Regio IV is one of the nine administrative regions of ancient Pompeii, a Roman city near modern Naples, Italy, famously preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Located in the northeastern quadrant of the city, Regio IV is less frequented by tourists compared to the forum or Regio VII but contains significant archaeological treasures that reveal the daily life, architecture, and culture of Pompeii’s inhabitants. Covering approximately 6.5 hectares, it includes a mix of residential houses, commercial spaces, and public structures, offering a window into the city’s social and economic fabric.
Pompeii’s division into nine regiones (regions) and insulae (city
blocks) was likely formalized after it became a Roman colony in 80 BCE
(Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeiana), though the street grid and some
structures date back to the Samnite period (4th–3rd century BCE). Regio
IV, positioned in the northeast, was shaped by Pompeii’s evolution from
a Samnite settlement to a prosperous Roman city. Its boundaries are
defined by major streets: Via dell’Abbondanza to the south, Via di Nola
to the north, Via di Nocera to the east, and Via delle Terme to the
west.
Historically, Regio IV developed as a residential and
commercial zone, with houses ranging from modest dwellings to grand
domus (elite homes) and shops catering to local trade. Its proximity to
the city walls and gates, such as Porta di Sarno and Porta di Nocera,
made it a gateway for goods and travelers from the Sarno River valley
and nearby towns like Nuceria. The region was heavily impacted by the
earthquake of 62 CE, which damaged many structures, and ongoing repairs
were interrupted by the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE,
which buried the area under 4–6 meters of ash and pumice.
Excavations in Regio IV began in the 19th century, with significant
progress in the 20th century, particularly under Amedeo Maiuri. The
region’s preservation, while not as pristine as Regio I or II due to
exposure and looting, offers valuable insights into Pompeii’s urban
diversity, social hierarchy, and artistic heritage.
Regio IV occupies the northeastern corner of Pompeii, bordered by:
North: Via di Nola, a major east-west street leading to Porta di Nola.
East: Via di Nocera and the city walls, near Porta di Nocera and Porta
di Sarno.
South: Via dell’Abbondanza, Pompeii’s bustling decumanus
maximus, lined with shops.
West: Via delle Terme and Via del Foro,
connecting to the forum.
The region is divided into 12 insulae
(blocks), numbered 1–12, with a grid-like street pattern typical of
Roman urban planning. Key streets within Regio IV include:
Vicolo di
Modesto: A narrow alley running north-south, lined with modest homes and
workshops.
Vicolo dei Vettii: Connecting Via dell’Abbondanza to Via
di Nola, notable for elite residences.
Via di Castricio: An east-west
street with houses and commercial spaces.
Regio IV’s layout
reflects a blend of planned urban design and organic growth, with larger
domus near major streets and smaller homes or shops in the interior. Its
northeastern position placed it slightly removed from the civic heart
(forum), fostering a quieter, residential character, though commercial
activity thrived along Via dell’Abbondanza.
Regio IV contains several notable buildings that highlight Pompeii’s
architectural and cultural diversity. Below are the most significant:
House of the Vettii (IV, 15, 1):
One of Pompeii’s most famous
residences, belonging to brothers Aulus Vettius Restitutus and Aulus
Vettius Conviva, likely freedmen who amassed wealth through trade.
A
luxurious domus covering ~1,100 m², featuring a peristyle garden, atrium
with impluvium, and richly decorated rooms.
Renowned for its Fourth
Style frescoes, including mythological scenes (Ixion, Daedalus, Cupids)
and a frieze of cherubs engaged in trades (wine-making, goldsmithing).
The priapic statue in the entrance underscores fertility and protection.
Excavated in 1894–1896, it was restored extensively in the 20th century
and remains a highlight for visitors.
House of the Prince of
Naples (IV, 15, 8):
A mid-sized domus named for a 19th-century
Bourbon prince, notable for its elegant Second Style frescoes (1st
century BCE) with architectural illusions and floral motifs.
Features
a unique layout with a double atrium and a small garden, reflecting the
owner’s wealth and taste.
Excavated in the 19th century, it offers
insights into pre-Augustan decorative trends.
House of Marcus
Lucretius (IV, 3, 2):
Belonging to a priest of Mars, this domus is
known for its intricate garden with a fountain, statues, and a summer
triclinium decorated with Third Style frescoes.
Contains a shrine
with reliefs and a collection of small bronzes, suggesting religious and
cultural significance.
Excavated in the 1840s, it showcases the
blending of domestic and sacred spaces.
House of the Silver
Wedding (IV, 2, 4):
Named for the 1893 visit of Italy’s royal couple,
this grand domus features a large peristyle, Second Style frescoes, and
a well-preserved atrium.
Notable for its black-and-white mosaics and
paintings of mythological figures like Venus and Hercules.
Excavated
in the 1890s, it reflects the opulence of Pompeii’s elite.
House
of the Wild Boar (IV, 5, 4):
A smaller domus with a striking mosaic
of a wild boar in the atrium, symbolizing strength or hospitality.
Features Third Style frescoes and a modest garden, indicating a
comfortable but not extravagant household.
Excavated in the early
20th century, it highlights middle-class life.
Commercial Spaces:
Along Via dell’Abbondanza, Regio IV includes thermopolia (snack bars),
fullonicae (laundries), and tabernae (shops) selling wine, bread, and
textiles. For example, Insula 1 contains a fullonica with vats for cloth
processing.
These spaces show the region’s role in Pompeii’s economy,
with evidence of graffiti advertising goods and services.
Smaller
Residences and Workshops:
Insulae like 7 and 10 feature modest homes
with simple atria and fewer decorations, likely occupied by artisans or
freedmen.
Workshops for pottery, metalwork, and garum (fish sauce)
production are scattered throughout, with kilns and tools found in situ.
Regio IV’s buildings showcase Pompeii’s architectural diversity and
artistic richness:
Domus Design: Elite houses like the House of
the Vettii follow the classic Roman layout: atrium, tablinum, peristyle,
and cubicula (bedrooms), with impluvia for rainwater collection. Smaller
homes often lack peristyles but retain atria and frescoes.
Frescoes
and Mosaics: The region is a treasure trove of Pompeian painting styles:
Second Style (House of the Prince of Naples): Illusionistic architecture
and perspective.
Third Style (House of Marcus Lucretius): Delicate
floral and mythological motifs on black backgrounds.
Fourth Style
(House of the Vettii): Vibrant, eclectic scenes with gods, heroes, and
cupids.
Mosaics range from geometric patterns to figural designs,
like the boar in IV, 5, 4.
Gardens and Water Features: Many houses
feature peristyle gardens with fountains, statues, and lararia
(household shrines). The House of Marcus Lucretius’ garden, with its
triclinium and water channels, exemplifies leisure spaces for dining and
reflection.
Commercial Architecture: Shops along Via dell’Abbondanza
have wide doorways, counters with dolia (storage jars), and graffiti
listing prices or owners. Fullonicae include treading stalls and drying
racks, preserved remarkably well.
Construction Materials: Buildings
use tuff, travertine, and opus incertum (irregular stonework), with
brick and plaster for upper stories. Roofs were tiled, though most
collapsed during the eruption.
Regio IV contributes significantly to our understanding of Pompeii:
Social Stratification: The mix of grand domus (Vettii, Silver
Wedding) and modest homes (Insula 7) reveals a spectrum of wealth and
status, from freedmen to priests. Graffiti, like election notices,
indicate political activity.
Economic Activity: The presence of
fullonicae, thermopolia, and workshops underscores Pompeii’s role as a
trade hub for wine, oil, and textiles. Artifacts like loom weights and
amphorae confirm local production.
Art and Culture: The region’s
frescoes and mosaics are among Pompeii’s finest, showing the influence
of Hellenistic art and Roman tastes. The House of the Vettii’s
paintings, with their playful cupids, reflect humor and creativity.
Daily Life: Finds like kitchen utensils, bronze statuettes, and lararia
reveal domestic routines and religious practices. The House of Marcus
Lucretius’ shrine to Mars highlights the integration of sacred spaces in
homes.
Eruption Evidence: Regio IV’s preservation under ash and
pumice captures the moment of destruction. Skeletons, like one found in
a thermopolium (IV, 1), and scattered belongings (coins, jewelry) show
the chaos of 79 CE.
Recent excavations, such as those in 2018–2020
along Via dell’Abbondanza, uncovered new frescoes and graffiti,
including a thermopolium with vivid paintings of food (chickens, ducks),
suggesting ongoing discoveries in Regio IV.
Regio IV’s state varies by site due to exposure, looting, and natural
decay:
House of the Vettii: Extensively restored in the 1990s and
2023, it’s fully accessible with vibrant frescoes protected by roofing.
Reopened in 2023 after 20 years, it’s a highlight of the park.
Other
Domus: Houses like the Silver Wedding and Marcus Lucretius are partially
accessible, with frescoes and mosaics preserved in situ or in the Naples
Archaeological Museum. Some areas are roped off to prevent damage.
Commercial Spaces: Thermopolia and shops along Via dell’Abbondanza are
well-preserved, with counters and dolia intact. The 2020 thermopolium
find is under study but partially visible.
Challenges: Exposure to
rain, sun, and tourism has faded frescoes and eroded masonry. The Great
Pompeii Project (2010s–present) has stabilized many structures, adding
roofs and drainage, but Insulae 7–10 remain fragile.
Accessibility:
Regio IV is open to visitors via the main park entrances (Porta Marina,
Piazza Esedra). The House of the Vettii requires timed entry due to
popularity, while other sites are freely explorable. Some insulae may be
closed for conservation.
Regio IV offers a vivid snapshot of Pompeii’s northeastern life.
Walking along Vicolo dei Vettii or Via dell’Abbondanza, you encounter a
blend of opulent frescoes, bustling shopfronts, and quiet alleys,
evoking the city’s vibrancy. The House of the Vettii’s colorful
paintings and garden contrast with the simpler homes of Insula 10,
reflecting Pompeii’s social mosaic. The region’s proximity to the city
walls and necropoleis near Porta di Nocera adds a sense of transition
between urban life and the rural hinterland.
For visitors, Regio
IV feels less crowded than the forum, offering intimate glimpses into
domestic spaces. The view from the House of the Vettii’s peristyle, with
Vesuvius looming in the distance, connects the past’s beauty to its
tragic end. Recent finds, like the 2020 thermopolium, keep Regio IV
dynamic, as archaeologists uncover new stories beneath the ash.
To explore Regio IV, follow these steps:
Getting There: From
Naples, take the Circumvesuviana train (Napoli-Sorrento line) to Pompei
Scavi-Villa dei Misteri (30–40 minutes). The park’s main entrance, Porta
Marina, is a 5-minute walk.
Access: Buy a ticket to the Pompeii
Archaeological Park (€16–18 as of 2025). From Porta Marina, reach Regio
IV via the forum and Via dell’Abbondanza (10–15 minutes). The House of
the Vettii may require a separate timed ticket.
Time Needed: Allow
1–2 hours to explore key sites (Vettii, Silver Wedding, thermopolia). A
full tour of Regio IV could take 3 hours with smaller houses.
Tips:
Visit early or late to avoid crowds. Wear sturdy shoes for uneven
streets, and bring water. Use a map or audio guide, as signage is
limited in quieter insulae. Check park updates for closures or new
openings.
Vettii’s Freedmen: The House of the Vettii’s owners, likely freedmen,
show how social mobility allowed former slaves to own lavish homes, a
testament to Pompeii’s economic fluidity.
Thermopolium Find: The 2020
discovery of a thermopolium with frescoes of food (ducks, roosters)
suggests Regio IV’s shops catered to diverse tastes, possibly serving
“fast food” to passersby.
Second Style Rarity: The House of the
Prince of Naples’ early frescoes are a rare survival of pre-Augustan
art, offering a glimpse into Pompeii’s Hellenistic roots.
Mars
Shrine: The House of Marcus Lucretius’ dedication to Mars highlights
Pompeii’s martial pride, possibly tied to its Samnite heritage.