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Location: Regio III, Insula 2
Area: 540 square meters
Rooms:
15
The House of Trebius Valens, also known as Casa di Trebius
Valens or Casa di Aulus Trebius Valens (Regio III, Insula 2,
Entrance 1; III.2.1), is a well-preserved example of a
Republican-era Roman domus in Pompeii, dating primarily to the 1st
century BC with modifications up to the 1st century AD. Located on
the north side of Via dell'Abbondanza, one of Pompeii's main
commercial streets, this house exemplifies the typical
atrium-peristyle layout of affluent Pompeian residences, blending
residential, social, and functional spaces. It belonged to Aulus
Trebius Valens, a prominent citizen likely involved in local
politics, as evidenced by electoral graffiti linking him to the
property. The house's facade, once richly inscribed with political
and public announcements, highlights its role in Pompeii's civic
life, while its interior spaces reflect the daily routines,
aesthetics, and social aspirations of a mid-level elite family.
Buried under volcanic ash during the 79 AD eruption of Mount
Vesuvius, the site was preserved remarkably well until modern
interventions and damages. Today, it offers valuable insights into
Roman domestic architecture, art, and society, though parts remain
affected by wartime destruction and ongoing conservation challenges.
The house's origins trace back to the Republican
period (likely 1st century BC), when Pompeii was a thriving Roman colony
after its conquest by Sulla in 89 BC. It underwent expansions, including
the addition of a peristyle garden inspired by Greek architectural
elements, reflecting the cultural influences in Pompeii during the late
Republic and early Empire. The Trebius family, active in Pompeii before
and after Roman colonization, is associated with the property through
inscriptions like "Valens fac" (Valens, do it/make it), suggesting
political campaigning. During the 79 AD eruption, the front door was
found closed, with locking mechanisms intact, indicating the inhabitants
may have fled or perished elsewhere.
Excavations began in 1913 under
Vittorio Spinazzola, focusing on the Via dell'Abbondanza facade, and
continued in 1915, revealing the house's layout and decorations. Key
finds were documented in publications like Notizie degli Scavi di
Antichità (1914-1915), including door hardware discovered on January 3,
1914. The site suffered significant damage during World War II when
Allied bombs struck Pompeii on September 19, 1943: one bomb hit the
atrium, destroying the west wall and erasing much of the facade's
graffiti, while another devastated the southeast section. Post-war
restorations in the 1950s and later preserved surviving elements, such
as a small portion of the east facade's inscriptions, but the house's
conservation remains ongoing, with documentation in works like Garcia y
Garcia's "Danni di guerra a Pompei" (2006).
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The House of Trebius Valens follows the classic Pompeian domus
design: a narrow facade opening into an expansive interior organized
around an atrium and peristyle, covering approximately 400-500 square
meters (estimated from typical insula sizes, though exact dimensions are
not specified in sources). The layout emphasizes axial symmetry, natural
light, and ventilation, with spaces for reception, private living, and
service functions.
Facade and Entrance: The street-facing facade
on Via dell'Abbondanza was originally plastered and covered in
black-painted graffiti, including electoral slogans and gladiatorial
advertisements (e.g., announcements for games with 20 pairs of
gladiators, dated AD 50-68). Most were lost in the 1943 bombing, but a
restored eastern section preserves inscriptions like CIL IV 7620, 7624
("Trebi, surge, fac" – Trebius, get up, do it), and CIL IV 7992 (a games
edict mentioning Nero, later plastered over). The entrance doorway,
accessed by two travertine steps, featured a bronze cylindrical doorbell
(0.13m high) with an iron clapper, and was equipped with a door-lock,
key, handle, and bolt found in situ. This vestibule leads directly into
the atrium.
Atrium (Room 1): The central atrium, with a compluvium
(roof opening) and impluvium (basin) for rainwater collection, serves as
the house's hub. It opens northward to the tablinum and has doorways on
the southwest and west sides leading to cubicula (bedrooms) and service
areas. Bomb damage is evident here, with a crater in the atrium floor
from the 1943 explosion.
Peristyle and Garden: Accessed via a
corridor from the atrium, the peristyle is a colonnaded courtyard with
water features (fountains and channels), surrounding a lush garden that
formed the heart of family life for leisure and gatherings. At the
garden's rear is a summer triclinium (outdoor dining area) under a
pergola supported by four columns, ideal for banquets.
Bath Complex:
In the southeast corner, a small private bath suite includes a
tepidarium (warm room) and a calidarium (hot room) with an apse for the
bath basin, highlighting the house's luxury amenities.
Upper Floor:
Steps in Room 3 lead to an upper level (likely bedrooms or storage),
with a cupboard recess below.
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Cubiculum (Room 2, Southwest Side): A bedroom with
full Second Style frescoes (illusionistic architecture and motifs from
ca. 80-20 BC), and the name "Valens" scratched into a wall, confirming
ownership.
Cubiculum (Room 4, West Side): Likely the mistress's
bedroom, containing a casket with precious objects and ointment jars;
features a small window and detailed corner decorations.
Rectangular
Hall (Right Side of Atrium): Walls painted with birds and animals,
possibly a reception or living space.
Tablinum: At the atrium's rear,
with a large window overlooking the peristyle; used for business or
display.
Decorations include Second Style frescoes in cubicula
(architectural illusions), garden scenes with vibrant colored panels,
and checkerboard patterns on peristyle walls. A notable graffito in the
peristyle quotes the first line of Virgil's Aeneid ("Arma virumque
cano..."), suggesting literary interests. Mosaics adorn floors and
garden areas, though specifics are limited in sources.
Artifacts
include a bronze pan (SAP inv. 2195) from the atrium, door hardware
(lock, key, bolt), a bronze doorbell, and the mistress's casket with
jewelry and ointments. These items provide glimpses into household
routines and status.
The house illustrates the evolution of Pompeian domestic architecture, from Samnite influences to Roman luxury, and underscores political engagement through its graffiti. It highlights social norms, with spaces for public reception (atrium) and private retreat (garden), and serves as a poignant reminder of wartime impacts on cultural heritage. Open to visitors as part of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, ongoing restorations address erosion and bombing scars, making it a key site for understanding ancient Roman life.