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House of Jason, Pompeii

Location: Regio IX

Area: 400 square meters

Rooms: 14

The House of Jason (Italian: Casa di Giasone or Casa dei Amori Fatali/House of Fatal Loves), designated as IX.5.18 in Pompeii's archaeological grid, is a well-preserved Roman domus exemplifying the blend of residential luxury and mythological artistry in the ancient city. Located in Regio IX, Insula 5, along Vicolo di Tesmo (between Via Stabiana and Vicolo di Balbo), the house derives its name from a prominent fresco depicting the hero Jason and King Pelias, though it is also known for themes of tragic or fatal love reflected in its wall paintings. Spanning approximately 400 square meters, it was formed by merging smaller properties (linked to IX.5.19, IX.5.20, and IX.5.21), showcasing the upward mobility of its likely freedmen owners, such as merchants or former slaves who rose in status. Excavated in 1878, the house's frescoes were removed for preservation and are now displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN), leaving the on-site structure weathered but structurally intact. It highlights Pompeii's cultural ties to Greek mythology, with decorations emphasizing themes of love, betrayal, and heroism, often interpreted as prompts for social discourse during Roman convivia (banquets).

Historical Context

Originating in the 2nd century BCE during Pompeii's Samnite period, the House of Jason underwent expansions in the late Republican and early Imperial eras, reflecting the city's transition to Roman control after 80 BCE. By the 1st century CE, it had been adapted into a single, cohesive residence, possibly owned by freedmen like the brothers Aulus Vettius Conviva and Aulus Vettius Restitutus (based on similar nearby properties), who used opulent decorations to display newfound wealth and cultural sophistication. The house survived the 62 CE earthquake but was buried under volcanic ash in 79 CE, preserving its features until excavation. Post-excavation, exposure to elements caused deterioration, but the frescoes' removal to MANN ensured their survival. The house exemplifies how Pompeian elites emulated Greek culture through art, aligning with broader Roman trends of Hellenization. Today, it is part of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, open daily (9:00 AM–5:00 PM November–March; 9:00 AM–7:30 PM April–October), included in the standard €18 admission ticket.

Layout and Architectural Features

The House of Jason follows a typical Roman domus plan but with adaptations for its merged structure, emphasizing an atrium-garden hybrid for light and ventilation. It lacks a traditional impluvium (rainwater basin) in the atrium, instead featuring a garden-like courtyard. The layout integrates residential, dining, and service spaces, with rooms labeled per standard archaeological plans (e.g., from Zevi 1964 and PPM). Below is a room-by-room overview:

Entrance Corridor (Fauces, Room "a"): The main entry from Vicolo di Tesmo features a threshold and roughly plastered walls painted with black panels bordered in red up to 1.9 meters high. A rectangular red stucco slab above resembled a tabella ansata (inscribed tablet) with painted handles. It leads north to the atrium, with graffiti on walls adding personal touches.
Atrium/Courtyard Garden (Room "b"): The central space, transformed into an internal garden, provides light to surrounding rooms. It features ruined fresco remnants on walls and connects to cubicula and the triclinium. Views from here overlook the west wing's decorated rooms.
West Room off Hallway (Room "c"): A small ancillary space with red panel decorations and a black frieze base, connecting to Room "d."
Cubiculum/Bedroom (Room "d" or "e" in varying labels): Illuminated by corner windows, this bedroom features red panels and mythological central scenes. It serves as a private resting area, with doorways linking to the atrium and adjacent rooms.
Triclinium/Dining Room (Room "f"): Located west of the atrium, this dining space has flooring and walls originally adorned with frescoes. It opens east to the courtyard, facilitating banquets with garden views.
Cubiculum/Bedroom (Room "g"): In the northwest corner, this bedroom features west, south, and north walls with mythological paintings, providing a private, decorated retreat.
Kitchen/Latrine (Room "h") and Corridors (e.g., "q"): Service areas include a kitchen with latrine facilities and corridors connecting rear spaces, possibly linking to an adjacent shop via a back entrance. Additional rooms ("l," "m," "n," "o," "p," "z") serve as storage or secondary spaces.

The overall layout emphasizes privacy in the west wing for intimate gatherings, with the atrium as a social hub. Architectural elements include pilasters, doorways, and windows for natural light, typical of mid-1st-century CE Pompeian homes.

Decorations, Frescoes, and Artifacts

Decorations are in the Fourth Style (ca. 20–79 CE), characterized by intricate mythological scenes on flat color planes, blending elements of earlier styles for a baroque effect. Frescoes, executed on wet plaster for vibrancy, depict Greek myths with themes of tragic love, heroism, and divine intervention, often life-sized to immerse viewers. Key examples (now at MANN):

Cubiculum (Room "d"/"e"): North wall: Seated Paris awaiting Aphrodite's prize, with Cupid pointing to Helen (inv. 114320). West wall: Medea contemplating infanticide (drawing from Euripides and Ovid, portraying her as a sympathetic yet dangerous figure). South wall: Phaedra handing a letter to her nurse, leading to Hippolytus's death (inv. 114322; explores unrequited love and divine influence). These "bad women" frescoes juxtapose ambiguous female figures, sparking debates on gender, fate, and morality.
Triclinium (Room "f"): South wall: Phoenix and Polyxena (inv. 111471). West wall: Jason and Pelias (inv. 111436; Jason presents himself to his uncle Pelias).
Cubiculum (Room "g"): South wall: Pan and the Nymphs. West wall: Europa on the Bull (inv. 111475; 125×95 cm, depicts Europa mounting Zeus as a bull, with companions in a Hellenistic landscape). North wall: Hercules, Deianira, and Nessus (inv. 111474).

Graffiti includes a sailing ship on the entrance west wall and CIL IV 5112 ("Discite dum vivo mors inimica venis" – "Learn: while I am alive, you, hateful death, are coming") near the doorway, adding philosophical and maritime motifs. Few artifacts survive on-site, but the house's shop linkage suggests commercial ties, with carbonized items typical of Pompeian homes (e.g., food remnants) implied from context.

Significance and Visitor Experience

The House of Jason offers insights into Roman social aspirations, using Greek myths to convey themes of love's perils and female agency, possibly for convivial discussions challenging patriarchal norms or reflecting Dionysian cults. Its frescoes, among Pompeii's finest, highlight cultural exchanges and the role of art in domestic life. Visitors can explore the weathered structure via guided tours or audio guides, though frescoes require a MANN visit. The site underscores Pompeii's preservation miracle, inviting reflection on ancient tragedies amid modern ruins.