VI.9.3 Pompeii. Casa del Centauro or Casa di A. Vettius Caprasius Felix.

Linked to VI.9.4, VI.9.5. Rear entrances at VI.9.10, VI.9.11, VI.9.12.

Excavated 1827. Bombed in 1943. (Strada di Mercurio 14).

Part 3      Part 1      Part 2      VI.9.4      VI.9.5      VI.9.10      VI.9.11      VI.9.12      VI.9.3-5 and VI.9.10-12 Plan

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2004.

Looking west from pseudo-peristyle 9, across tablinum and atrium to front entrance at VI.9.3.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019.

Doorway to cubiculum 3, on south side of entrance corridor/fauces.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019.

Cubiculum 3, on south side of entrance corridor/fauces, looking west through doorway.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2004.

Cubiculum 3, on south side of entrance doorway. Looking towards the north-west corner.

On the left of the picture can be seen a modern window.

According to Mau, originally there would have been two small windows in the west wall.

The one on this side of the room has been bricked up and replaced by the modern bigger one in the centre of the wall.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey, F. W., Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p. 261-2, and Fig.122)

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Cubiculum 3, north-west corner and north wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. October 2010.

North wall of cubiculum 3, on south side of entrance doorway decorated in the first style. Photo courtesy of Gabriele Große.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Cubiculum 3, west wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Cubiculum 3, detail from upper west wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. October 2010. West wall of cubiculum 3, on south side of entrance doorway, decorated in the first style.

Latin inscription CORNIILIA P F ORIISTINA on first style decoration.  [CIL IV 6812].  Photo courtesy of Gabriele Große.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. October 2010.

Detail of Latin inscription CORNIILIA P F ORIISTINA, from west wall of cubiculum 3. Photo courtesy of Gabriele Große.

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby, (see www.manfredclauss.de.) it read as -

Cornelia  P(ubli)  f(ilia)  Orestina     [CIL IV 6812]

See also Della Corte, M., 1965. Case ed Abitanti di Pompei. Napoli: Fausto Fiorentino. (p.48-50)

Livia Orestilla or Cornelia Orestina was a Roman Empress as the second wife of the Emperor Caligula in AD 37 or AD 38.

She was originally married to Gaius Calpurnius Piso (who was involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the Emperor Nero in AD 65).

He was persuaded or forced to annul the marriage so that Caligula could marry her.

According to both Dio and Suetonius, this occurred during their wedding celebrations.

According to Suetonius, at the marriage of Livia Orestilla to Gaius Piso, Caligula attended the ceremony himself, gave orders that the bride be taken to his own house, and within a few days divorced her; two years later he banished her, because of a suspicion that in the meantime she had gone back to her former husband. Suetonius continues that others write that being invited to the wedding banquet, Caligula sent word to Piso, who reclined opposite to him: "Don't take liberties with my wife," and at once carried her off with him from the table, the next day issuing a proclamation that he had got himself a wife in the manner of Romulus and Augustus, who had both stolen wives from other men. 

See Suetonius, The Lives of the Caesars, (p. 443) The Life of Caligula at http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Caligula*.html .

According to Cassius Dio, Caligula married Cornelia Orestina, whom he had actually seized during the marriage festival which she was celebrating with her betrothed, Gaius Calpurnius Piso. Before two months had elapsed he banished them both, claiming that they were maintaining illicit relations with each other. He permitted Piso to take with him ten slaves, and then, when he asked for more, allowed him to employ as many as he liked, merely remarking, "You will have just so many soldiers, too, with you." See Cassius Dio, Roman History, Book LIX (p. 287) http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/59*.html .

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Cubiculum 3, detail from lower west wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2004. Cubiculum 3, on south side of entrance doorway.

Looking towards the south-west corner with alcove for the bed.

The small original window, partly blocked, can be seen to the left of the modern window.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey, F. W., Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p. 261-2, and Fig.122)

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. South-west corner in alcove and west wall of cubiculum 3.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Cubiculum 3, west wall with alcove, on left.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Cubiculum 3, alcove in south wall of cubiculum.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Alcove in cubiculum 3, west wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019.

Room 3, looking south in alcove on south side of cubiculum.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Alcove in cubiculum 3, looking south across flooring.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Alcove in cubiculum 3, detail of floor decoration on step between alcove and cubiculum.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2019. Alcove in cubiculum 3, detail of flooring.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. September 2004.

West wall of cubiculum 3, on south side of entrance doorway decorated in the first style. To the left is the bed alcove.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. October 2010.

South wall of cubiculum 3, on south side of entrance doorway decorated in the first style. Photo courtesy of Gabriele Große.

VI.9.3 Pompeii. W682.

Room 4, south side of atrium, with blocked doorway that would have led to the Corinthian atrium of VI.9.5.

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

Part 1      Part 2      VI.9.4      VI.9.5      VI.9.10      VI.9.11      VI.9.12      VI.9.3-5 and VI.9.10-12 Plan