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Address: Insula 6
Area: 2106 square meters
Rooms: 17
The House of Pansa, also known as the Domus Cn. Alleii Nigidii Mai or Insula Arriana Polliana (VI.6.1), is one of the largest and most representative examples of an affluent Roman atrium house in Pompeii. Occupying an entire urban block (insula), it exemplifies the architectural and social sophistication of elite Roman domestic life during the late Republic and early Empire. Built in the mid-2nd century BC, the house was designed for both residential and commercial purposes, incorporating shops and rental spaces. It was buried by the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius and excavated over multiple phases in the 19th and 20th centuries. The name "House of Pansa" derives from early interpretations of inscriptions mentioning a figure named Pansa, though later evidence points to ownership by Cn. Alleius Nigidius Maius, a prominent merchant and city official. Today, it serves as a key site for understanding Roman patronage rituals, such as the daily salutatio, and has been recreated in virtual reality projects.
The House of Pansa is located in Regio VI, Insula 6, with its main entrance at VI.6.1 on the north side of Via delle Terme, a major east-west street in Pompeii. This central position placed it near key public areas, including the Forum to the west and commercial zones. The house spans the entire insula, bordered by Via delle Terme to the south, Vicolo di Narciso to the east, Vicolo delle Terme to the north, and Vicolo di Mercurio to the west. Its façade faces southward, with annexed shops (e.g., VI.6.22) integrated into the structure for rental income. The site's coordinates are approximately 40.7495° N, 14.4850° E, making it accessible within the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
Constructed around 140-120 BC during Pompeii's Samnite period under
Roman influence, the House of Pansa reflects the city's growing
prosperity and Hellenized architectural trends. An Oscan inscription on
the façade, one of only seven in the city, provides instructions for
troop movements during potential enemy attacks, highlighting its early
defensive context. By the 1st century AD, it was owned by Cn. Alleius
Nigidius Maius, a wealthy Campania merchant who served as duovir
(magistrate) in AD 55-56. A long lease notice painted in an adjacent
alley (now lost) advertised rental of shops, storage, and upper-floor
apartments, indicating the house's commercial role. In AD 79, it was
inhabited by Olius Primus and Paratus, as evidenced by vestibule
inscriptions supporting political candidates like Pansa for aedile. The
house suffered damage from the AD 62 earthquake but was repaired before
the eruption.
Excavations occurred in phases: 1810, 1813-1815,
1824-1825, 1827, 1852, 1898, 1901, and 1943, with the latter revealing
bombing damage from World War II. Early finds included inscriptions
documented in 1814, such as CIL IV 138, 250-253, endorsing figures like
Suettius and Cerrinius Vatia. The site has been documented through
19th-century sketches (e.g., by F. Duban and G. Gigante) and photographs
from the 1880s onward.
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The House of Pansa is a classic Roman domus, occupying
about 3,000 square meters and symmetrically arranged around a central
axis. Its severe tuff façade features a monumental entrance framed by
mid-2nd century BC capitals, emphasizing grandeur and status. The layout
follows the ideal domus italica:
Fauces (Entrance Corridor):
Narrow hallway leading from the street to the atrium, decorated with
inscriptions.
Atrium: Tuscan-style, unsupported by columns, with a
compluvium (roof opening) for light and rainwater collection into a
large impluvium basin flanked by a cistern and table. The atrium served
as the public reception area.
Tablinum: The owner's reception room at
the atrium's rear, marked by tall Corinthian columns and an ornate
capital, opening to the peristyle for visual continuity.
Peristyle: A
large garden courtyard with 16 tuff columns surrounding a central pool,
originally used for horticulture and leisure.
Cubicula and Alae:
Bedrooms (e.g., Rooms 1-3 on the west side) and open alcoves for storage
or display, with some doorways leading to shops.
Ancillary Spaces:
Shops along the façade for rental, upper-floor apartments, and a small
thermal area with a basement (possibly a cellar).
The design
integrated public (atrium) and private (peristyle) zones, with axial
alignment for impressive views from the entrance.
Decorations emphasize luxury and illusionism. Walls in the atrium and tablinum feature Fourth Style frescoes mimicking expensive stone blocks, with colorful stucco and ornate cornices. The vestibulum mosaic depicts a menacing chained dog with the inscription "CAVE CANEM" ("Beware of the dog"), a common deterrent. Floors include reddish pavements with white stone mosaics in tessellating spirals. The peristyle pool was adorned with a painting of fish, enhancing the garden's naturalistic theme. Corinthian columns and capitals add Hellenistic flair. Façade inscriptions, painted in red, include political endorsements and the Oscan military directive.
Artifacts are primarily epigraphic: inscriptions like CIL IV 138 (lease notice at VI.6.18/19) and CIL IV 250-253 (political graffiti in the vestibulum). A basement cellar yielded a box with 118 pieces of silverware, now displayed at the Naples Archaeological Museum. No major sculptures or other items are detailed, though the site's commercial nature suggests everyday goods were present.
The house illustrates Roman social dynamics, particularly the salutatio ritual—a daily morning ceremony where patrons received clients in the atrium to exchange favors, building networks of obligation. Clients, ranked by status, offered services for protection, enhancing the patron's prestige. Virtual recreations depict this in the House of Pansa, emphasizing its civic role.
As of August 25, 2025, the House of Pansa is open to visitors within the Pompeii Archaeological Park, with hours from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last entry 5:30 PM in summer). It is well-preserved, though some decorations have faded; ongoing conservation addresses weathering and tourism impacts. The site features informational panels, and virtual tours (e.g., UVA's Salutatio project) provide immersive experiences. Nearby attractions include the House of the Faun and Forum, offering context for Pompeii's elite residences. Artifacts like the silverware are in Naples, with replicas or photos on-site.