Regio V occupies the north-eastern sector of Pompeii and is bordered in the south by street Via di Nola and in the west by Via Stabiana. Regio V remains largely unexcavated. Insuls 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 contain buildings that should be considered in more detail. Most of the buildings of private and commercial nature.
Insula 1
House of the Bronze Bull
(V.1.7): Also known as the House of the Young Bull or Casa
del Torello di Bronzo, this residence is named after a
notable bronze statuette of a bull discovered within it. It
features a traditional layout with an atrium and peristyle,
and was excavated in phases during the 19th century.
House of the Epigrams (V.1.18):
Officially called the House of the Greek Epigrams (Casa
degli Epigrammi Greci), this irregularly shaped house is
renowned for its elegant wall paintings in one of its
smaller rooms (exedra y). These frescoes include
mythological scenes accompanied by Greek poetic epigrams,
offering rare insights into Roman appreciation of
Hellenistic literature and art. The house contains around 26
rooms on the lower floor and was likely occupied by a
cultured resident.
House of L. Caecilius Jucundus
(V.1.26): This well-preserved domus belonged to the banker
and tax collector Lucius Caecilius Iucundus. It is famous
for the discovery of 154 waxed writing tablets (dating from
53–62 AD) that recorded his business transactions, including
sales of land, animals, and slaves, as well as tax receipts.
The house features a classic atrium-peristyle plan, a
black-and-white mosaic floor in the atrium with a "beware of
the dog" motif at the entrance, and a striking bronze
portrait herm possibly depicting a family member. A lararium
relief vividly shows the damage to Pompeii's Temple of
Jupiter caused by the earthquake of 62 AD.
House of
Faustus (V.1.23): This house suffered severe damage from
Allied bombing during the Second World War, which destroyed
the entrance corridor and three entire rooms. What remains
includes the base of the impluvium (rainwater basin) in the
atrium. Several fine wall decorations survive in the
triclinium (dining room), tablinum (reception room), and
kitchen. In the kitchen, a household shrine (lararium) was
once found beside the hearth, though the shrine itself has
since been lost or removed.
House of M. Tofelanus Valens
(V.1.28): A modest, compact dwelling of less than 100 square
meters, this small house consists of just five rooms.
Despite its size, it retains traces of original wall
decorations, particularly in the lararium (household
shrine). This shrine was designed in the form of a stucco
kiosk or aedicula, painted in vibrant red and white tones,
with green plants depicted on the walls. Inside the niche,
small holes are still visible where statuettes of the
household gods (lares and penates) were once inserted.
Insula 2
House of the Silver Wedding (V.2.1, also referred to as Casa delle Nozze d'Argento): This large and luxurious domus was excavated between 1891 and 1893 and named in honor of the silver wedding anniversary of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1893. Built in the 2nd century BC and later renovated in the early 1st century AD, it belonged to a wealthy family (possibly L. Albucius Celsus). The house is distinguished by its exceptionally tall atrium supported by four large Corinthian columns, elegant bedrooms with veiled lighting effects, and two gardens. One garden includes a private bath suite, an open-air swimming pool, a spacious kitchen, and a refined living room with mosaic floors and Second Style wall paintings. This room features four octagonal columns imitating porphyry that support a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The larger walled garden contains a central pool and an outdoor triclinium for dining al fresco. The peristyle was cleverly designed with a higher roof on the sunniest side to create a pleasant winter sitting area.
Queen Margaret House (1) - It was excavated in 1883 and later
damaged by a bombing in 1943 which led to the loss of some
frescoes: however in some rooms and in the triclinium
pictorial decorations were preserved in the fourth style
such as the rage of Licurgo, Arianna abandoned by Theseus
and Narcissus among nymphs and cupids.
House of Bacchus
(4) -
Also called Casa del Triclinio it was explored in 1883 and
presents the classic layout of Roman houses: inside there
are paintings in the third style, especially in the garden,
with a well-preserved peristyle and in the triclinium;
instead the lararium that was found near the entrance with
the representation of Jupiter was lost .
House of Paccia
(10) -
The building has numerous frescoes, some of which have been lost,
such as those present in a sort of triclinium, depicting the
myth of Daedalus and Pasiphae, while others are preserved on
site and are mostly the skirting of wall panels and others
have finally been detached and kept at the National
Archaeological Museum of Naples as Marcia, Minerva, and the
Muses or Marcia that his flute.
Casa di Giove (15) - The
entrance walls were in travertine with yellow and purple
paint, while the atrium, with no side rooms, bears the
remains of an impluvium in the center : it then follows the
garden with peristyle and a small lararium and a room used
as a triclinium; several frescoes have been found as the
Universal Judgment of Paris.
Muse House (F) - It was
excavated in 1891 and featured several electoral
inscriptions on the main façade: the atrium has no
impluvium, the kitchen had a white plaster with red spots
and a small lararium while a terracotta dolium and several
amphorae were found in the courtyard.
House of N.
Fufidius Successus (G) - It was explored in 1891 and 1907 is
characterized by a Tuscan-style atrium with impluvium in the
tuff and in this environment it was found a seal that bore
the name of Fufidius Successus, who was also repeated on
some graffiti on the wall; most of the pictorial decorations
are in the third style like that of a rural sanctuary with
flying animals around or Perseus releasing Andromeda.
House of Cenacolo (H) - It was excavated in 1891 and restored in
1975 offering the possibility of seeing the upper floor,
which is accessed via a staircase in the atrium: this is
characterized by four columns; in different rooms of the
house are visible frescoes both in first and third style and
remains of the mosaic pavement as in the tablinum, made with
geometric motifs.
Insula 3
House with shop (3) - Excavated in 1877 and 1905,
restored in 1979, it was also equipped with an upper floor,
of which the first steps of the staircase can be seen:
although inside there is no lararium, a statue was found in
one of the rooms. of Fortune.
Attic House (4) - It is
characterized by a long corridor made of limestone blocks
and had to have the walls decorated with black ground
plaster and a garden, with the remains of two columns that
still have the stucco finishings, on which the tablinum
appears, with lararium, decorated in red; other rooms also
have remains of decorations in black, red and yellow, some
of which are enriched with medallions with griffins.
House of Narcissus (6) - It was excavated between 1900 and 1902
: the part facing the street was used as a shop, where there
was also a staircase leading to the upper floor; inside the
house the paintings of the triclinium are well preserved,
where in the panel we can see the representation of
Narcissus, who also gives his name to the house, sitting on
a podium.
House of the Queen of Holland (7) - It was first
explored in 1901 and later in 1908 : once past the entrance,
you enter a large vestibule overlooking the atrium,
surrounded by cubicles; then follows a narrow corridor where
the kitchen with latrine stood , and then to the garden
where there are several well-preserved larariums, one of
which is a niche with a pediment.
House of Cosmus and
Epidia (9) - On the entrance façade there were some electoral
inscriptions: inside, in the atrium, there are remains of
the impluvium, while in some surrounding cubicles there are
remains of the plaster in red and yellow; in the garden is a
lararium with a niche, of which only a few traces of
decoration remain, such as the serpent at the base.
House
of M. Samellius Modestus (12) - Also called Casa degli Ori it is
still partially excavated: on the façade several electoral
inscriptions asking for votes for Sammelius Modestus, a
construction, while in the entrance corridor red chalk
panels with central squares depicting birds and insects were
found; decorations, again on the subject of animals and
insects, can also be found in other areas.
Insula 4
House of Marcus Lucretius Fronto
(V.4.a)
This elegant residence, also known as the House
of Marcus Lucretius Fronto, features some of the
best-preserved wall paintings in Pompeii, blending late
Third Style and early Fourth Style decorations. The refined
frescoes depict mythological scenes such as Narcissus, the
love between Mars and Venus, Bacchus and Ariadne, and other
classical themes. The house includes a finely decorated
atrium, tablinum, and several bedrooms, along with a garden
featuring a nymphaeum and sculptures. It is named after an
electoral inscription on the façade supporting Marcus
Lucretius Fronto for public office.
House of a Flamine
(V.4.3)
Excavated initially in 1842 and again in 1899,
this house suffered severe damage during the Allied bombing
of Pompeii in 1943. The blast destroyed the staircase
leading to the upper floor and part of the lararium
(household shrine) in the atrium. Tragically, human and
animal skeletons were discovered in the same area, likely
victims of the AD 79 eruption of Vesuvius. Fragments of wall
paintings survive in various rooms, some in good condition.
Among the notable artifacts recovered were bronze and silver
coins as well as small statuettes of deities.
House of M.
Fabius Secundus and Optata (V.4.13)
Also called the Casa
delle Origini di Roma (House of the Origins of Rome), this
property was explored multiple times between 1873 and 1903.
It takes its name from two key finds: a bronze seal
inscribed with the name of Marcus Fabius Secundus and a
small painting depicting the foundation of Rome (now on
display at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples).
The house has an irregular layout typical of many Pompeian
homes adapted to the urban grid. Traces of original wall
decorations remain visible in several rooms, including the
triclinium (dining room) and a diaeta (private living room
or day room).
House of M. Samellius Modestus (V.4.c)
Known alternatively as the House of the Duchess of Aosta
(Casa della Duchessa d’Aosta) or Casa degli Ori, this house
was only partially excavated between 1905 and 1906. An
epigraph on the façade references M. Samellius Modestus,
likely linking the owner to local political or electoral
activity. During the early explorations, archaeologists were
able to make a cast of a wooden ladder found inside. The
house features painted plaster on the exterior façade.
Insula 5
House of the Gladiators
(V.5.3)
This structure, located on the north side of Via
di Nola, is associated with gladiatorial themes, possibly
due to numerous inscriptions or graffiti found there. It
forms part of a larger complex in the insula.
House
without Compluvium (V.5.2)
This house earns its name from
the unusual absence of a traditional compluvium (the open
central opening in the atrium roof that allowed rainwater to
fall into the impluvium basin below). To compensate for the
resulting lack of natural light, the builders created large
windows. The dwelling has an irregular plan, with walls
reaching heights of up to six meters and evidence of an
upper floor. A distinctive feature is the ancient graffiti
scratched near a window, which humorously or threateningly
warned potential thieves against entering—apparently
effective, as no signs of burglary were noted.
Insula 7
House of Paris (V.7.6)
Only partially excavated
between 1907 and 1908, this house is known primarily from
its street façade along the southern side of the insula. The
main entrance remains uncertain, as up to seven or eight
doorways/gates were identified along the front. The exterior
walls still preserve remnants of plaster bearing electoral
inscriptions (dipinti), including one attributed to a
certain “Paris” urging support for candidates. Much of the
interior remains unexcavated or buried, leaving only the
façade visible today.