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House of the Alcove (Casa dell'Alcova) (Herculaneum)

The House of the Alcove (Casa dell'Alcova), located at Insula IV.4 in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum (modern Ercolano, Italy), is a well-preserved domestic structure buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. It derives its name from a distinctive alcove (a recessed niche or apse) in one of its principal rooms, which features architecturally unusual apsed and vaulted elements. This house is notable for being composed of two originally independent dwellings that were later merged, resulting in a blend of rustic, humble spaces and more elegant, decorated areas. The northern section, aligned along the entrance corridor from Cardo IV Inferiore (a main north-south street), is narrower and more modest, while the southern lower level appears to have served as the master's quarters with finer appointments. It is situated immediately north of the House of the Mosaic Atrium (Casa dell'Atrio a Mosaico) and exemplifies Roman urban housing adaptations, possibly influenced by post-earthquake changes (such as the 62 CE earthquake), where owners may have rented out portions.

Historically, the house was first explored via tunnels by Bourbon excavators in the 18th century, with some elements (like flooring in certain rooms) partially removed during that period. Modern open-air excavations occurred in 1928–1929 under archaeologist Amedeo Maiuri, who noted the large communicating doorway in the vestibule that joined the two sections. The merger is evident in features like a stepped entrance connecting the courtyards. The house's preservation is exceptional due to Herculaneum's burial under pyroclastic flows, which carbonized organic materials like wood, providing rare insights into Roman daily life. It is part of the larger archaeological park, and visitor reviews highlight its large size (due to the dual-house fusion) but note that visible features are somewhat limited compared to its scale, with preserved elements like original iron lattice windows and key frescoes.

Overall Layout and Architectural Features

The House of the Alcove occupies an elongated, rectangular ground plan formed by the fusion of two adjacent properties, creating a mixture of plain and sophisticated spaces. The street façade on Cardo IV Inferiore is constructed in opus reticulatum (a diamond-patterned brickwork), featuring windows with iron gratings for security and small square openings. Remains of a long overhanging gallery (balcony) at the first-floor level suggest multi-story construction, with holes for support beams indicating additional upper floors. A flight of stairs near the entrance leads to an upper floor (linked to IV.3).
The layout revolves around multiple courtyards and corridors for light and ventilation:

A central courtyard with a colonnade on one side leads to a rear garden courtyard and a pseudoperistyle (a partial colonnade on two sides).
Steps descend to the central courtyard from the previously separate southern house, and a corridor with a light-well features a single-sided colonnade.
The house develops vertically and horizontally, with interconnected courtyards, atria, and service areas, reflecting adaptations to urban space constraints.

Key architectural elements include carbonized wooden frames and beams (preserved by the eruption), iron-grated windows, and drainage systems like cisterns for rainwater collection. The fusion is marked by a large vestibule connecting the sections via marble steps.

Room-by-Room Description

The house comprises approximately 20–25 identifiable rooms and spaces across ground and upper levels, labeled numerically in excavation documentation. Below is a detailed breakdown based on available descriptions:

Entrance Corridor (a): Leads from Cardo IV Inferiore into the house, with doorways to Rooms 1 and 2 on either side. The threshold features brickwork details, and the façade shows multi-floor support holes.
Room 1: Off the north side of the entrance corridor, with a window overlooking the street.
Room 2: On the south side, with a window and doorway to upper-floor stairs (at IV.3). Features west wall details.
Small Courtyard 3 (b): An entrance courtyard surrounded by columns on the east side, with fourth-style frescoes on the north wall depicting architectural motifs on a red background. Includes doorways to Room 4 and windows overlooking Open Courtyard 6. Connects via marble steps to Vestibule 17.
Room 4 (Cubiculum): A bedroom off the west side of Courtyard 3, with painted decorations including a central panel featuring a sea-horse on the west wall and upper north wall details.
Room 5 (Kitchen and Latrine): Features a latrine in the north-west corner, with west and east wall details.
Open Courtyard 6: At the rear, with carbonized wood above windows and doorways. Includes a slightly raised exedra (seating alcove) to the north and windows into Room 8.
Room 7 (Covered Atrium): Central space with a small open area on the north side for rainwater collection into a cistern (puteal in Room 10). Doorways to Rooms 9, 10, 11, and others.
Room 8 (Oecus): A reception room with a central wall painting on the south wall depicting Ariadne abandoned on Naxos as Theseus departs (the only painting spared by Bourbon excavators). Features garlands and upper wall decorations.
Room 9: Features remains of painted decoration on the lower north wall (zoccolo) and beam holes for an upper floor.
Room 10 (Rustic Room): Simple space with a puteal (wellhead) in the north-east corner for the cistern.
Corridor 11: Connects to cubicula (bedrooms) 13 and 14, with windows overlooking Courtyard 12 and a wooden beam across.
Courtyard 12: Provides light and air, connecting to Room 16.
Cubicula 13 and 14 (Bedrooms, f): Third-style decorations with architectural figures on a blue background over a red frieze.
Room 15 (Cupboard/Storeroom): Basic storage space.
Room 16 (Large Triclinium): Dining room with a drain and doorway to Courtyard 12.
Vestibule 17 (Large Vestibule, e): Black mosaic floor with colored marble diamonds; doorways to Rooms 18, 19, 20, and Corridor 21.
Room 18 (Services Room): Includes two iron-grated windows, support beams for upper floors, and a white marble circular table.
Room 19 (Biclinium): Elegant dining room with remains of two-sided carbonized wooden couches (partly buried in volcanic debris) and painted decorations on west and north walls.
Room 20 (Large Triclinium): Opus sectile flooring (partly removed by Bourbons), connecting to Corridor 21.
Corridor 21: Black-and-white mosaic floor with scattered crosses; leads to Courtyard 22 and Room 23.
Courtyard 22: Small pilastered courtyard with a low wall (pluteus) for plants; window lights Room 24.
Room 23 (Anteroom): Connects Corridor 21 to Room 24; features winged creature decoration on west wall and ceiling details.
Room 24 (Alcove Room, g): The namesake space with a south-wall apse/alcove, mosaic floor, and painted decorations including birds on west, north, and east walls, plus plant motifs in the lower zoccolo. Lit by a window from Courtyard 22.

Service rooms (c, d) are modest, likely for storage or household tasks.

Decorations, Artifacts, and Significance

Decorations span third- and fourth-style frescoes, with motifs like architectural elements, mythological scenes (e.g., Ariadne in Room 8), sea-horses, birds, plants, and garlands. Floors include black-and-white mosaics, opus sectile, and marble inlays. Artifacts are limited but include a puteal, white marble table, and carbonized wooden couches.