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House of the Prince of Naples, Pompeii

Address: Insula 15
Area: 254 square meters
Rooms: 8

The House of the Prince of Naples, also known as Casa del Principe di Napoli, is a well-preserved Roman domus (townhouse) in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, exemplifying middle-class domestic architecture and decoration from the late Republican and early Imperial periods. Located in Regio VI, Insula 15, with entrances at VI.15.7-8 on Vicolo dei Vetti, it occupies approximately 260 m² and was formed by merging two originally independent properties around the 3rd century BC. The house derives its name from a ceremonial excavation in 1898 attended by the Prince of Naples (future King Victor Emmanuel III) and the Princess, during which significant artifacts were uncovered. Buried under volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD, it provides insights into Roman urban living, with its uniform Fourth Pompeian Style decorations making it a rare example of a single-period artistic scheme in Pompeii.

History and Context

Constructed initially in the 3rd century BC during Pompeii's limestone period using opus incertum (irregular masonry) with cruma and lava, the house reflects the city's early urban development in Region VI, a prosperous area influenced by population growth and commerce. It underwent major modifications in the late 2nd century BC, including structural expansions, and further renovations around 100 BC post-Social War (91–88 BC), such as the addition of a punteggiato regolare pavement impluvium (rainwater basin). In the early 1st century AD, a "master suite" was created with a barrel-vaulted tablinum (reception room) and adjacent cubiculum (bedroom), while an exedra (open reception or dining area) was added around 55 AD. The house was damaged in the 62 AD earthquake, with evidence of repairs like rebuilt walls and restored frescoes, and remained inhabited until the 79 AD eruption, as indicated by skeletons, food remnants, and household items found on-site.
Archaeological evidence suggests the owners were from Pompeii's lower middle class, possibly including a physician, based on surgical instruments discovered. The household likely comprised 12–20 people, including family, slaves, and upstairs renters, with commercial ties implied by flanking shops and artifacts related to trade or medicine. Its merger of properties highlights Roman urban adaptation practices, blending functionality with Hellenistic influences for spatial privacy and aesthetics.

Excavation Details

Excavations commenced in October 1896 following the discovery of entrances after digging the adjacent House of the Vettii, with initial finds in cubicula and service areas. Work paused in December 1896 and resumed in February 1897, clearing the kitchen, additional bedrooms, and garden. A high-profile ceremonial phase in 1898, attended by the Prince and Princess of Naples and the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar, uncovered treasures in the tablinum, triclinium (dining room), and exedra. Excavations concluded shortly after, with later conservation including protective roofs; in 1972, upper-story walls were demolished to install concrete ceilings and tiled roofs over the atrium and porticus for preservation against weathering. Further research by the German Archaeological Institute in the 1980s enhanced understanding of its Fourth Style frescoes and layout. (Note: Some sources cite 1902 under Giuseppe Fiorelli, but primary records confirm 1896–1898.)

Architecture and Layout

The house adheres to the classic Roman fauces (entrance corridor)-atrium-tablinum axis, with an irregular layout from the merger of two units, resulting in 11 ground-floor rooms and a demolished upper floor possibly used for rented apartments. The main entrance at VI.15.7-8 features a modest limestone-framed vestibule leading to a Tuscan-style atrium with a central, slightly off-center marble-lined impluvium for rainwater collection, directing visitors toward public areas. A marble table with winged-lion legs edges the impluvium, used for display or utility.
The rear section centers on a porticoed peristyle (colonnaded courtyard) with a central garden, surrounded by richly decorated rooms for social gatherings. Key rooms include:

Tablinum: Barrel-vaulted, serving as a reception or study space overlooking the atrium.
Cubicula: Bedrooms off the atrium and peristyle, some with apotropaic (protective) features.
Triclinium: Dining room with inlaid colored marble floors (opus sectile) in the central area.
Exedra: Summer triclinium or reception space opening onto the garden.
Kitchen and Service Areas: Includes a stove, latrine, and storage, with a narrow staircase to the upper floor.
Garden: Features an aedicula (small shrine) on the back wall for the lararium (household gods altar), emphasizing family worship.

Flanking shops at the entrances suggest commercial use, while the overall design integrates privacy, ventilation, and natural light, with Hellenistic influences in spatial differentiation.

Decorations and Frescoes

Unique among Pompeian houses, the decorations are entirely in the Fourth Pompeian Style (post-62 AD), characterized by intricate, fantastical motifs, trompe-l’œil architectural illusions, and vibrant colors on a consistent scheme of black socles (bases), red main zones, and white upper zones. The atrium preserves upper-wall paintings mimicking rows of blocks, while floors feature black-and-white mosaics with geometric patterns.
Notable frescoes include:

Triclinium: Mythological panels framed by aediculae (shrine-like structures) and filigree borders, depicting scenes like Perseus and Andromeda, and possibly Adonis and Aphrodite, with motifs of dancing swans, griffins, and dolphins.
Exedra: Life-size images of Bacchus (Dionysus) and Venus (Aphrodite) on the walls, surrounded by floral garlands, animals, and illusory architecture.
Other Rooms: Cubicula and portico walls feature similar Fourth Style elements, including floating figures, candelabra, and naturalistic vignettes, all evoking a sense of depth and luxury.

These decorations, restored after the 62 AD earthquake, highlight themes of mythology, abundance, and protection, reflecting the owners' cultural aspirations.

Artifacts

Excavations yielded a diverse array of artifacts, many indicative of daily life, commerce, and possibly medical practice:

Bronze Items: Basins with goose-head handles, buckets for wine mixing, vases with swan heads and dolphin handles.
Medical Tools: Surgical instruments like a scalpel, suggesting a physician resident.
Coins and Valuables: From emperors Tiberius, Nero, and Vespasian, providing chronological context.
Household Goods: Amphorae (storage jars), unguentaria (perfume bottles), a spindle mold, and an Aphroditus herm (protective statue).
Human Remains: A skull in a cubiculum, alongside food remnants like nuts and figs in the kitchen.

These finds, now mostly in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, underscore the house's functional and ritual aspects.

Significance

The House of the Prince of Naples is significant for its cohesive Fourth Style decorations, offering a "time capsule" of post-earthquake Pompeian art and architecture from a single era, unlike houses with layered styles. Its modest scale and artifacts illuminate middle-class Roman life, including social practices, religious devotion (e.g., lararium placement), and earthquake resilience. As part of Pompeii's UNESCO World Heritage Site, it contributes to understanding urban evolution, with ongoing conservation preserving frescoes and structures amid environmental challenges. The house's royal naming and excavation history also highlight 19th-century archaeological enthusiasm, making it a key stop for visitors exploring Pompeii's domestic heritage.