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House of Meleager, Pompeii

Address: Insula 9
Area: 1281 square meters
Rooms: 24

The House of Meleager, also known as Casa del Meleagro or Casa di Meleagro, is a prominent ancient Roman domus in Pompeii, renowned for its elaborate mythological frescoes and elegant architecture that reflect the prosperity of its owners during the first century AD. Located in Regio VI, Insula 9, with primary entrances at VI.9.2 on Via di Mercurio and a rear entrance at VI.9.13, the house spans a substantial area and exemplifies the fusion of domestic functionality with artistic grandeur typical of Pompeian elite residences. Named after a faded fresco depicting the Greek hero Meleager and his lover Atalanta, the house draws from mythological themes tied to heroism and romance, such as Meleager's role in the Calydonian Boar Hunt as one of Jason's Argonauts. Buried under volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD, it offers a well-preserved glimpse into Roman daily life, art, and social customs.

History and Context

Excavated in phases beginning in 1829, with further digs in 1837 and 1966, the House of Meleager revealed a wealth of artifacts and decorations that highlight its historical significance. The initial excavations in 1829 uncovered key frescoes, such as those of Hephaestus and Thetis on September 22, and the abandoned Dido on October 12, both now housed in the Naples Archaeological Museum. In July 1830, red-painted electoral inscriptions were found on the exterior wall, endorsing local political candidates for aedile positions, indicating the owners' involvement in Pompeii's civic life. An August 1830 discovery in the interior courtyard included a small seal possibly linked to a figure named Phoebus, suggesting ownership ties. The house's artwork spans the First to Fourth Pompeian Styles, from around 150 BC to 79 AD, showcasing the evolution of Roman wall painting techniques and motifs. Its proximity to other notable structures in Regio VI underscores Pompeii's urban density and the social status of its inhabitants, likely affluent merchants or landowners influenced by Greek mythology.

Architecture and Layout

The House of Meleager follows a classic Roman domus design but features an unusual perpendicular peristyle to the north of the central atrium, enhancing light, ventilation, and outdoor living spaces. The façade on Via di Mercurio includes a main doorway and windows, with the entrance corridor (fauces) leading eastward to the atrium. The layout integrates functional and aesthetic elements, including a garden and possible swimming pool in the peristyle area.
Key elements of the layout include:

Entrance Corridor (Fauces, Room 1): A narrow passageway from the street, with detailed flooring and mythological wall paintings on both sides, serving as a grand introduction to the home's interior.
Atrium (Room 2): The central hub, featuring a marble impluvium (basin) for rainwater collection, a podium on the east side, and a decorative marble table with cupid busts on the legs and two square recesses beneath for cooling bottles. It connects to surrounding rooms and offers views north to the peristyle.
Peristyle and Garden (Room 16): A colonnaded open courtyard with a garden, providing a serene outdoor space. Historical images from the 1860s-1870s depict its layout, emphasizing its role in leisure and aesthetics. The perpendicular orientation to the atrium is atypical, adding to the house's unique spatial flow, and may include a swimming pool.
Tablinum (Room 8): Located east of the atrium, this reception or study room overlooks the impluvium and serves as a focal point for business or social interactions.
Other Rooms: Include cubicula (bedrooms) around the atrium with preserved white tiled floors, a Corinthian-style oecus (reception room) at the front, southern rooms (13-15) off the atrium, a northern room (29), and a kitchen (Room 38) possibly linked to artifact finds. The rear entrance at VI.9.13 provides additional access.

The overall architecture prioritizes privacy, natural light, and integration of indoor-outdoor spaces, with marble elements adding luxury.

Decorations and Frescoes

The house's decorations are a highlight, featuring frescoes in multiple Pompeian Styles that depict mythological narratives, emphasizing themes of heroism, love, and fate. Fourth Style elements include perspective paintings with architectonic structures resembling theatrical stage façades (scaenarum frontes), painted curtains, drapes, and masks, evoking Roman theatre influences.

Notable frescoes include:
Entrance Corridor South Wall: Demeter (Ceres) seated with a torch, receiving a purse from Hermes (Mercury), symbolizing abundance and commerce.
Entrance Corridor North Wall: Meleager and Atalanta with the Calydonian Boar, a faded but naming scene depicting the heroic hunt.
Atrium North Wall (West End): Hephaestus presenting weapons to Thetis for Achilles, a scene of divine craftsmanship.
Atrium North Wall (East End): The abandoned Dido on a throne, with maids, elephant symbols of Africa, and Aeneas's departing ships, evoking themes of betrayal and empire.
Atrium Dado: Painted Nereids, adding marine mythological motifs.
Other Locations (Exact Unknown): Mars and Venus (possibly from kitchen), Atalanta and Cupid, all now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Rooms around the atrium feature mythically themed frescoes on white tiled floors.

These artworks blend Greek influences with Roman narratives, using vibrant colors and intricate details to create immersive environments.

Artifacts
Excavations yielded various artifacts that illuminate daily life and ownership:

Inscriptions: Exterior wall graffiti from 1830, including "Casellium" and endorsements like "Erastus cupit aed(ilem)" (CIL IV 179) and "Marcellum aed(ilem) d(ignum) r(ei) p(ublicae)" (CIL IV 178), reflecting political campaigning.
Seal: A small bronze seal from the courtyard reading "Phoebus L(uci) C() Primog()" (CIL X 8058, 66), possibly indicating a slave or freedman named Phoebus, now in Naples Museum.
Furniture and Decor: Marble table in the atrium with cupid busts and cooling recesses; a small tub/basin with compartments.
Paintings and Drawings: 19th-century records by Giuseppe Marsigli (e.g., a couple possibly Mars and Venus) and Carl Werner's 1839 watercolor of the atrium and peristyle, preserved in museums.

These items underscore the house's role as a status symbol.

Significance

The House of Meleager is significant for its comprehensive display of Pompeian artistic styles, serving as an educational exemplar of Roman wall painting evolution and mythological integration into domestic spaces. Its theatrical-inspired Fourth Style decorations highlight cultural exchanges between Roman theatre and home design. As part of Pompeii's UNESCO World Heritage Site, it contributes to understanding first-century AD social dynamics, with frescoes resonating themes of duty, love, and heroism that may reflect the owners' aspirations. Despite some damage over time, ongoing preservation efforts ensure its value as a "time capsule" of ancient Roman life.