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

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

 

 

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

House of the Alcove of HerculaneumThe house with the alcove got its name due to the presence of the alcove in the house - a recess or niche in the wall that created an intimate or secluded atmosphere. It is possible that two families lived here as one part of the house was beautifully decorated, and the other part of the house was much more modest. It is possible that after the earthquake, the owners of the house were shaken and they began to hand over part of the house. Immediately north of the Mosaic Atrium House on Cardo IV Street is the Alcove House. This house is actually two buildings, interconnected, connected by a stepped entrance between rooms (b) and (g), as shown in the plan of the house. As a result, the alcove house is a mixture of simple and simple rooms combined with some chicly decorated. Near entrance No. 4 there is a flight of stairs to the upper floor (No. 3).

From the entrance from Cardo IV Street, corridor (a) leads directly to a small courtyard (b) with rooms. On either side there is a pair of service rooms (c and d). The small entrance courtyard, which is surrounded by columns on its eastern side, retains part of its fourth-style frescoes, especially on its northern wall. Frescoes depict architectural motifs, including a gable entrance, on a red background. Continued along the axis of the entrance corridor - this is the second, larger courtyard (e), which gives access to a set of rooms, including bedrooms (f), which have preserved beautiful decoration in the third style. The decoration consists of architectural figures on a blue background over a lower red frieze.

 

 

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

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