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House of the Ceii, Pompeii

The House of the Ceii, also referred to as the House of Lucius Ceius Secundus, is a well-preserved Roman domus in Pompeii, exemplifying residential architecture from the late Samnite period around the 2nd century BC. This era predates full Roman dominance in the region, making the house a rare surviving example of pre-colonial Italic dwellings in the city. Located in Regio I, Insula 6, Entrance 15, it sits along a side lane off Via dell'Abbondanza, opposite the larger House of the Menander and near the Temple of Jupiter Meilichios. Excavated between 1913 and 1914, the house derives its name from one of nine electoral inscriptions painted on its exterior walls, which urged support for Lucius Ceius Secundus as a magistrate. These slogans, a common feature in Pompeian politics, suggest Secundus as the likely owner, positioning the house as belonging to a mid-level elite family involved in local governance.
As a small to mid-sized domus, it reflects the social dynamics of Pompeii's merchant and magisterial class, blending functionality with aesthetic ambition. Unlike grander villas, it emphasizes practicality while incorporating decorative elements that hint at cultural influences, such as Egyptian motifs possibly tied to the owner's affiliation with the cult of Isis—a religion that gained popularity in Pompeii during its final decades before the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius.

Architecture and Layout

The house's design follows the traditional Roman domus pattern but retains Samnite influences, creating a compact yet elegant space organized around an atrium and garden.

Facade and Entrance: The exterior presents a severe, austere appearance characteristic of late Samnite mid-level residences. It features white stucco panels imitating opus quadratum (large ashlar blocks), a high doorway framed by cubic capitals on the jambs, and no ground-floor shops—unlike many commercial properties in Pompeii. This blank, stuccoed wall was often painted in bright colors, with the electoral inscriptions adding a layer of historical personalization. The paneled decoration distinguishes it visually from neighboring structures.
Atrium: Upon entry, visitors encounter a tetrastyle atrium supported by four columns, a "precious" feature that adds grandeur to the space. At its center is an impluvium basin uniquely constructed from cut amphora fragments set on edge—a building technique borrowed from Greek traditions and rarely seen in Pompeii (another example exists in the House of the Ancient Hunt). A fountain once fed into this basin, enhancing the cooling and aesthetic effects. Modern reconstructions include a repositioned marble table and wellhead, along with plaster casts of original furniture like a cupboard and wooden access door, providing insight into daily Roman life.
Interior Rooms and Features: Flanking the atrium are living spaces, including a winter triclinium (dining room) adorned with third-style Pompeian wall paintings. These depict mythological scenes, such as a young Bacchus offering wine to a tiger, evoking themes of revelry and nature. Adjacent cubicles (bedrooms or sitting rooms) feature busts of Satyrs and Maenads, followers of Dionysus, in similar third-style artistry. The kitchen area includes a small household grinder for grain, highlighting domestic routines. A staircase connects the ground floor to an upper level, likely used for additional sleeping quarters or storage, though much of the upper story was destroyed in the eruption. Ornaments and furniture remnants, such as the wardrobe cast, underscore the house's blend of utility and decoration.
Garden (Viridarium): The rear garden, a small open-air space, serves as the house's visual centerpiece. It was designed to create an illusion of expansiveness in the confined urban setting, a common trompe-l'œil technique in Pompeian homes.

Frescoes and Decorations

The garden walls are covered in vivid third-style frescoes, dating to the mid-1st century AD, which transform the space into an immersive natural and exotic tableau.

Back Wall: Dominated by a large hunting scene featuring dynamic wild animal pursuits, including wolves chasing boars, a tiger lunging at two rams, and a lion in chase of a bull. This theme of venatio (hunts) was popular in Roman art, symbolizing power, nature's ferocity, and perhaps the owner's status or interests in spectacles. Botanical elements frame the scene, blending flora with fauna for an idyllic yet dramatic effect.
Side Walls: Egyptianized landscapes populate these with Pygmies interacting with Nile Delta creatures, such as battles against hippopotamuses and crocodiles. These pseudo-Egyptian motifs, including riverine beasts and diminutive human figures, evoke exoticism and likely reflect the owner's connection to the Isis cult, which emphasized Egyptian symbolism and was prevalent in Pompeii's cosmopolitan society.

The frescoes' intense colors—reds, greens, and blues—create a sense of depth, making the small garden feel like a vast wilderness.

Restoration and Preservation

Over time, the frescoes suffered from fading, humidity, rising damp, salt efflorescence, and paint loss, exacerbated by inadequate past interventions and exposure to elements. A major restoration project, completed in February 2021 by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii using its ordinary funds, revitalized the artwork. Led by conservator Stefania Giudice, with oversight from Luana Toniolo (archaeology) and Raffaella Guarino (restoration), and executed by RWS of Padua, the process involved:

Consolidation of detached plaster and paint layers.
Chemical and mechanical cleaning, including laser technology to remove stubborn deposits without damaging the surface.
Retouching abraded areas with dotted chromatic reconstruction for seamless integration.
Grouting with natural lime-based mortar.
Protective sealing of roofs, ancient openings, and gaps to prevent rainwater infiltration and future degradation.

Earlier efforts focused on rainwater management, roofing, and flooring protection to safeguard the delicate interiors. These interventions have restored the frescoes' vividness, allowing modern visitors to experience them as "a film faded with time and then restored."

Significance

As one of Pompeii's few intact Samnite-era homes, the House of the Ceii offers invaluable insights into evolving domestic architecture, social status, and cultural syncretism in ancient Campania. Its frescoes not only beautify the space but also reveal broader Roman fascinations with nature, mythology, and exotic lands, underscoring Pompeii's role as a vibrant, multicultural hub before its tragic burial.