Regio IX occupies the central part of Pompeii. The district is
bordered in the north by Via di Nola, to the west by Via Stabiana,
and on the south by delle Abbondanza. Most of the area remains
buried. Regio consists of 14 Insulas. Of these, the Insula 1, 3, 5,
7, 8, 12, 13, and 14 contain buildings that are discussed in more
detail here. The area is a combination of residential and commercial
premises, with shops along the street while the houses occupy the
inner parts of the neighborhoods.
Undoubtedly in this
quarter, the riches are rich and many beautiful mansions remain
here. However, it should be noted separately House K. Julius
Polybius. It recreated furniture according to the remains that were
found here during the excavations. In addition, many household items
were also left in place. This makes the house lively and very
interesting. All the other private houses of Pompeii are certainly
beautiful, but they do not have that feeling of life and life. It
seems the owners came out for a second and now come back. In
addition, six skeletons were found here and apparently one of them
(a man of 60- 64 years old) and was Julius Polybius himself.
Central Baths. In the bustling heart of ancient Pompeii, near the Central Baths (a grand public bathing complex constructed after the AD 62 earthquake), lies Insula 1. This block contained several private residences that offer a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives, tastes, and beliefs of Pompeii's upper-class citizens in the years leading up to the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Insula 1
House of Epidius Sabinus
(IX.1.22)
This elegant dwelling, also associated with
prominent local figures like the Epidii family, features
election graffiti on its façade urging support for Marcus
Epidius Sabinus as a duumvir (a high civic magistrate). The
house reflects the political ambitions and social status of
its owners in the final decades of the city.
House of the Diadumeni (often
linked to IX.1.20)
This residence is sometimes identified
with or adjacent to the properties of the Epidii. It takes
its name from two freedmen known as the Diadumeni, who
dedicated a household shrine (lararium) to the protective
Lares and the Genius (divine spirit) of their patron,
Marcus.
House of Paccius Alexander (IX.1.7)
A compact
yet charming residence measuring just under 200 square
meters, this house features a modest but well-appointed
layout. The atrium wall preserves traces of decorative
niches, one of which is adorned with a delicate shell motif
and likely served as a lararium for household worship. Among
its best-preserved spaces is the triclinium (dining room),
decorated in the vibrant Fourth Pompeian Style. The frescoes
include scenes of a woman and a man each accompanied by a
peacock—symbols of beauty, immortality, and Juno. Some of
the most exquisite panels were carefully detached during
excavations and are now housed in the National
Archaeological Museum of Naples, where they continue to
showcase the sophisticated artistic tastes of Pompeian
elites.
House of M. Epidius Rufus (IX.1.20)
Dating
back to the Samnite period (late 2nd century BC), this
larger and more imposing home is characterized by its grand
entrance and a rare Corinthian-style atrium featuring
sixteen tall columns (approximately 4.5 meters high) with
Doric capitals surrounding the central impluvium basin. An
unusual two-step podium along the façade adds to its
distinctive appearance. The house contains a notable
lararium shrine with a dedicatory inscription from two
freedmen (the Diadumeni) honoring the Lares and the Genius
of their master Marcus. Additional highlights include traces
of refined paintings in the tablinum (main reception room),
depicting stylized plants, fantastical architectural vistas,
and a dramatic mythological scene of Marsyas boldly
challenging Apollo to a musical contest on the double flute
(tibia). These elements highlight the owner's wealth and
cultural refinement.
House of Sodom and Gomorrah
(IX.1.26)
Excavated initially in 1858 and further in
1869, this modest house—spanning a little over 130 square
meters with six rooms arranged around a central atrium—owes
its unusual modern name to a striking piece of ancient
graffiti. In both the triclinium and a small bedroom
(cubiculum), someone inscribed references to the biblical
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in large charcoal letters.
Scholars believe a visitor or survivor, perhaps a Jewish
observer, returned after the eruption and drew this parallel
between the fiery destruction of Pompeii and the divine
punishment described in the Book of Genesis. The graffiti
(now preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of
Naples) provides a rare, poignant glimpse into how ancient
people interpreted the catastrophe through religious or
moral lenses.
Insula 2
House of the Fountain of Love (2) - It was explored in 1851
and the entrance is preceded by a shop: the house is of
modest size and consists of a cubicle, a triclinium, which
has remnants of wall decorations and a small garden, in
which is a fountain, frescoed originally with a nymph who
had a fountain-shaped crater in her hands from which water
came out.
House of Chlorus and Caprasia (10) - Also
called Casa del Gallo II in triclinio the most imported
environment found: it is characterized by a ceiling in time
and preserves its frescoes and along the walls and in the
roof; even a cubicle near the peristyle has remains of wall
decorations, but ruined by time: especially in the central
scene of a panel Galatea and Polyphemus had to be depicted ;
the house also had an upper floor.
Home of Titus
Dentatius Panthera (16) - Also called Casa di Bellerofonte
or Casa della Principessa Margherita still shows remains of
frescoes on the entrance façade, as well as in the atrium
where Bellerofonte was painted, then detached to be
preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples:
the house also had in some environments a floor in
cocciopesto and in others a mosaic, while among the other
frescoes found a painting depicting the three Graces.
Home of Q. Brittius Balbus (17) - After a short entrance
corridor, it has an atrium, around which there are several
rooms including cubicles with remains of the stucco and
plaster decoration: in the same room there is also a hearth
and several niches used as larars; in the area of the
garden there are the triclinium and an exedra, while of the
peristyle only two columns remain with sparse stucco
decorations, as well as a puteal.
House of Curvius
Marcellus and Fabia (18) - It features an atrium with
impluvium in marble and walls, as well as those of the
cubicles and the triclinium, with the remains of pictorial
decorations in yellow, red and black; past the tablinum, one
enters the garden with the remains of the bases of the
columns and of a lararium, while in the kitchen one can
observe the hearth and a latrine.
House of M. Casellius
Marcellus (26) - It was excavated in 1869 : the atrium has a
characteristic niche-supported lararium supported by a high
red-painted podium , on which two yellow snakes can be seen,
although faded ; then follows the tablinum and the garden.
House of the Wedding of Neptune and Amphitrite (27) - Also
called House of princess Margherita or House of Great
Toscana it was explored in 1849 and 1869 : in the rooms of
the house you can still see remains of the wall decoration,
even if the main finds, represented by mosaics, have been
detached and preserved in the archaeological museum of
Naples, such as the representation of Neptune and Amphitrite
and a depiction of fish and ducks.
Insula 3
House of Marcus Lucretius (5) - It belonged to a city decurion , and a priest of Mars ; it presents an atrium with lararium, a tablinum and a hanging garden enriched with marble statues : A staircase led to the upper floor, while decorations, partly detached and preserved the archaeological museum of Naples , remain small squares with mythological subjects and fantastic architecture, typical of the fourth style , like the triumph of Bacchus.
House of Philocalus (15) - It had a painting of Mercury and
Minerva on the facade, while in the entrance corridor was
placed the staircase that led to the upper floor: the atrium
has impluvium and puteal and around rooms with traces of
wall decorations including the representation of Isis with a
cornucopia and at its feet a globe , preserved in the
national archaeological museum, the garden has a colonnade
on three sides and a lararium.
House of L. Clodius Varus
and Pelagia (25) - It was explored in 1871 and measures just
over a hundred square meters with only five rooms: in one of
them a graffiti was found, placed in the area where there
was to be a bed , with the two names by which the house is
nicknamed and probably referred to the two spouses who lived
there.
Insula 5
House of the Restaurant
(IX.5.14): Also known as the Casa di Lupanare piccolo
(Little Brothel) in some references, this property features
a series of interconnected rooms and was excavated around
1878. It likely served a commercial function alongside
residential use, possibly functioning as a modest eatery or
tavern linked to neighboring structures.
House of Jason (IX.5.18): Excavated
in 1878, this relatively small but richly decorated house is
famous for its high-quality mythological frescoes, many of
which were removed for preservation and are now displayed in
the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Highlights
include scenes such as the Abduction of Europa (Europa
riding the bull), Medea contemplating the murder of her
children, Phaedra, Jason and Pelias, Hercules with Deianira
and the centaur Nessus, and other dramatic episodes from
Greek mythology. These panels, often placed in bedrooms
(cubicula) and dining areas (triclinia), reflect the owner's
interest in tragic and transformative tales, possibly tied
to themes of love, betrayal, and the cult of Dionysus.
Achilles House (IX.5.2): Also called the House of the
Skeleton or House of Stronnius, this residence was excavated
in 1877. It preserves traces of elegant wall paintings, some
left in situ and others detached and transferred to the
National Archaeological Museum in Naples. In the small
bedrooms (cubicula) surrounding the atrium, frescoes depict
mythological figures including Ariadne, Dionysus with a
Silenus, and Venus with a ram. A particularly notable panel
near the garden shows Hephaestus (Vulcan) delivering new
armor to Achilles. Another room features a scene of Achilles
discovered on Skyros (disguised among the daughters of King
Lycomedes). The house takes one of its names from the
discovery of a human skeleton, a poignant reminder of the
tragic fate of its inhabitants during the eruption.
House
of the Pygmies (IX.5.9): This house earns its name from a
charming and whimsical fresco in one of its rooms portraying
Nilotic scenes—lively, caricatured depictions of daily life
among pygmies along the Nile River in Egypt. The painting
shows pygmies in humorous or adventurous situations amid an
exotic landscape featuring towers, temples, boats, and
various animals, including a prominent hippopotamus (and
often crocodiles in similar Roman Nilotic art). Such scenes
were popular in Roman homes as they evoked the distant,
fertile, and "exotic" world of Egypt, recently conquered by
Rome. The house follows the classic Roman domus layout: an
atrium (central hall with an impluvium for collecting
rainwater), a tablinum (main reception room), and a
peristyle (columned garden courtyard) at the rear.
Insula 6
House of PFL (3) - It is so called
because inside it was found a ring that had engraved these
letters: it is composed of an atrium with scarce remains of
the impluvium , on which several rooms open; then follows
the tablinum and the garden where there is a tank and on
which the triclinium opens: there are few wall decorations,
while the cocciopesto flooring with white tesserae in the
vestibule area has been lost.
Piramus House (4) - It was
explored in 1878 but was later heavily bombed in 1943
causing the destruction of the atrium and four rooms: the
best preserved part is that of the garden, with surviving
remains of columns, in which a lararium was opened.
House
of Oppius Gratus (5) - It was under renovation at the time
of ' eruption of Vesuvius in 79 as most of the walls were in
a raw state and were also found many tools used for
renovation it is arranged around the atrium with impluvium
in tuff , then follows the tablinum, the garden with remains
of the peristyle and the triclinium, inside which jewels ,
coins and three bronze statuettes of divinities were found.
House of the Lararium of Venus (8) - Partly still to be
excavated, it has an irregular layout with eight rooms that
open around the atrium, which also leads directly to the
garden, where the lararium that gives the house its name is
located: the interior of the niche is covered in yellow
stucco and at the center a tree with birds was drawn , at
the base was a statue adorned with a mask , while in the
area of the tympanum traces of stucco decorations.
House of Dido and Aeneas (D) - It was investigated in 1868
and in 1879, returning numerous frescoes, some of which were
lost, others preserved in the National Archaeological Museum
of Naples: on one wall of the entrance corridor was the
representation of Arianna abandoned by Theseus , on the wall
of the triclinium a fragment of fresco of Dido and Aeneas ,
which gives the house its name, and mermaids ; in other
environments then, the painting of Polyphemus and that of
Daedalus and Icarus.
House of C. Cornelius (G) - It has
not yet been fully explored: the first investigations began
in 1878 ; of the house is visible the atrium, the tablinum
and the garden, even if part of his peristyle, together with
four rooms were destroyed during the second world war :
among the main decorations found, but then lost, a fresco of
a medallion with the head of Venus and a lararium supported
by columns.
House of Clodius Attalus (G) - It was
partially excavated and then buried again: it was called in
this way because an electoral inscription was found on its
façade with the name Clodius Attalus.
Insula 7
House of Fortuna (20) This
property, associated with the cult or worship of Fortuna,
forms part of the bustling eastern stretch of the insula.
Taberna of the Four Divinities (1) — also known as the House
of Venus and the Four Gods
Partially excavated around
1911, this structure still displays remarkably
well-preserved frescoes on its façade. The paintings depict
a grand religious procession honoring a group of deities:
Cybele (the Great Mother), Diana, Mercury, Jupiter, Apollo,
and the local Venus Pompeiana (Venus of Pompeii). A niche
nearby features a bust of Dionysus (Bacchus). These vibrant
scenes reflect the vibrant religious life and public piety
of Pompeii’s inhabitants just before the eruption of
Vesuvius in 79 AD.
House of the Pompeian Sittii (3) —
also called the House of P. Sittius Coniunctus
Only
briefly explored in 1912, this house reveals little beyond
its elegant entrance, flanked by two pilasters topped with
finely carved Corinthian capitals. Electoral inscriptions
(programmata) that once covered the façade, urging support
for local candidates, have since faded or been lost. The
owner, linked to the prominent Sittii family, appears to
have been involved in municipal politics.
House of
Verecundus (6) — House of M. Vecilius Verecundus, the
clothier
Partially excavated in 1912, only the external
façade remains visible today. A striking fresco shows Venus
standing triumphantly in a chariot (quadriga), pulled not by
ordinary horses but by majestic elephants — a rare and
powerful image of the goddess. Below this divine scene, the
lower register realistically illustrates the everyday work
of the adjacent textile workshop: the production and fulling
of cloth. Verecundus ran a successful felting and
cloth-dyeing business here, blending commercial activity
with domestic life.
House of Popidius Montanus (or
“Mountain Populous House”) (9)
Explored only
superficially in 1912, this modest dwelling is known today
mainly for its façade. During excavation, archaeologists
made plaster casts of the wooden doors at the main entrance
to preserve their impressions in the volcanic ash. At the
time of discovery, numerous electoral recommendations were
still painted on the walls, highlighting the intense
political campaigning typical of Pompeian streets.
House
of A. Virnius Modestus (16) — also known as the House of the
Trojan Horse
This residence has been excavated only in
the atrium area. Despite the limited exposure, it yielded
several high-quality wall decorations. Some frescoes remain
in situ, particularly along the plinth (lower wall section),
while others were carefully detached for conservation and
are now housed in the National Archaeological Museum of
Naples. One notable painting depicts the dramatic moment
when the Trojan Horse is brought into the city of Troy — a
popular mythological theme in Pompeian art that symbolized
both cunning and impending doom.
Mirror House (19) — Casa
dello Specchio
The house earned its modern name from the
discovery of a polished piece of dark glass or obsidian,
likely used as a mirror, in one of its rooms. Spanning over
150 square meters and containing more than ten rooms, it was
a relatively spacious dwelling for the insula. Fragments of
colored plaster still cling to the walls, though many
paintings have been lost over time. Surviving motifs once
included a proud peacock and a graceful figure of Diana with
her head crowned in leaves. Most of the decoration followed
the elegant Third Pompeian Style, characterized by delicate
architectural illusions, slender columns, and mythological
vignettes set against monochromatic backgrounds.
Insula 8
House of the Centennial
(IX.8.6)
Also known as the House of the Centenary, this grand
residence—excavated around the centenary of the 79 AD eruption
of Mount Vesuvius—stands as one of the largest and most complex
private dwellings in the city. It features a double Tuscan
atrium, peristyle garden with a pool and fountains, private
baths, and luxurious reception areas. In addition to numerous
electoral inscriptions on the outer walls (promoting candidates
like A. Rustius Verus for public office), the interior preserves
traces of elegant wall decorations in white and red. Among the
highlights is a finely preserved sacred landscape fresco (later
detached for conservation) and various ancient graffiti,
offering glimpses into the daily life and political activities
of its wealthy owners.
Primigenia House (IX.8.8)
This
partially excavated property, associated with the name
Primigenia, reveals typical signs of civic engagement through
electoral inscriptions on its exterior walls. Inside,
archaeologists discovered a charming lararium (household shrine)
adorned with decorative horns and a garland, reflecting domestic
religious practices. A notable fresco depicts the mythological
scene of Theseus abandoning Ariadne on the island of Naxos after
their escape from the Minotaur's labyrinth—an evocative reminder
of classical myths that decorated elite Roman homes.
Hospitium of C. Hyginius Firmus (IX.8.b)
Named after a clear
graffiti inscription on one of its walls identifying it as the
"Hospitium of C. Hyginius Firmus" (an inn or guesthouse), this
establishment spans roughly 160 square meters. It is divided
into nine rooms and likely served travelers or locals seeking
lodging. Traces of frescoes still visible on the walls suggest
an effort to create a welcoming atmosphere, while the overall
layout points to a practical commercial function in the bustling
urban fabric of Pompeii.
Insula 9
House of Sulpicius Rufus (C) - Also called House of Porcellino takes its name from both a fresco of the kitchen depicting a pig and from a seal found near the entrance bearing the name of Sulpicius Rufus: the house preserves many remains of frescoes in different environments both in third and in fourth style, as for example in the cubicles around the atrium, where the almost completely intact decorative panels are observed either in the triclinium or in the kitchen.
House of Vinaio (6) - It was used both as a shop and as a
dwelling and was excavated in 1887 : the house has an irregular
layout with a small atrium with a cubicle, the tablinum and the
garden with a small niche lararium, originally stuccoed in white.
House of P. Aemili Celeris (G) - It owes its name to several
graffiti found several times on the main façade : it is a small
house of just sixty-five square meters, divided into four rooms;
inside there are meager remains of the wall decoration, especially
in the triclinium area, while the frescoed lararium , placed in the
kitchen, has been lost.
Insula 11
House of Cn. Audius Bassus (IX.11.1)
This
residence remains largely unexcavated to this day. In 1911, only the
façade was uncovered and partially restored, revealing the remnants
of a vibrant fresco that depicted a religious procession making its
way toward a sanctuary. Near the entrance, ancient graffiti once
adorned the walls, though these inscriptions have since been lost.
The house is also associated with a public street shrine and altar
at the crossroads just outside, reflecting the blend of domestic and
communal religious life typical along Pompeii’s bustling Via
dell’Abbondanza. Electoral notices mentioning the owner, Cn. Audius
Bassus (a candidate for local office), were found in the vicinity,
hinting at his involvement in the city’s political scene before the
eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
House of Cornelius Maximus
(IX.11.7)
Like its neighbor, this house has not been fully
explored, and only a portion of the façade is currently visible. The
exterior features several electoral inscriptions supporting local
candidates, alongside two painted panels: one portraying the hero
Hercules and another depicting the goddess Minerva. Unfortunately,
the Minerva painting has been lost over time. The partial exposure
highlights how many structures along this busy commercial street
were only superficially investigated in the early 20th century,
leaving much of the interior—and the daily lives of their
inhabitants—still buried beneath layers of volcanic debris.
Insula 12
House of the Chaste Lovers
(IX.12.6)
Also known as the Casa dei Casti Amanti, this
well-preserved residence is famous for a delicate wall painting in
the triclinium (dining room) showing a couple exchanging a tender,
“chaste” kiss during a banquet scene. The house belonged to a
prosperous baker; it includes a fully equipped bakery with a large
oven, millstones, and stables where the skeletal remains of mules
(used to turn the millstones) were discovered still in place. Part
of a larger insula complex spanning over 2,600 square meters, the
structure retains significant portions of its upper floor—one of the
few in Pompeii to do so. Recent restoration projects have added
protective roofing and elevated walkways, allowing visitors to view
the site from above while ongoing interdisciplinary studies reveal
more about its layout, decorations, and the lives of its occupants.
House of the Painters at Work
(IX.12.9)
This intriguing house, partially excavated
between 1982 and 2005 (with further work in later years), derives
its name from evidence suggesting painters were actively at work
decorating its walls when Vesuvius erupted. It forms part of the
same vibrant insula as the House of the Chaste Lovers and includes
several shops. The site offers a rare snapshot of artistic
production in a Roman home, with rooms that appear to have been
mid-renovation. Recent excavations in the surrounding insula have
uncovered additional refined mythological and erotic frescoes in
adjacent small residential structures.
House of C. Julius Polybius
(IX.13.1, often associated with the nearby insula area)
This
elegant domus belonged to a prominent local figure, C. Julius
Polybius, whose name appears in electoral graffiti on and near the
façade, indicating his active role in Pompeian politics. The house
features multiple entrances and was fully excavated in stages
(including work in 1912, the 1960s, and later). It stands out for
its refined architecture and decorations, reflecting the wealth and
status of its owner, who was likely involved in local
administration. Like many grand homes, it combined residential
luxury with elements that supported the family’s public and
commercial interests.
House of Cenacolo Colonnato I (IX.12.1)
This house is still only partially excavated, with primarily the
façade visible to visitors. Its most distinctive feature is the
innovative second-floor construction, supported by a series of
columns that created an open, colonnaded upper level (cenaculum). A
large amphora was discovered near the entrance, suggesting the
storage or trade of wine or other goods. The design reflects
creative adaptations in Pompeian domestic architecture, maximizing
space in a densely built urban block along the Via dell’Abbondanza.
House of Cenacolo Colonnato II (IX.12.4)
First partially explored
in 1912, this residence suffered significant damage during the
Allied bombing of Pompeii in 1943. Its façade is two stories high,
with the upper level likewise supported by columns in a similar
colonnaded style. In the few interior rooms that were brought to
light before the bombing, traces of colorful pictorial decorations
(frescoes) still survive. The wartime damage underscores the
vulnerabilities faced by Pompeii’s ruins in the 20th century, yet
the surviving elements continue to provide insight into upper-floor
living arrangements and decorative tastes in mid-tier Pompeian
homes.
Insula 13
Giulio Polibio's house (3) - It consists
of an atrium with decorations in the first style , a service area
with a kitchen and painted lararium , a peristyle with frescoes in
the third style , in which the casts of wardrobes and doors and a
triclinium were obtained , depicting Amphion and Zetus to Dirce :
the same environment was also found a statue of Apollo in bronze.
House of M. Fabius Ululitremulus (5) - It was partially excavated in
1913 and in 1970 and only the façade on which there are some
graffiti is visible, while at the time of the excavation there were
also some frescoes such as the one depicting Romulus and Aeneas with
his father Anchises.
Insula 14
House of M. Obellius Firmus (4) It dates back to the Samnite period: consisting of two entrances, it has a second floor through which it was accessed with three staircases. Most of the decoration of the environments, such as the oecus, the tablinum and the atrium are in second style and worthy of note are a medallion with the depiction of Obelio son and of his wife and the scene of a banquet ; the house also has a garden.