VIII.2.30 Pompeii. House of Severus.
Linked to VIII.2.29. Excavated 1767, 1883, 1928.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. May 2024. Looking towards east side of atrium. Photo courtesy
of Klaus Heese.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. October 2023. Looking towards east side of atrium. Photo
courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005.
East side of atrium. North-east corner of atrium, with
window of cubiculum, on the right is an open recess.
According to PPM –
“Open recess (k), north wall: already Mau (in BdI, 1885, p.91) emphasized the monotony of the decoration of the rooms of this house, even if performed "not without diligence, nor without good taste".
On the black zoccolo, a compartment with a white background separated the yellow panels, on one of which a carpet decoration was stretched, with rectangular squares whose subject was illegible.”
See Carratelli,
G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e
Mosaici: Vol. VIII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (no.20) p. 253.
According to Mau
in BdI –
“Era fatta non
senza diligenza né senza buon gusto, semplice e un po’ monotona in rosso nero e
giallo con la parte superiore ed i soliti prospetti architettonici a fondo
bianco.”
("It
was made, not without diligence nor without good taste, simple and a bit
monotonous in red, black and yellow with the upper part and the usual
architectural elevations with a white background."
See BdI, 1885, (p.91).
According to PPM –
“Open recess (k), east wall: architectural decoration which developed behind a low architraved aedicula, separated two yellow panels with stretched “carpet” borders which showed two painted panels with masks at the centre of the panels
In that on the left, (13cm high x 33.5cm wide), the masks of Perseus and Andromeda with the bleeding sea monster could be recognized; in that on the right, (13cm high x 33.5cm wide), the masks of a Silenus crowned with leaves and of a bearded man with a cap on his head."
See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol. VIII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (no.21) p.254.
“Open recess (k), south wall with doorway to cubiculum (i): in the panels of the black zoccolo one can just recognize painted rectangles. In the middle area, the yellow panels with stretched “carpet” decoration were separated from the red panel with “carpet” border of semicircles and squares, by a narrow white compartment”.
See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei:
Pitture e Mosaici: Voll. VIII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (no.22) p.254.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005.
South-east side of atrium, with open recess and doorway to a cubiculum, rooms (k) and (i). On the right is the open doorway to the east ala.
According to Bull. Inst., on the east wall of these rooms were four paintings of masks.
Two on the east wall of each room. The background of the paintings was blue.
See Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza
Archeologica (DAIR), 1885, p.94. (p.85 onwards).
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. 1936 view across atrium looking east.
According to Schefold -
In the rooms (k), and (i) on the east side of the atrium, second and third room on the east side of the atrium, two pinakes with masks were seen on the east wall (Noack Lehmann taf 39.1).
See Schefold, K.,
1957. Die Wände Pompejis. Berlin: De Gruyter. (p.216-7).
See Noack, F. and Lehmann-Hartleben, K., 1936. Baugeschichtliche Untersuchungen am Stadtrand von Pompeji. Berlin: De Gruyter, Taf. 39,1.
According to PPM –
“Cubiculum (i), east wall: the black zoccolo did not contain any trace of decoration; the middle zone had a red central narrow panel separated from the yellow side panels by white compartments. Totally illegible were the painted panels (11.5cm high x 37cm wide) with a blue background that, according to Mau (in BdI 1885, p.94) were found on this wall.
In the one on the left, one could have seen a feminine mask with onkos facing towards the right, and that of an old bald man, with a thick white beard, turned in the same direction.
In the panel on the right you could have seen two feminine masks, one almost in perspective the other turned to the left, and again one of an old man.”
See Carratelli, G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e Mosaici: Vol. VIII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (No.17), p. 250.
“Cubiculum (i), south wall: the central red middle panel showed a panel (11.2cm high x 34cm wide) but it was illegible, as was the small medallion (14cm diameter) present in the yellow panel.”
See Carratelli,
G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e
Mosaici: Vol. VIII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (No.18), p.250.
VIII.2.30
Pompeii. Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1883, (p.287) with description of panels with masks.
VIII.2.30
Pompeii. Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1883, (p.288).
The wall at the rear or east, was decorated with two panels with masks, in one (0.34 wide x 0.13 high) we see on the left the mask of Perseus with the harp next to it: on the right suspended, as it seems, to a rock, that of Andromeda with a painful expression………...
The same masks were observed in another painting now almost destroyed (Sogliano Pit Mur, no.740) and Robert (Bull Inst 1875, p.33 f) believed it to be taken from a tragedy related to Andromeda, and properly from that of Euripides.
The second picture (0,34 wide x 0.13 high) contains two other masks, of which the one on the left was silenic, with goat ears and ivy crown, and the other on the right, was of an old man, with a white beard and with a white cap.
(La Parete del
fondo o orientale, era decorate di due Quadretti con maschere, nell’uno
(l.0.34, a 0.13) vedesi a sinistra la maschera di Perseo con l’arpe accanto: a
destra sospesa, come pare, ad uno scoglio, quella di Andromeda dall’espressione
dolorosa, e in mezzo il ........ (greek).
Le medesime
maschere si osservavano in un altro dipinto ora quasi distrutto (Sogliano Pit
Mur, no.740) e il Robert (Bull Inst 1875, p.33 sg) le credette desunte da una
tragedia relativa ad Andromeda, e propriamente da quella di Euripide.
Il secondo
quadretto (l.0,34, a.0.13) contiene altre due maschere, delle quali quella a
sinistra era silenica, con orecchie caprine e corona di edera, e l’altra a
destra, era di un vecchio, con bianca barba e con berretto bianco. )
Similar to the previously mentioned room communicating with the previous house, this room was located between two cubicula with the doorways one opposite to the other, and of which the one on the right has on the eastern wall two other panels with masks:
in the first (0.38 long x 0.12 high), we see on the left a tragic feminine mask, and on the right a silenic mask, with goat ears and resting, as it seems, on a trunk;
the second showed two tragic female masks, one in front and the other in profile facing left, as well as another silenic mask, with goat ears and similarly resting on a trunk.
Following on the same eastern side of the atrium was the ala, not yet completely excavated, to which the other ala responds on the opposite side.
Notizie degli
Scavi, May 1883 (p.287-288).
(Al pari del
suddetto vano di comunicazione con la casa precedente, questa stanza era
situata fra due cubicoli cogl’ingressi l’uno di rincontro all’altro, e dei
quali quello a destra ha sulla parete orientale due altri quadretti con
maschere:
nel primo
(l.0.38 a.0.12) si vede a sinistra una maschera tragica muliebre, e a destra
una maschera silenica, con orecchie caprine e poggiata, come pare, ad un
tronco;
il secondo
(med.gr.) esibisce due maschere tragiche muliebri, di cui l’una di fronte e
l’altra di profilo rivolta a sinistra, nonché un’altra maschera silenica, con
orecchie caprine e similmente appoggiata ad un tronco.
Segue sul
medesimo lato orientale dell’atrio l’ala, non ancora del tutto sterrata, a cui
risponde l’altra sul lato opposto.)
Notizie degli
Scavi, Maggio 1883, (p.287-288).
According to NdS
–
4 giugno 1883 –
Fu messo in
chiaro, che le case dell’isola 2, reg. VIII, segnate coi no.29 e30 communicano
tra loro, per mezzo di un passaggio di quattro scalini, posto fra i due
atrii. Nella casa no 29, a destra del
tablino rispondente sul limitare della citta dal lato sud, trovasi una discesa
con apposita scalinata, per la quale si accede ai piani sottoposti, che a
declivio vanno verso il muro di cinta della stesso lato meridionale. Puo scorgersi ad evidenza, che ambedue le
suddette case furono gia frugate nel tempo delle primitive esplorazioni,
allorche andavasi in cerca di oggetti senza alcuno intendimento scientifico.
Infatti mano a mano che vanno sgombrandosi i terreni, si manifestano grandi
cunicoli praticati da esperti artefici, i quali, lavorando per le loro
sotterranee ricerche, dimenticavano ivi una lucerna moderna.
(4th
June 1883 - It was made clear, that the houses of VIII.2, marked with the nos.
29 and 30 communicate with each other, by means of a passage with four steps,
placed between the two atria. In the
house no. 29, to the right of the tablinum on the edge of the city on the south
side, there is a descent with a special staircase, by which you access the
floors below, which slope towards the city wall of the same southern side. It can be seen clearly that both the
aforementioned houses were already rummaged at the time of primitive
explorations, when they went in search of objects with no scientific
understanding. In fact, little by little, as the land is cleared, large tunnels
are seen made by expert craftsmen, who, working for their underground search, they
forgot a modern lamp there.).
See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 1883, June, (p. 333).
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005. South-east corner of atrium, with doorway to ala, centre left.
A blocked doorway in the south wall of the ala would have led to a room on the east of the tablinum.
The tablinum can be seen on the right.
According to PPM –
“There were painted panels in the yellow panels of the middle area of the south wall of the east ala.
Nothing remains as they were detached by the first excavators/diggers”.
See Carratelli,
G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e
Mosaici. VIII. (8). Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.249, no.16).
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking east in east ala.
According to PPM –
“The east wall contained a doorway leading to the stairs to
the lower floor, but in order to overcome a difference in height of about 80cm, a podium for the steps was built
against the south-east corner of the room.”
“The north wall
was decorated in the 4th Style repeating the scheme found in the
west ala, with yellow panels separated by simple architecture.
The zoccolo had been left so as to apply slabs of marble.”
See Carratelli,
G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e
Mosaici. Vol. VIII. Roma: Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p.249, no.14 and no.15).
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. October 2023. Looking south towards tablinum. Photo
courtesy of Klaus Heese.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking west across south side of atrium, from east ala to west ala.
According to PPM –
“The threshold of the west ala was “of white mosaic with decorations in black and red”, this was seen by Mau (BdI, 1885, p.86).
It did not exist anymore by the 1930’s (Pernice, p.74), whereas the beaten travertine bedded into greyish mortar still existed.”
See Carratelli,
G. P., 1990-2003. Pompei: Pitture e
Mosaici. Vol. VIII. Roma:
Istituto della enciclopedia italiana, (p. 246, fig.10).
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking north across tablinum, towards atrium and entrance doorway.
On the right is a doorway leading into the large room on the east of the tablinum.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking east across large room on east side of tablinum.
In the centre can be seen a doorway leading to a corridor, and stairs to rooms below.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005. Corridor on east side of house, leading north.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking south down steps to rear portico.
Originally there would have been two flights of steps, a few leading down to the level of the kitchen, on the right.
Followed by another flight of 16 steps, which were totally preserved. These led to the narrow portico.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. September 2005.
Looking south from rear of large room on east side of tablinum on upper level, down steps to rear portico and garden.
In the right front, would have been the kitchen, and at its rear on a lower level, would have been a large room leading onto the portico.
Exterior rear photos
VIII.2.29/30, on left, VIII.2.34 in
centre with arches, VIII.2.36/37 on right. June 2019.
Looking
north from rear. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.
VIII.2.20, on left, with VIII.2.30, on right, Pompeii. May 2010. Looking west along rear of houses. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
Rear of VIII.2.28, on left, and VIII.2.30 with city wall built on top of volcanic ledge, in centre. May 2011.
Looking east along rear of “hanging houses”. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
VIII.2.30 left, looking east along rear towards VIII.2.39, on right. December 2005.
VIII.2.28, VIII.2.29, VIII.2.30 centre and VIII.2.34 from rear. September 2004.
The rear garden would have been built on the volcanic ledge, behind the green bushes.
According to Jashemski, -
“In the eastern house, VIII.2.30, the rooms at the rear opened onto a narrow portico (2.20m wide) supported by columns joined by a wooden fence.
A few steps led down from this portico to the small garden which had been built over and beyond the city wall by constructing a support wall on the lava ledge.
In the middle of the garden was a pool.
On the street level, the rooms at the rear of this double house opened onto two wide terraces from which there would have been a magnificent view.”
See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.208).
VIII.2.21-30 Pompeii from south. 1936. VIII.2.26, VIII.2.28, VIII.2.29 in centre, VIII.2.30 on right.
See Noack, F. and Lehmann-Hartleben, K., 1936. Baugeschichtliche Untersuchungen am Stadtrand von Pompeji. Berlin: De Gruyter, taf. 28,1.
VIII.2.26, VIII.2.28, VIII.2.29, VIII.2.30 (right) from rear. September 2004.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii, May 2011. Looking north to city walls above volcanic ledge. Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
According to Van der Graaff –
“Terrace 19 in House VIII.2.30 displays a similar superimposition of construction techniques (to VIII.2.29), with travertine blocks partially covered in later plaster and incorporated into opus incertum masonry. (Note 22, see Noack and Lehmann-Hartleben 1936, p.5-15).”
See Van der Graaff, I. (2018). The Fortifications of Pompeii and Ancient Italy. Routledge, (p.49).
VIII.2.30 Pompeii, May 2011.
Looking east from VIII.2.26 towards volcanic ledge with city walls/garden terrace built on top.
Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii, May 2011.
Looking east from VIII.2.26 towards detail of volcanic ledge with city walls/garden terrace built on top.
Photo courtesy of Ivo van der Graaff.
VIII.2.29 and VIII.2.30 from rear. December 2005
VIII.2.29 and VIII.2.30 Pompeii, on right, from rear. 1959. Looking north. 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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VIII.2.30 Pompeii. February 2015. Collapse of part of garden wall built on top of the lava ridge.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. February 2015. Collapse of part of garden wall built on top of the lava ridge.
VIII.2.30 Pompeii. June 2019. Consolidation work in progress. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.