VI.9.6 Pompeii. Casa dei Dioscuri or House of Castor & Pollux.

Rear entrance at VI.9.9. Excavated 1826, 1828 and 1837.

Linked to VI.9.7 and VI.9.8.

Atrium

   1        2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9       10      Plan  

Large peristyle        Pseudoperistyle and east side

VI.9.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 3, looking north-west across the atrium, from room 8.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Room 3, looking north-west across the atrium, from outside room 8.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 832.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. January 2023. Room 9, looking west across atrium from tablinum. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. November 2023.

Room 3, looking north-east across impluvium in atrium, with north wall of tablinum, on right. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 9, looking east across tablinum from atrium.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. November 2023.

Looking east towards garden area, from tablinum. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. October 2022.

Looking east from tablinum towards rear garden wall, visible from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Pre-1937-39. Room 3, atrium, looking east towards tablinum and pseudo-peristyle.

The floor of the impluvium can be seen along the lower edge.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 410.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. November 2023.

Room 3, looking west across impluvium in atrium from outside room 9, tablinum. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.816.

Room 3, looking across impluvium towards north-west side of atrium and doorway to rooms 16 and 13, from tablinum.

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

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.874 Room 9, looking towards north wall of tablinum and pseudo-peristyle, at rear.

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

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.854. North wall of tablinum, looking east.

The mosaic tablinum floor can be seen at the base of the north wall.

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

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Room 9, tablinum, painting by Zahn of floating figures from north wall.

See Zahn, W., 1842. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: II. Berlin: Reimer. Taf. 27.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Found on 18th June 1828 in room 9, on the north wall of the tablinum.

Remains of wall painting of Achilles drawing his sword to fight Agamemnon.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9104.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (1307).

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.193. Room 9: tablinum: floating figures of Dionysus and Ariadne, from north wall.

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

See Gell, W, 1832. Pompeiana: Vol 2. London: Jennings and Chaplin. P.6

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.855. Room 9, north wall of tablinum with paintings on wall and dado, at west end.

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

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Pre-December 1858.

Drawing by Zahn of a muse from the west end of the north wall of tablinum.

According to Zahn this was either Clio, muse of history, or Erato the muse of song.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 90.

According to PPM - this was the muse Calliope with scroll.

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici. IV. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p. 912.

According to Giovambatista Finati in RMB,

This is Clio holding an unrolled papyrus with her left hand. She wears a reddish exomis that leaves uncovered the straight part of the arm and is wrapped in a sinuous light green peplos.

Her feet are shod.

See Real Museo Borbonico Vol. IX, 1833, Tav. XXXIV.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.856.Room 9, tablinum, north wall at east end, with painting of the muse Thalia with pedum and mask.

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

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Pre-September 1859.

Drawing by Zahn of Thalia the muse of comedy from north wall of tablinum.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf .98.

According to Giovambatista Finati in RMB,

This is Thalia shown with a mask in her left hand, and the pedum in her right: a long red sistide (gown) covered with a magnificent green mantle forms her clothing, as a thin ribbon that encircles her short and dark hair and is attached to the middle of the top of her forehead is the only ornament that decorates her head.

She has her feet shod.

See Real Museo Borbonico Vol. IX, 1833, Tav. XXXIV.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. 1833 drawing by Nicola La Volpe of three Muses seen in the architecture on north and south wall of tablinum.

Photo by Tatiana Warscher. W.201. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

According to Giovambatista Finati in RMB,

Thalia is shown in the middle with a mask in her left hand, and the pedum in her right.

On one side is Clio holding an unrolled papyrus with her left hand.

On the other side is Euterpe clasping two tibiae in her left hand and holding her right hand to her head crowned with leaves.

See Real Museo Borbonico Vol. IX, 1833, Tav. XXXIV.

According to PPM – on the north wall were Calliope with scroll (see Helbig.861) and Thalia with pedum and mask (Helbig 879).

On the south wall was Euterpe with double flute (see Helbig 864).

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici. IV. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, p. 912.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. January 2023. Room 9, looking east across tablinum towards garden area. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. September 2004. Looking east across tablinum to rear garden wall.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. January 2023. Room 9, looking towards south wall of tablinum. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 9, south wall of tablinum.

VI.9.6 Pompeii.  W.292.

Room 9, drawing of detail of south wall of tablinum, with central painting of Achilles on Skyros: Niccolini, taf 6.

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

See Niccolini F, 1854. Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei: Volume Primo. Napoli. Tav. 6.

VI.9.6 Pompeii.  Room 9, painting by Discanno of detail of south wall of tablinum published by Niccolini.  

The painting in the central panel shows Selene and Endymion, also now in Naples Museum (inv. no. 9240) (Helbig 960) which would have been seen in our room 14.

According to Niccolini –

“La Parete che qui pubblichiamo era anche una di quelle completamente distrutte. La copia che ne facemmo eseguire appena comparve alla luce, ci permette di riprodurla in tutta la sua freschezza e con tutta la forza delle sue tinte. Il quadro di mezzo rappresenta una scena del mito di Selene ed Endimione, soggetto che ci troviamo di avere già illustrato alla Tav. VI. In ciascuna delle riquadrature laterali vedesi il graziosi gruppo di un satiro, che rapisce una baccante.”

(Il riferimento di Nicolini a Tab, VI si riferisce a quattro disegni di dipinti di cui due rappresentano Selene ed Endimione).

(The wall that we publish here was also one of those that was completely destroyed. The copy we made as soon as it appeared in the light, allow us to reproduce it in all its freshness and with all the strength of its hues. The middle painting depicts a scene from Selene and Endymion, a subject that we have already illustrated in Tav. VI. In each of the side panels is seen the graceful group of a satyr, kidnapping a bacchante.)

(Niccolini’s reference to Tav, VI refers to four drawings of paintings of which two are of Selene and Endymion).

See Niccolini, F. Le Case ed i Monumenti di Pompei. 1890. Book 3, L’Arte in Pompei, (Tav. XVIII and Tav. VI).

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Drawing by Antonio Ala, 1847, of south wall of tablinum.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 339.

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.9.6 Pompeii. Drawing by Antonio Ala, 1861, of wall of tablinum.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 338.

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)

Presumably this is the south wall, the same as he drew 14 years previously, however the central painting is not the correct one.

The correct central painting should be Achilles on Scyros, perhaps this had been cut and sent to the Museum (inv.no. 9110).

The painting in the central panel shows Endymion, also now in Naples Museum (inv. no. 9240) (Helbig 960) which would have been seen in our room 14.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Pre-October 1852.

Drawing by Zahn of cupids from the central predella beneath the central painting, on a yellow background of the wall of the tablinum.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 45.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Found on 18th June 1828 in room 9 at the east end of the south wall of the tablinum.

Wall painting of satyr and maenad in flight. Found on east side of painting of Achilles at Skyros.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9134.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (515, 522, 523, 529).

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Found on 18th June 1828 in room 9, the central panel on the south wall of the tablinum.

Wall painting of Achilles discovered by Ulysses at Skyros.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9110.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (1297).

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Found on 18th June 1828 in room 9, at the west end of the south wall of the tablinum.

Wall painting of satyr and maenad in flight. Found on west side of painting of Achilles at Skyros.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9135.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel. (515, 522, 523, 529).

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Painting by Giuseppe Marsigli, 6th July 1828, of panel on west end of south wall in tablinum of flying Satyr and Maenad.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 343.

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.9.6 Pompeii. Found on 18th June 1828 in room 9, on upper section frieze at east end of south wall of tablinum.

Wall painting of a woman offering a drink to a traveller.

It has also been interpreted as “Oedipus and the Sphynx” or as a magician predicting the future.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 9106.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Painting by Giuseppe Marsigli, 8th July 1828, of a seated woman giving a drink to a passer-by, or perhaps of Sibilla.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 347.

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)

Original painting now in Naples Archaeological Museum, inventory number 9106. (Helbig 1565)

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W.199. Room 9, tablinum.

Drawing of wall decorations, the top drawing could be seen on the upper section frieze at the west end of the south wall.

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

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Room 9, tablinum frieze.

DAIR 83.92. Photo © Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom, Arkiv.

See Helbig, W., 1868. Wandgemälde der vom Vesuv verschütteten Städte Campaniens. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, 1560.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. 1828. Room 9, tablinum, drawing by Gell of detail of decoration. He originally called this house, the 3 Portico House.

See Gell, W. Sketchbook of Pompeii, c.1830.

See book from Van Der Poel Campanian Collection on Getty website http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2002m16b425

VI.9.6 Pompeii. c.1830. Room 9, tablinum, drawing by Gell of detail of decoration.

See Gell, W. Sketchbook of Pompeii, c.1830.

See book from Van Der Poel Campanian Collection on Getty website http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2002m16b425

VI.9.6 Pompeii.

Drawing of Euterpe by Michele Mastracchio, from the centre of architectural design at west end of south wall in tablinum.

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number ADS 345.

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)

The same subject was also drawn by La Volpe in Museo Borbonico IX, tav. XXXIV. (Helbig 864).

VI.9.6 Pompeii. Pre-December 1858.

Drawing by Zahn of Euterpe, the muse of music, from the architectural design at west end of south wall in tablinum.

See Zahn, W., 1852-59. Die schönsten Ornamente und merkwürdigsten Gemälde aus Pompeji, Herkulanum und Stabiae: III. Berlin: Reimer, taf. 88.

According to Giovambatista Finati in RMB,

This is Euterpe clasping two tibiae in her left hand and holding her right hand to her head covered with leaves. Almost similar to the garments of Thalia are those which cover her.

Her feet are shod.

See Real Museo Borbonico Vol. IX, 1833, Tav. XXXIV.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W,848. Room 9, south wall of tablinum.

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

VI.9.6 Pompeii. January 2023.

Room 9, south wall of tablinum with painting of floating figure. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 9, wall painting of floating figure, from south wall of tablinum.

VI.9.6 Pompeii.  Pre 1836.

Room 9, drawing/engraving by Gell of floating figure – Victory/Nike from upper centre of south wall of tablinum.

Gell wrote –

“A figure of Victory differing so materially from everything of the kind as to be worthy of preservation.”

See Gell, W and Gandy, J., 1880. Pompeii, its destruction and re-discovery. New York: Worthington.

VI.9.6 Pompeii. W. 253. Room 9, detail of painting from south wall of tablinum.

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

VI.9.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Room 9, painted balcony, from south wall of tablinum.

Atrium:    1        2        3        4        5        6        7        8        9       10      Plan  

Large peristyle       Pseudoperistyle and east side