House of the Ephebus

House of the Ephebus

 

House of the EphebusHouse of the Ephebus also known as the House of P. Cornelius Tuges derives its name from the statue of Ephebus (a bronze copy of the Greek original from the 5th century BC), found here. It was possible to get into this mansion from the street Vicolo dell Efebo (Vicolo dell'Efebo). At the time of the eruption, the hosts chose to flee the city and perhaps they succeeded. In any case, they locked the doors, and the bodies were not found here during archaeological excavations. Today, you can get to House of the Ephebus from the side entrance as the main gate is closed. The main gate of the house is closed with a cement replica of wooden doors, which remain hinged. Of course, organic matter decayed, but the void remained. Scientists simply poured cement into the cavity and got an exact copy of the door.

The House of the Ephebus occupies a large plot of Insula 7. The mansion was huge in size since it was built after three houses were bought by one owner and joined into one. This is quite a wide practice in Pompeii. Moreover, new houses were not demolished. Therefore, the mansions were sometimes for centuries with only minor changes and repairs.

It contains beautiful frescoes of the fourth style. The House of the Ephebus was named after the bronze statue of Ephebus (pictured below). The volcanic wave, when it covered the house, has not yet lost some of its inertia. This is evident from the force with which the bronze statue was taken down from its place. The right arm and leg broke off and were found in the atrium (g) although initially it was in the room (m).

Ephebus (ancient Greek ἔφηβος) - in ancient Greek society - a young man who reached the age when he acquired all the rights of a citizen (that is, about 18 years), becoming a member of Ephebian - a community of young people - citizens of a polis or a republic. From now on, the young man became military service and was involved in military service.

 

House of the Ephebus

House of the Ephebus  House of the Ephebus

A short corridor leads to the atrium (b) or the living room of the house. The northern and southern walls were decorated with strips in the fourth style with white panels with ornamental borders and figures above the bottom white decorated frieze. On the wall behind the room (s) on the south side there is a painted Lararium with a niche above. This is a simple home altar, dedicated to the gods - the patrons of the house or the ancestors of the family. Along the north wall there is a flight of stairs leading to the upper floor.

On either side of the rows are the rooms (c), which are decorated with frescoes in the fourth style. On the western side of the atrium is a large exedra, which may have been originally a table or office. Room (d) is decorated with frescoes in the fourth style with white panels with decorative borders on a white background above the bottom white decorative frieze.

 

House of the Ephebus  House of the Ephebus

Summer house in the garden. Here guests had fun in the warm summer months of the year. In the niche, apparently there was a bronze statue, but it was thrown aside by the power of the pyroclastic flow.