking west towards the upper floor of the House of the Vettii.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. The tops of walls of the fauces from behind, looking south.

The entrance on the Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento can be seen (boarded) in front and the window of V.2.i opposite.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. Start of excavations, uncovering the tops of walls of the fauces.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. The tops of walls of the fauces. On the rear of the east side can just be seen the outline of two dolphins.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. Fauces during excavation showing painted east wall.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. East wall of fauces with painted winged sphinx.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. East wall? Painted swan with ribbon in its beak.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 Pompeii. 2018. Architectural painting with centaur.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.2.i Pompeii, on left. December 2005. Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento looking west from V.7.7, on right.

V.7.7 Pompeii. View from near junction of Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento and the still buried Vicolo dei Balconi at the start of excavations in 2018.

Looking towards the Casina dell'Aquila.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018.

To the west of the entrance, a room was investigated in which it is possible to recognize an older fresco decoration, later covered with a richer fourth-style decoration. It is possible that the oldest decoration is prior to the earthquake of 62, while the last decoration refers to renovations following this event.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance, north wall with older fresco decoration covered with a richer fourth-style decoration.

It is possible that the oldest decoration is prior to the earthquake of 62, while the last decoration refers to renovations following this event.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. December 2023.

Detail from north wall on west side of doorway. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. December 2023.

North-east corner of doorway in north wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. December 2023. Looking towards east wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance, looking towards east wall.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. December 2023. Detail of painted decoration from east wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance, east wall with architectural scenes with urns placed on top.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance. East wall, north end, with painting of two dolphins.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance. East wall, centre, with painting of bird and fruit between architecture.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. December 2023. Detail of painting of bird with fruit, from east wall. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance. East wall, centre, with painting of bird and fruit.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance, south wall with window in centre looking on to Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento.

A parrot is painted between two architectural scenes.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance. South wall with window looking across to V.2.i.

Underneath is a painting of a parrot with fruit.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

V.7.7 or 6 Pompeii. 2018. Room to the west of the entrance. South wall. Painting of a parrot with fruit.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.