VI.15.1 Pompeii. House of the Vettii or Casa dei Vettii or Domus Vettiorum.

Excavated 1894-1895. Linked to VI.15.27.

In Notizie degli Scavi, prior to January 1897, this house was described as being in Insula 12 of Reg. VI, afterwards it was changed to Insula 15 of Reg. VI.

Room of the Cupids or Cherubs (PPM – room q)

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North-east corner and north end of east wall.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023. Looking towards north-east corner. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. August 2023. Detail from upper north wall at east end. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2023. Detail from upper east wall at north end. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. August 2023. Detail of upper north-east corner. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. April 2023. Upper north-east corner.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. 22nd July 1961. 

Upper north wall at east end, and north-east corner in room of the cupids or cherubs, with floating figures in centre of panels.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. Old undated photograph by Brogi, no.11229.

Upper north-east corner in room of the cupids or cherubs, with floating figures in centre of panels. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

According to PPM –

The “flying couple” in the centre of the red east panel on the north wall have been identified as Bacchus and Ariadne.

See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol. V. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.549 and no.136).

Kuivalainen comments –

Bacchus and Ariadne as floating figures are rare, but on account of the counterpart figures in the room these two can also be interpreted plausibly as gods. The difference between this kind of a simple depiction and the more elaborate mythological settings for Bacchus and Ariadne has been noted; the figures resemble satyrs and bacchants, but their motions are calmer and, besides, the male figure does not have satyr’s ears.”

See Kuivalainen, I., 2021. The Portrayal of Pompeian Bacchus. Commentationes Humanarum Litterarum 140. Helsinki: Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, (p.128-9, D6).

VI.15.1 Pompeii. April 2023.

North-east corner.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023. North-east corner, detail of floating couples. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2023.

Detail from middle of panel at north end of east wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2023. Looking north along east wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023. Lower east wall at north end. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. January 2023.

East wall in north-east corner with panel showing cupids cleaning clothes in a fullery. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. December 2023.

Detail from panel on east wall in north-east corner with panel showing cupids cleaning clothes in a fullery. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023.

Part of painted panel from east wall at north end of cupids cleaning clothes in a fullery. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. Early 20th century postcard by G. Sommer, no.6, from east wall in north-east corner.

This painting showed the cupids cleaning clothes in a fullery. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. Mid-1890’s photograph by Esposito no. 219.

Detail of cupids cleaning clothes in a fullery, from east wall in north-east corner. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. August 2023.

Detail from panel on north side of painted candelabra on east wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. August 2023.

Detail of painted decoration from above base of painted candelabra on east wall at north end. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. August 2023.

Detail of base of painted candelabra on east wall at north end. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. c.1899. Painting by D’Amelio, showing detail from lower east wall at north end.

See D’Amelio, P. (1899). Nuovi Scavi di Pompei, Casa dei Vettii appendice ai dipinti murali. (Tav. V.).

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2024. Detail from lower east wall at north end. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023.

Detail from part of panel from east wall at north end, above panel with painted female figure or priestess holding an implement of sacrifice.

Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2023.

Panel in zoccolo from east wall at north end, with detail of painted female figure or priestess holding implements of sacrifice.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. April 2023.

Detail of painted female figure or priestess holding implements of sacrifice, from lower east wall (zoccolo) at north end.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. Painted panel on zoccolo (0.48 high) from lower east wall.

Described by Sogliano as –

“Baccante, coronata, adorna di orecchini e vestita di chitone paonazzo chiaro e manto grigio, tiene nella dritta il tirso e con la sinistra un canestro, in cui sono due vasi, con una piega rossa.”

(Bacchante, crowned, adorned with earrings and dressed in a pale purple gown and grey mantle, in the right hand she holds the thyrsus, and in her left a basket, in which are two vases, with a red crease.)

See Sogliano, A. La Casa dei Vettii in Pompei, in Mon. Ant. 1898. (p.381-382, fig. 67).

VI.15.1 Pompeii. January 2023. East wall with panel showing cupid goldsmiths. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023. Painted panel showing cupid goldsmiths from east wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. December 2006. East wall with painting of cupid goldsmiths.

Below left is a female figure or priestess holding an implement of sacrifice.

Below right are the remains of a painting of an Amazon with a shield.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2001 East wall with painting of cupid goldsmiths. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 1992. East wall with detail of painting of cupid goldsmiths.

Photo by Louis Méric courtesy of Jean-Jacques Méric.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. December 2023. East wall with detail of part of painting of cupid goldsmiths. Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2001. Detail from east wall with part of painting of cupid goldsmiths. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. 1957. East wall with painting of cupid goldsmiths. 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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VI.15.1 Pompeii.

Early 20th century postcard by G. Sommer, no.116, showing painting of cupids from the east wall. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii.

Mid 1890’s photograph by Esposito no. 220. Detail of goldsmith cupids from the east wall. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023. East wall with part of painted panel of cupid goldsmiths. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2001. Detail from east wall of the cupid goldsmiths. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. 1972. Detail from east wall of the cupid goldsmiths. 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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VI.15.1 Pompeii. 1972. Detail from east wall of the cupid goldsmiths. 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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VI.15.1 Pompeii. January 2023.

East wall with painted panel of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python.

Underneath is a standing figure of an Amazon armed with a shield. 

Photo courtesy of Miriam Colomer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. August 2023.

Detail of painted decoration on east wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023.

East wall with painted panel of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python.

Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. December 2006.

East wall with painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python.

Underneath is a standing figure of an Amazon armed with a shield.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. August 2023. Detail from east wall. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2001.

East wall with painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. June 1962. Detail from the east wall.

Photo by Brian Philp: Pictorial Colour Slides, forwarded by Peter Woods

(P 43.26 POMPEII Wall mural House of Vettii)

VI.15.1 Pompeii. Old postcard by Brogi (1850-1925). Detail of decorations.

East wall with painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. Old undated photograph by Sommer, no. 11969. 

Detail from east wall with painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python.

Underneath is a standing figure of an Amazon armed with a shield.  Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. Mid 1890’s photograph by Esposito no. 216.

Detail from east wall with painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2024.

East wall with detail of painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. March 2023.

Detail from east wall of painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python. Photo courtesy of Johannes Eber.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. December 2006. East wall with detail of painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python.

Underneath is a standing figure of an Amazon armed with a shield.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2001.

Detail from east wall of painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VI.15.1 Pompeii. 1968. Detail from painting of Apollo and Diana after the killing of the python. 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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VI.15.1 Pompeii. October 2023.

Zoccolo on lower east wall on north side of central panel, figure of an Amazon armed with a shield.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

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